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Melody Johnson
Melody Johnson was a member of the Volusia County Schools school board in Florida, representing District 5. Johnson assumed office in 2014. Johnson left office in 2018.
Johnson ran for re-election to the Volusia County Schools school board to represent District 5 in Florida. Johnson lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Elections
2018
- See also: Volusia County Schools elections (2018)
General election
General election for Volusia County Schools school board District 5
Ruben Colón defeated incumbent Melody Johnson in the general election for Volusia County Schools school board District 5 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ruben Colón (Nonpartisan) | 50.8 | 17,436 |
 | Melody Johnson (Nonpartisan) | 49.2 | 16,902 | |
| Total votes: 34,338 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Volusia County Schools school board District 5
Incumbent Melody Johnson and Ruben Colón defeated Robert Mann in the primary for Volusia County Schools school board District 5 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melody Johnson (Nonpartisan) | 49.1 | 7,414 |
| ✔ | | Ruben Colón (Nonpartisan) | 32.2 | 4,871 |
| Robert Mann (Nonpartisan) | 18.7 | 2,824 | ||
| Total votes: 15,109 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
- See also: Volusia County Schools elections (2014)
The August 26, 2014, general election in Volusia County featured three seats up for election. Larry Candeto, John M. Hill, Don Sarro, Chris Sorensen and Patricia W. Whites were running to replace Candace Lankford, who did not file for the District 1 election. None of the five candidates received 50 percent of the vote, so John M. Hill and Don Sarro, the top two vote-getters, advanced to the runoff election on November 4, 2014. The District 3 race was determined by the runoff election as well, featuring candidates Linda Cuthbert and George Trovato, who received more votes than incumbent Stan Schmidt in the general election. In the District 5 race, challenger Melody Johnson defeated incumbent Diane J. Smith.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Melody Johnson |
52.4% | 5,422 | |
| Nonpartisan | Diane J. Smith Incumbent | 47.6% | 4,924 | |
| Total Votes | 10,346 | |||
| Source: Volusia County Department of Elections, "Primary Election Official Results," September 2, 2014 | ||||
Endorsements
Johnson received an endorsement from the Personhood Florida ProLife PAC.[1]
Campaign themes
2014
Johnson provided this statement on the issues on her campaign website:
| “ | Our kids need to be competitive as students and prepared academically. I would like to see the Volusia County School District be more proactive in fostering technology. Technology is the reality of this generation and also future generations. We need to encourage our kids to utilize technology in the private sector. We should be partnering with businesses. This should begin at the elementary grade level. I would like to see more practical education on teaching our kids about, entrepreneurship and also teaching them about budgets and starting their own businesses. Our kids should be tested on what is taught and not taught to the test. What about Vocational training for those that do not desire to pursue a higher education yet would be so beneficial to our county? We also need to ask why the Volusia County School District has been rated by the Florida Department of Education with a “C” rating when in 2009 we were rated as an “A” District? How can our colleges and Universities attract good students from Volusia County with a mediocre rating? Our kids our not mediocre. Our kids deserve the best that we have to offer! Our kids should also be in an environment where they can thrive and also be who they are and where they are encouraged to contribute to our community that benefits all!
Our teachers should be given the latitude to teach as they have been trained. They should not be constricted to a standard like Common Core which is being mandated by government officials in Tallahassee and Washington D.C. I support our teachers in their work, their commitment and their dedication. Our teachers should be rewarded and appreciated accordingly. If our teachers are held accountable why not the school district? Why did the Volusia County School System in 2013 received one of the biggest fines of 2.8 million dollars from the Florida Department of Education for not complying with the mandated Class Size requirements? Who was held accountable? Who was penalized? Who ultimately paid this fine? This money could have been used in the classroom and also for supplies that are crucial for educating our kids. Finally, I support the parents. If elected as a School Board member, I would have an “Open Door” Policy to any parent. I would be open to using electronic and social media to communicate with parents and listening to what they have to say. We don’t need more government in our lives. Parents should be given the opportunity to provide input since we have kids in school. I would like to see the textbooks online for parents to review for the upcoming school year. Parents should not have to feel that they do not matter. Many parents feel that their involvement is not wanted nor accepted. I support the rights of the parents. Also, we as parents should be actively engaged and supporting our teachers, our students and our schools and I would like to foster this in our community.[3] |
” |
| —Johnson, (2014) | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Personhood Florida ProLife PAC, "Personhood Florida ProLife PAC Endorses Over 60 Candidates for the 2014 Primary and General Election," July 23, 2014
- ↑ Melody Johnson, "Issues," accessed August 22, 2014 (dead link)
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| 2014 Volusia County Schools Elections | |
| Volusia County, Florida | |
| Election date: | August 26, 2014 |
| Candidates: | District 1: • Larry Candeto • John M. Hill • Don Sarro • Chris Sorensen • Patricia W. Whites District 3: • Linda Cuthbert • Stan Schmidt • George Trovato |
| Important information: | Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
