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Mary S. Cantrell
Mary S. Cantrell was the District 5 representative on the School District of Manatee County School Board in Florida from 2014 until her death on July 12, 2015, following a battle with bone marrow cancer.[1]
Cantrell had faced Julie B. Aranibar, James T. Golden and Carlton "Les" Nichols in the general election on August 26, 2014. Cantrell and Aranibar advanced to a runoff election on November 4, 2014, where Cantrell won the District 5 seat.
Vacancies on local boards of education in Florida are filled by gubernatorial appointment until the next regularly scheduled election. On September 4, 2015, Governor Rick Scott (R) appointed State Board of Education member John Colón to fill Cantrell's vacated seat until the district's 2016 election; Colón resigned from the state board to fill the Manatee position.[2]
Biography
A joint statement was issued by district Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Board Chair Robert Gause following Cantrell's death, reading:
| “ | Dr. Mary Cantrell spent close to five decades as a professional educator, including 18 years as the Director of Manatee Technical College, although it was known for most of her tenure as Manatee Technical Institute. Her passion for technical, career and adult education and her devotion to excellence among students and staff transformed MTC into one of the premier technical educational centers in the nation. Her enthusiasm and pursuit of achievement began the tradition that has resulted in MTC students winning more medals at the national SkillsUSA competition than any other technical school in the country – a streak that has recently been extended to 11-straight years.
Since November 2014, Dr. Cantrell served as an elected member of the School Board of Manatee County. Although her time on the School Board was short, she was a contributing member and as always she was devoted to the education of the students she loved. The main hall at the beautiful new MTC campus on State Road 70 is named in Dr. Cantrell’s honor, and it is a fitting tribute to help us remember and follow the legacy she has left behind. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.[3] |
” |
| —Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Board Chair Robert Gause, (July 12, 2015)[1] | ||
Elections
2014
The August 26, 2014, general election in Manatee County featured three seats up for election. Rodney K. Jones and Charles "Charlie" Kennedy were running to replace Barbara Harvey, who did not file for re-election in District 2. The District 4 race featured incumbent Karen H. Carpenter and challenger Frank Brunner. District 5 incumbent Julie B. Aranibar faced a challenge from Mary S. Cantrell, James T. Golden and Carlton "Les" Nichols.
The general election determined if candidates for each seat could garner a majority of the vote total. If no candidate received 50 percent plus one of the general election votes in a particular district, the top two vote recipients advanced to the runoff election on November 4, 2014.
Results
Runoff
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Mary S. Cantrell |
53.5% | 56,022 | |
| Nonpartisan | Julie B. Aranibar Incumbent | 46.5% | 48,609 | |
| Total Votes | 104,631 | |||
| Source: Manatee County Supervisor of Elections, "2014 General Election Official Results," November 14, 2014 | ||||
General
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Julie B. Aranibar Incumbent |
37.1% | 15,018 | |
| Nonpartisan | Mary S. Cantrell |
35.3% | 14,274 | |
| Nonpartisan | James T. Golden | 17.8% | 7,193 | |
| Nonpartisan | Carlton "Les" Nichols | 9.9% | 3,996 | |
| Total Votes | 40,481 | |||
| Source: Manatee County Supervisor of Elections, "2014 Primary Election Official Results," August 29, 2014 | ||||
Funding
Cantrell received a total of $27,150.00 in campaign contributions and spent a total of $13,500.03, according to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections.[4]
Endorsements
Cantrell did not receive an endorsement in this election.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bay News 9, "Manatee County School Board member Dr. Mary Cantrell dies," July 15, 2015
- ↑ Bradenton Herald, "Gov. Rick Scott appoints John Colon to Manatee School Board," September 4, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Manatee County Supervisor of Elections, "Campaign Finance Reports," accessed August 25, 2014
| 2014 School District of Manatee County Elections | |
| Manatee County, Florida | |
| Election date: | August 26, 2014 |
| Candidates: | District 2: • Rodney K. Jones • Charles "Charlie" Kennedy District 4: • Frank Brunner • Karen H. Carpenter |
| Important information: | Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
