Manatee School Board races head to runoffs

Jonathan Mullis and Camden Bedinghaus carried solid leads in the race for the School District of Manatee County District 5 board seat throughout the night Tuesday, and are now headed to a Nov. 3 general election run-off for the seat.

The primary featured three candidates, the other Chantal Willford, who was neck-and-neck with the other two until the final precincts were counted. In preliminary results Tuesday night, Mullis had 35.31% of the vote to 34.07% for Bedinghaus. Wiliford trailed with 30.62%.

Mullis didn’t want to say too much late Tuesday because he didn’t want to jinx himself. He said running for the District 5 seat has been one of the most exhausting and challenging things he has ever done.

He was hoping to get 50% of the vote to avoid a November run-off, but all three candidates captured about a third of the vote. Mullis said he will be ready for the November election.

“I would hope my experience and my qualifications were what helped me finish first,” Mullis said. “I’ve been involved in the community for years now, so I would hope that means something.”

All three have different backgrounds. Mullis runs his own business — Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida in Bradenton — and is the president of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. Wilford is the founder of the Education Matters in Manatee County Facebook page, and is part of the League of Women Voters. She has been a substitute teacher in Manatee County.

Bedinghaus was a youth coordinator at Bayside Community Church and is the director of Turning Point USA Manatee County.

Mullis said when it comes to politics, part of the problem is that what it takes to be a good campaigner and being proficient at the actual job aren’t one and the same.

“I worked very hard at campaigning, but I am more of a sit down, put my head down, and get the job done type of personality,” Mullis said. “I’m ready to be able to dig into things.”

Wilford agreed it is easy to get “sucked into campaigning stuff,” but is grateful for everyone who has supported her during the process.

Bedinghaus, 23, said when he decides to go after something, he gives it his all. He said he proved that by being the only District 5 school board candidate to qualify by petition.

“It’s been an honor to step up as a young person and show that you are never too young to make a difference,” Bedinghaus said. “You don’t have to wait until you’re older to get involved in politics. You don’t have to wait till you have all this ‘life experience’ to make a difference. You can start right now.”

Prior to the official results, Bedinghaus said he had high hopes but it was ultimately in God’s hands.

“We’re back to the drawing board for the campaign going into November and we’ve got a few months to go,” Bedinghaus said. “I’m going to get back to work and hit the ground running.”

In District 2, Cindy Spray and Sharon Jefferson will move to a run-off at the general election in November.

Although Spray had locked up the top position by the time half the precincts were reported with 35%, she was still hoping to reach 50%. She ended up around 34% in the five-candidate race.

“I thought I had a chance and I was praying that would happen,” Spray said.

Spray said she thought she was helped by a strong Republican turnout at the polls. Of the 71,582 total votes case overall in Manatee County, 46,215 were Republicans.

That’s why she thought she might get close to 50% of the vote by the time everything was tallied.

“I was out at the polls and it was just the reaction I was getting from the voters,” Spray said. “It was very positive.”