A Brevard County school board candidate’s decision to include his party affiliation on campaign signs has sparked debate. Gene Trent, a registered Republican and current school board member, believes that providing voters with more information will help them make better decisions on Election Day.

Nonpartisan Seat Debate

Trent’s opponents, Kyle Savage and Kelly Wentworth, disagree, arguing that school board members should focus on serving families, not party affiliations. Florida law states that nonpartisan office candidates cannot include their party affiliation in campaign advertisements. However, Trent won a lawsuit in 2022 after being fined for displaying his party affiliation, with a federal judge ruling the law unconstitutional.

Savage, a former teacher and Army veteran, emphasized the importance of focusing on what works, rather than scoring political points. Wentworth also stressed that party labels should not be the primary concern, but rather transparency, accountability, and improving education.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.