Rick Nolte, who has the backing of Gov. Ron DeSantis and ultra-conservative organizations, ousted term-holder Sara Fortney of the Polk County School Board today in an election that saw the return 20-year school board veteran Kay Fields and newcomer Justin Sharpless win. Incumbent Lisa Miller faces a runoff Nov. 8 with Jill Sessions.
School board members set policy for a huge school district with 116,000 students, 13,000 employees and a $2.2 billion budget.
About 100,000 people voted in each school board race, although 458,210 people are registered to vote in Polk County.
District 3: Nolte wins
 100vw, 1024px”/><figcaption>Sarah Fortney</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Political newcomer Rick Nolte beat incumbent Sarah Fortney in the tightest race of the night. He garnered 50.97% of the 101,682 votes, with Fortney winning 49.03% of the vote.</p>
<p>The non-partisan race pitted two longtime teachers, both retired, against each other. Fortney taught science for 33 years, most recently at Stambaugh Middle School in Auburndale. Nolte taught physical education and health for 36 years, primarily in Hillsborough County. </p>
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Rick Nolte, 66, owns a golf club manufacturing and repair shop and hosted a golf fundraiser for himself in June at the Cleveland Heights Country Club. His endorsement by Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared to be the deciding factor, along with an infusion of cash by sugar company Florida Crystal to the Education for All Political Action Committee, which paid for a deluge of campaign ads last minute for Nolte.
Nolte was part of County Citizens Defending Freedom’s efforts to place extremely conservative candidates on the school board. It was also endorsed by the Polk County Republican Party and the Winter Haven 9-12 Draft. He signed a card pledging to support Gov. Ron DeSantis’ education priorities, including “educate, not indoctrinate” and keep schools open during pandemics.
Fortney, 61, has spent four years working to increase the number of school counselors and psychologists, which has coincided with state pressure for the same. It’s a legacy she left to Polk’s more than 150 schools.
“People know my heart – I’m going to keep working,” Fortney said in a late night phone call with LkldNow. “My soul is good but my visceral response is not.”
District 5: Champs wins
 100vw, 1024px”/><figcaption>Terry Clark</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Incumbent Kay Fields retained challenger Terry Clark for the Polk County School Board District 5 seat by a margin of 52.90% to 47.10% out of 100,953 votes cast.</p>
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Fields, 70, is the longtime executive director of Girls Inc., a nonprofit that offers afterschool and summer programs. It has been endorsed by Sheriff Grady Judd, Business Voice (Lakeland Chamber of Commerce), the Polk County Builders Association and the Polk County Voters’ League.
Terry Clark, 72, is another candidate encouraged by the CCDF to run. He is a businessman. According to state records, he is the registered agent for TLC Resurfacing, and T&C DSF Marketing LLC is registered under Clark’s name and home address. His campaign slogan is “Educate, not indoctrinate”. It was endorsed by the Lakeland Association of Realtors and the Polk County Republican Party, Florida Representative Anthony Sabitini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, Dr. Ed Shoemaker, President of the Faith Based Republican Club of West Polk County, and the Winter Haven 9-12 project.
Fields, a devout Christian, said she wanted to thank God first.
“Because he’s the one who brought it all together for good,” Fields said. “What the enemies meant for my evil, God has returned for my good. I’m so thankful for the voter support and that I’m worthy enough to serve four more years on the school board.
Fields called the race one of the most unpleasant she had ever endured.
“I hope and pray that we can overcome all the turbulence we have had and do what is best for all students, employees, the school district and our community. That’s my prayer,” Fields said in a phone call as a happy crowd in the background continued to celebrate. “To insinuate that I’m not a Christian and that I don’t like America – that’s just madness.”
She said it was an honor and a privilege to serve with Fortney, who lost to Nolte. When asked how she would feel serving alongside Nolte, who attacked Fortney’s being gay, Fields hesitated to answer.
“That’s a very difficult question – I’m just going to pray over this one and ask the Lord for guidance and wisdom,” Fields said. “I think there are interesting elections, but nothing like that. It was a very bad election and it saddens me that we can’t focus on the issues at hand and deal with truth and facts instead of lies and things that just aren’t true. It saddens me and I hope we can get past what I’m really doing.
District 6: Sharpless wins
 100vw, 1024px”/><figcaption>Sarah Jones</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Political newcomers Justin Sharpless and Sara Jones battled for the District 6 seat on the Polk County School Board, with Sharpless winning with 51.39<strong>%</strong> to Jones 48.61% out of 99,800 votes cast.</p>
<p>Jones, 33, is a solicitor in Lake Wales, where she was born. She was endorsed by the Polk County League of Voters, the West Central Florida Labor Council, the Polk County Democratic Party and the Polk County Democratic Black Caucus.</p>
<p>Sharpless, 38, is also from Lake Wales. He teaches agriculture at Warner University. His campaign slogan implies his nickname: “Sharpie for Students”. It has been endorsed by Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, Business Voice (Lakeland Chamber of Commerce), Polk County Republican Party, Polk County Builders Association, Lakeland Association of Realtors, East Polk Association of Realtors, Fort Meade Mayor Bob Elliott and Winter Haven. Project 9-12.</p>
<p>Sharpless signed a card pledging to support Gov. Ron DeSantis’ education priorities, including “educate, not indoctrinate” and keep schools open during pandemics.</p>
<p>“I am thrilled and grateful for today’s outcome and thank God, my family, friends and supporters for making this all possible,” Sharpless said in a text message to LkldNow. “I also commend Sara Jones on a hard-fought campaign. I look forward to kicking off in November and partnering with all stakeholders to ensure that all children in Polk County have access to a high quality education.</p>
<h4><strong>District 7</strong>: Miller and Sessions are stung in a runoff</h4>
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<p>The campaign for the District 7 seat at Polk County School Board headquarters was a three-way race between incumbent Lisa Miller and newcomers Dell Quary and Jill Sessions. Because no candidate got more than 50% of the vote, Miller, with 42.43<strong>%</strong>and Sessions, with 37.45<strong>%</strong>, will face off in a second round in November. More than 99,600 people voted in this race. Quary got 20.12% of the vote.</p>
<p>Miller, 46, is affiliated with family business MillShire Realty and mother to 11-year-old daughter Evie and 20-year-old son Michael, who has profound autism. Miller has spent more than 15 years advocating for the rights of children with special needs. It has been endorsed by Business Voice (Lakeland Chamber), East Polk Association of Realtors, Lakeland Association of Realtors and Polk County Builders Association.</p>
<p>“I can’t wait to see the contrast in this upcoming race,” Miller said. “My opponent has hired a criminal to lead his campaign. I don’t believe the citizens of Polk want to be represented by someone with that kind of poor judgment and lack of ethics. I will continue to fight for the children of Polk County.</p>
<p>Miller was referring to James Dunn. CCDF officials introduced Nolte, Sessions and Clark to the Texas political consultant, who was convicted of fraud for submitting $300,000 false statements to the federal government in 2008 and spent nearly three years in federal prison.</p>
<p>Dell Quary, 67, recently retired as the school district’s analyst for technology and ERate, overseeing technology grant applications. She served for years in the school system, first as a para-educator and then as a primary Title I parent liaison. She became a college education counselor and a part-time professor at Polk State. College, teaching computers and information systems. She then accepted a position as an analyst for Polk County Public Schools. She was endorsed by the Polk County League of Voters, the Polk County Democratic Party and the Polk County Democratic Black Caucus.</p>
<p>Jill Sessions, 57, said she would resign from her full-time job as director of solid waste for the city of Plant City, but would keep her part-time job as an assistant college professor online if she were to win a seat on the school board. She was endorsed by the Polk County Republican Party and the Winter Haven 9-12 Project. Sessions signed a card pledging to support Gov. Ron DeSantis’ education priorities, including “educate, not indoctrinate” and keep schools open during pandemics.</p>
<p>LkldNow was unable to reach Sessions on Tuesday evening.</p>
<p>Miller said she would also miss her friend and board colleague, Sarah Fortney.</p>
<p>“Sarah Fortney is a true advocate for students and staff,” Miller said. “I’m sure she will continue to be a strong voice in our community.”</p>
<p>The race for the second round of the Miller-Sessions will end in the November 8 general election.</p>
<p>The County Citizens Defending Freedom issue a statement late Tuesday night, noting that they are a nonpartisan organization and congratulating Nolte, Sharpless and Fields on their victories.</p>
<p>“We join the candidates and incumbents in being relieved to see this contentious campaign that has infuriated division in our county come to an end,” said a statement sent to LkldNow by CCDF USA Electoral Division Chief Sarah Calamunci. “Out of the controversy and intense passion that brought out the negative in many, came an awakening and engagement in our community that we had not seen before…This election has increased awareness and involvement across our county, and with that we all win.”</p>
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Kimberly C. Moore is an award-winning journalist from Lakeland. She can be reached at [email protected] or 863-272-9250.
