School Board Election Approaches

>> ONE OF THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED RACES THIS ELECTION YEAR IS FOR A SEAT ON THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IN DISTRICT 4, WHICH INCLUDES PART OF FORT MYERS, NORTH FORT MYERS AND EASTERN CAPE CORAL INCUMBENT DEBBIE JORDAN IS FACING OFF AGAINST TONY BOOKER. MIKE WALCHER, FROM WGCU IS HERE WITH A PREVIEW OF THE RACE? THANKS FOR JOINING YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME. >> DEPUTE JORDAN HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR ALMOST 2 CHARMS JUST UNDER 8 YEARS. AND BOOKER IS A BUSINESSMAN IS RUNNING FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE. WELL, LISTEN TO MOST OF THE TALKING FIRST ANSWERING THE QUESTION. WHY RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD? >> AND WE'LL START WAS INCUMBENT JORDAN TO ME. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED, WHETHER THAT IS IN PATHWAYS REGARDING COLLEGE OR PATHWAYS INTO OUR TRADES. >> WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD PROGRESS IN TERMS OF OUR GRADUATION RATES AND SOME OF THE OTHER MEASURES THAT THE YOU KNOW, WHETHER SAYS STATE TESTING THE IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOLS. AND AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR OWN SCHOOL LETTER GRADES. BUT THAT PROGRESS, IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE AT THE FINISH LINE. WE STILL HAVE READING LEVELS THAT NEED TO IMPROVE SIGNIFICANTLY. DEBBIE JORDAN IS RETIRED AFTER DECADES HELPING NONPROFIT AGENCIES. >> RECENTLY SHE VOTED AGAINST THE SCHOOL BUDGET FOR THE COMING YEAR. >> WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF CUTS THAT WERE BEING MADE AND I'M SEEING THAT MOST OF IT IS COMING FROM OUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF VERSUS THE DISTRIC. >> I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT TONY BOOKER MANAGES INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS. AND SO I FEEL LIKE I CAN APPLY SOME OF THAT BUSINESS EXPERTISE TO HELP WITH A CONSTRAINED BUDGET. BOOKER SAYS HIS TIME IN THE LEESCHOOLS YEARS AGO. >> SET THEM UP FOR COLLEGE AND A SUCCESSFUL CAREER >> NOW THE CHAMPIONS VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR SOME STUDENTS. >> BUT THE CHALLENGE I THINK COMES IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES BACK TO BOTH OUR KIDS AND THE PARENTS AND A TIMELY ENOUGH FASHION TO WHERE THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. >> JORDAN AGREES VO TECH IS IMPORTANT, BUT SHE ALSO WANTS PARENTS TO GET INVOLVED IN A CHILD'S SCHOOLING. >> CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS AND FAMILIES ARE ENGAGED WITH THEM IN THE PROCESS OF THEIR EDUCATION. >> THEY'RE GOING TO DO MUCH BETTER. JORDAN NOTES THAT BOOKER'S ENDORSED BY SOME CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. SHE FEELS SHE'S RUNNING AGAINST A BLOCK THAT COULD DOMINATE THE BOARD. AND YES, I AM RUNNING AGAINST THE MACHINE. I WOULD. I WOULD SAY THEIR MACHINE. >> AND >> WHEN I LOOK AT IT, I AM PROBABLY THE MOST CONSERVATIVE PERSON ON THAT BOARD BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO DOLLARS AND CENTS, I AM NOT WILLING TO JUST SPEND MONEY JUST TO SPEND MONEY. >> BOOKER SAYS IF ELECTED HE WILL MAKE UP HIS OWN MIND ON THE ISSUES AND NOT JUST FOLLOW THE LEADER. >> I'M GOING TO BE MAKING DECISIONS BASED OFF OF MY LIFE EXPERIENCE BASED OFF OF WHAT I'M HEARING FROM EVERYONE ELSE IN THE DISTRICT AND BASED OFF OF WHAT IS TRULY BEST FOR OUR KIDS. >> FROM DEEP IN YOUR HEART, WHY SHOULD SOMEONE GO FOR YOU RATHER THAN YOUR OPPONENT? >> WELL, ONE I'VE BEEN THERE. >> I LEARNED A LOT AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PRESENT. I'VE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING. NOT JUST AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT THE AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. >> FROM YOUR HEART, TELL US WHY YOU'RE RUNNING AND WHY SOMEONE SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU RATHER THAN YOUR OPPONENT GROWING UP. I BOUNCED AROUND A LOT BETWEEN MY 2 PARENTS. I I WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THAT CHILDHOOD IF IT WEREN'T FOR THIS COMMUNITY. THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT WERE JUST LIKE ME, LOOK, JUST LIKE I WAS GROWING UP AND THEY NEED SOMEONE. THEY NEED PEOPLE TO COME ALONGSIDE OF THEM. AND TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY HAVE A FUTURE AND THEY CAN MAKE OPPORTUNITIES HAPPEN. >> MY COUNTER THESE CANDIDATES DO IN THE AUGUST PRIMARY. >> WELL, JORDAN CAME IN FIRST. SHE HAD 35% OF THE VOTE IN THE PRIMARY. BOOKER WAS SECOND 28%. BUT THE PERSONAL CAME IN 3RD WITH ABOUT 15% HAS ASKED HER SUPPORTERS THE VOTE FOR BOOKER. WELL, THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL HOW MANY OF THEM HEARD THAT ADVICE OR WILL ACTUALLY FOLLOW IT. BUT AT LEAST SHE MADE THAT REQUEST. >> AND WHAT DOES THEIR FUNDING LOOK LIKE? >> OQUIRRH IS HAS GOT A PRETTY BIG EDGE THERE. AND HE HAS RAISED $83,000 SO FAR. HE'S SPENT 60,000 OF THAT JORDAN. 32,000 RAISED AND SHE HAS SPENT 18,000 SHOW. A BIG GAP THERE. BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL I MEAN, MANY TIMES MONEY WILL BE A DECIDING FACTOR, BUT NOT EVERY TIME FOR THEY WILL BE MOST INTERESTING COME ELECTION NIGHT. >> ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, MIKE WALCHER.