School Board Chair Rasmussen seeks re-election

Leon County School Board Chair DeeDee Rasmussen propelled her run for re-election with a birthday bash celebrating educators and students, rather than herself.

A hybrid of campaign and party, the focus of Thursday’s event momentarily shifted to politics following vocalist and Gilchrist Elementary teacher Avis Berry’s cover of The Beatles’ “Birthday.” Berry had Rasmussen’s daughter in her class years ago.

“This is one of the main reasons I am proud to be running,” the District 4 incumbent said. “We have so many gifted teachers who are so talented… They were driven to serve because it’s such a calling.”

Rasmussen — the executive director of the Florida Campus Compact, a network of college and university leaders — faced four opponents when she ran and won in the 2008 election.

There are two other candidates currently running, both who filed in the fall. The election is in August.

Tallie L. Gainer, 38, is a former teacher at Capital City High, a local charter school that closed in 2014, and radio host of a Christian program aired on Wave 94 titled, “Let the Word Do the Work.” Patrick Cannon works at a jewelry shop in the Governor’s Square mall and serves as the Public Awareness Committee Chair at the Florida Rehabilitation Council.

Two well-respected, retired principals, Roger Pinholster and Rosanne Wood, are vying for the District 2 seat, occupied by Dee Crumpler, who does not plan on running again.

To the crowd that gathered at The Moon on East Lafayette Street, Rasmussen spoke briefly, expressing her aim to increase students’ participation in service projects and gratitude for her supporters’ dedication.

In an earlier interview, she vowed to increase the district’s steps towards transparency and “good government.” She referred to her 15 years of experience working with the Legislature and the governor’s cabinet.

After 28 negative audit findings by the state and the FBI’s probe into the district’s alleged mishandling of past school construction projects, she is proud of the work the board has done to revamp related policies.

Moving forward, however, Rasmussen said that she will focus on what the district needs to do to “prepare productive, active citizens for college/career in a competitive global economy.”

She vowed to continue her support of arts programs and the later high school start time movement that has gained traction in the last few months, all the while being “respectful of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.”

LCS considers pushing back high school start times

Several of Rasmussen’s supporters said that her composed leadership style, decision-making skills and smooth facilitation of board meetings recommended her re-election.

“We just need good people who are going to do their homework… who will make decisions independent of personal biases,” said Marjorie Thurnbull, former Representative for Tallahassee’s District 9 and former Leon County Commissioner. “She is for the common good… That’s the kind of person I want to vote for.”

Contact Amanda Claire Curcio by email at acurcio@tallahassee.com or follow @MandaCurcio on Twitter.