John Colon files to run in 2016 for Manatee County District 5 school board seat

Manatee County's appointed School Board member says he didn't plan to be placeholder for District 5 seat

BRADENTON -- Just before his second meeting as a member of the Manatee County School Board, newcomer John Colon filed to run for the District 5 seat in the 2016 election.

"That was my plan all along," Colon said on Monday. "I did relay that to the governor, he wasn't looking for a placeholder."

Colon said the board and everyone at the district were extremely supportive when he joined the board for his first meeting earlier this month.

Colon was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to fill a vacancy on the school board that occurred when Mary Cantrell died on July 12, of complications of bone marrow cancer, during her first term. The term runs until 2018 and Colon was appointed to serve until November 2016. If he wins the election, he can serve out the rest of the four-year term.

During his time on the board, Colon said he'd like to see a more cohesive school uniform policy, especially for the struggling schools. Colon said he thinks uniforms could cut down on a lot of discipline and gang-related problems at the schools and help create a sense of unity.

He also wants to work on truancy issues by engaging local housing authorities and district counselors, a program he said is already successful in Sarasota County.

"I want to make sure everybody knows I am board member they can come to with ideas," he said.

Colon is the sixth declared candidate for three school board slots, and the second sitting member of the board to file for a seat. He is the only declared candidate for the District 5 seat, which covers the eastern part of the county, south of State Road 64.

Three candidates have filed for the District 3 seat, which covers the western part of the county and Anna Maria island. Dave Miner, a Bradenton lawyer first elected in 2012, filed for the seat last week. He joined Palmetto High School second-year teacher Sadie Montanus and Misty Servia, a planning department manager at King Engineering Associates.

The District 1 seat, which represents the northern and eastern part of the county north of State Road 64, is also up for grabs in 2016. Xtavia Bailey, a lifelong Palmetto resident, and Edward Viltz, who works at Team Success charter school, have filed for the seat. Bob Gause, who holds the board seat now, has not yet filed.

School board elections are nonpartisan and all voters in the county can cast ballots for each seat. Candidates must reside in the district they want to represent.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter@MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "John Colon files to run in 2016 for Manatee County District 5 school board seat ."