School District of Manatee County

Parents should always have a role in their children’s education – make your voice heard!
The School District of Manatee County will hold a School Board primary election on August 23, 2022.
District 5 residents will choose between 3 candidates: Richard Tatem, James T. Golden, and Chantal Wilford. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in August, that candidate will be declared the winner and there will not be a general election for District 5 in November. If all 3 candidates receive less than 50% of the vote, then only the top 2 candidates will proceed to a general election on November 8.

District 5 CANDIDATES

Richard Tatem is an executive coach, Air Force veteran, substitute teacher, and volunteer with Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT).

 

Tatem is a registered Republican and has voted in Republican primary elections.

 

Tatem supports parental rights in education including transparency of learning materials and the selection of leadership.

 

Tatem does not support Critical Race Theory and says we should be “looking at each other through the lens of character and performance, not race or gender.”

 

Tatem does not support age-inappropriate curriculum.

 

Tatem opposes mask mandates in school.

 

Tatem has been endorsed by several local elected leaders.

 

Visit Richard Tatem’s website to learn more.

Richard Tatem is an executive coach, Air Force veteran, and volunteer with Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT).

James T. Golden is a father, grandfather, and the current Manatee School Board Chairman.


Golden is a registered Democrat and has voted in Democratic primary elections. Golden’s candidacy has also been promoted by the Manatee County Democrats.


Golden pushed to limit public comment at School Board meetings and engaged in an argument with meeting attendees who questioned his efforts.


Golden served two terms on the Bradenton City Council.


Visit James T. Golden’s website or Facebook to learn more.

James T. Golden is a father, grandfather, and the current Manatee School Board Chairman.

Chantal Wilford is a mother of four and certified childbirth educator and doula. She also volunteers raising guide dogs and with the All Faiths Food Bank.


Wilford is a registered Democrat and has voted in Democratic primary elections. Wilford’s candidacy has been promoted by the Manatee County Democrats.


Wilford wants to reduce time spent on assessments, benchmarks, and test preparation.


Wilford says that parental rights “have been well-protected in Florida for many years.”


Visit Chantal Wilford’s website or Facebook to learn more.

Chantal Wilford is a mother of four and certified childbirth educator and doula. She also volunteers raising guide dogs and with the All Faiths Food Bank.

To confirm your school board district, visit the Board Member District Area Map.

Need to find your polling place? Visit the Voter Precinct Lookup website produced by the Florida Secretary of State. Select your county for more information.

Click here to visit the School District of Manatee County website

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