Overwhelmed, excited and very grateful.
That’s how Kurt S. Browning described his feelings as he stood surrounded by supporters in Land O’ Lakes Tuesday night.
Grateful, he said, to all the people who campaigned for him and “the voters that made it happen.”
“Folks across the county sensed the need for change,” Browning said.
The Lodge at Wilderness Lake Preserve was packed to capacity with well-wishers, many of whom had been there since early evening, watching the election results come in.
Jan Coad, a Shady Hills Elementary teacher, said she’s taught in the county since 1970. She and her husband, Dan, a school district maintenance worker, were among the crowd that turned out to support Browning.
“I’ve known him a long time and I know he supports teachers,” Jan Coad said.
“He has positive ideas,” Dan Coad said.
Cathlee Tomkow said she grew up with Browning and his siblings. A mother of twin 6-year-olds and a 16-year-old, Tomkow said last year she noticed a “drastic change” in the education system from when her eldest was in kindergarten.
“I know he will make a huge difference,” she said.
“I’m happy for Kurt,” United School Employees of Pasco vice-president Kenny Blankenship said. “I’m hoping this will be a turnaround for morale.”
School board chairwoman Joanne Hurley, who also won her bid for re-election by a handy margin, also joined the Browning party Tuesday.
“I am so excited,” Hurley said. “The school board and the superintendent will come together and make such a cohesive team.”
Hurley said that the support each of them received from voters made a statement.
“People believe in what we’re trying to do,” she said.
Browning’s next step: building a purpose and mission-driven team of “folks that like to work and work hard.”
He also said he wants to start talking to teachers and administrators.
“They produce the product in our schools and we need to get their input,” Browning said. “They haven’t had that opportunity for a long time.”
Before Browning can claim the office, however, he must first beat write-in challenger Kat Lambert in the Nov. 6 general election.
Instructional Substitutes with: High school diploma - $55.00 per day Bachelor's degree or higher - $65.00 per day Retired Pasco County Teacher - $75.00 per day Non-Instructional Substitutes: $7.67 per hour Please, consider what food and gas costs, after taxes, we can fill the gas tank!
Hi, this is "Kat," also known as Kathy Lambert. If you "google" just Kathy Lambert, you will most likely find the famous Kathy Lambert, a big wig politician in Washington State. But if you "google" Kathy Lambert Dade City, and go to the major newspapers and use their search engines, type in Kathy Lambert Dade City and on their newspaper sites you will find any letters they published from me. No, voting for Mickey Mouse is not voting for "a candidate." The only write-in candidate whose written in votes on the empty line will count for, only me, just Kathy Lambert. Only because I am the only qualified write in candidate for the office of Supt. of Schools, Pasco. As to using the word "allowed," dear readers, that is not to my recollection. I know I said it would be shameless to remove employees simply because they were hired by previous administrations. What I said was all that mattered to me was that they were doing their job. I then named the depts I referred to: Planning, Finance, Energy Conservation, etc. I did not name any admins. of Secondary or Elem Education, nor did I name the Human Resources admins who go about raking teachers over the coals on whatever basis they can come up with. No, I was referring to the people who were "excellent" who could answer my questions over the phone regarding the school board budget and their interpretation of their role in it. I forgot to mention here, the Secretary in the Charter Schools Dept. named Kristin.