Lido Key resident Heidi Brandt, a Southside Elementary mom and education advocate, has announced her candidacy for the Sarasota County School Board District 1 seat, currently held by Bridget Ziegler.
Ziegler was appointed to the Sarasota County School Board by former Florida Gov. Rick Scott in June 2014. Later that year, she was elected to the SCS board and was re-elected to the board in 2018 and 2022.
Ziegler, who became embroiled in a sex scandel last year, is not expected to run for re-election, according to Brandt’s campaign.
Brandt is the mother of an eight-year-old daughter and the vice president of the Southside Elementary School PTO. Southside has been an “A”-rated school for 21 consecutive years.
“I take great pride in sending my daughter to public school in Sarasota County,” said Brandt. “It is imperative that we continue to empower parents, invest in high-quality teachers and enhance workforce training so students can thrive inside the classroom and beyond.”
Brandt listed another reason prompting her to run: a recent spike in lockdowns of school campuses. With 8-year-old daughter Mia attending school, that has Brandt concerned as a parent.
“Just last month, three public schools in South Sarasota County locked down due to threats received,” she said. “We are fortunate to have a Sheriff’s Department that is so well-trained and prepared, but we can always do more to ensure the safety and security of our students, teachers and staff.”
The election is scheduled for next August and a potential runoff would be in November.
