Our endorsement for Brevard County school board district 3

We believe whichever candidate wins the Aug. 20 primary for the District 3 school board seat, the residents ― and more importantly the students in Brevard Public Schools ― will benefit.

The FLORIDA TODAY editorial board did not have an easy time deciding which candidate ― John Thomas or Amber Yantz ― to endorse. We feel both candidates are sincere in their desire to run for all the right reasons and are not beholden to any one political party or ideology.

Thomas brings to the table a wide range of experience from law enforcement to coaching to time on the Melbourne City Council and now in the business world, where he is the CEO of the Home Builders & Contractors Association. Yantz, with five children attending BPS, brings passion and a perspective sorely needed on the board. She has experience serving on numerous committees in the school district and her experience selling real estate means she knows how to get a deal done.

Again, this was not an easy endorsement to make. Both candidates received high marks for talking about the school board's need to listen to parents, to be more civil, and to keep partisan politics out of the decision-making process. In the end, we're endorsing Thomas, believing he will strive to be a voice of reason on an often tumultuous board. We also believe he has the ability to create change utilizing his connections, influence and experience navigating political and business landscapes.

We were impressed with the research Thomas had done as well as his common-sense approach when it came to the ongoing problem of student discipline in the schools.

Complete guide: Here's your ultimate voter guide to 2024 elections, candidates, issues in Brevard County

"I've talked to many teachers and quite a few principals, and I've kind of formed my opinion based on that along with what I already believed and knew of," Thomas said. "And I think the discipline policy that is in place, that is on paper, I think is largely adequate, not saying it can't be improved but largely adequate. But it needs to be enforced, and when I've heard from the teacher's perspective, is that it's not being enforced in some schools for whatever reason."

Thomas couldn't understand why cell phones in classrooms is still a problem when schools are supposed to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding phones.

We also liked his reticence in supporting the district's controversial Guardian program, allowing for trained staffers to carry concealed firearms. As a former police officer, his experience with guns carries great weight.

"My background is in narcotics, where I was primarily undercover, and I know how hard it is to retain a weapon, carry it around with you in plain clothes, and then to have it," he said. "I have concerns about the the training level of people and the amount of training that goes in, the amount of training for weapon retention is certainly an issue."

Thomas said he would rather see more of an emphasis on training teachers and staffers to de-escalate potentially violent situations.

More: God, guns and grades: Brevard school board candidates discuss issues pre-August primary

Yantz, too, was not in favor of the Guardian program, knowing there would be more guns in schools that her children attend.

"I have concerns about civilians being under trained," she said. "Actually, the day after the school board voted on this, in Palm Beach County, there was a volunteer that was going through the same program, who accidentally shot themselves. So I didn't make me feel any better."

The only real negative we had against Thomas was was how he came to be interested in running for school board. It was School Board member Matt Susin who suggested it, noting that the board member districts were about to be redrawn. The impact of that meant neither Jennifer Jenkins or Katye Campbell ― who often spoke out against some of Susin's actions and offered dissenting views — found themselves losing their incumbency. That wasn't the stated reason for the change but there was a whiff of politics to the move.

Susin has brought partisan politics to a place it doesn't belong. When he was board chairman, he was criticized for planning and scheduling meetings without consulting other board members as well as failing to communicate agenda items he planned to introduce, leaving board members unprepared for critical topics and votes, among other things.

Thomas assured the editorial board that he's not going to be anyone's puppet, if elected, claiming support from friends and associates across the political spectrum.

"I'm gonna do my best to make the best decisions," Thomas said. "That's all I can guarantee anybody. I'm going to make my own decisions. It's not going to be based on anybody, any political agenda, so that's all I can promise anybody."

More: Editorial Board: Here's our endorsement for Brevard County Supervisor of Elections

Thomas' resume is impressive. Thomas worked as dean of students, high school administrator and head varsity football coach at Holy Trinity from 2000 to 2008. He then worked at Florida Tech, where he held positions including director of athletic partnerships, director of football operations, associate athletics director and associate vice president until 2020. He also formerly worked as an officer for the Melbourne Police Department from 1986 to 2000. He also served on the Melbourne City Council from 2006 to 2014.

Yantz, who was well-versed on district policies, also vowed to keep politics out of the boardroom, if elected.

"I am probably the furthest thing that you can get from a politician," she said. "I don't have any political agenda. I have a heart for all students and I really hope that I do, you know, earn your vote in August. And my goal for BPS is to make it stronger and I really hope that Brevard is able to make 2024 the year that we take education back from the politicians."

The editorial board was impressed with the civility both candidates displayed toward one another. It was refreshing to see candidates talk about the issues and themselves rather than their opponent.

"We've tried to to run a pretty clean race and not throw bones at each other, pushing back against the the whole political rhetoric, you know, pinning one opponent against another," Yantz said.

Thomas praised Yantz for how she's run her campaign, joking that he has spent more time with his opponent in recent weeks than with his own wife.

"I made a pledge to myself that I was just going to focus on what I was going to do, not be negative, regardless of what had happened to me," Thomas said. "I think, from the other side, she has run a first class campaign."

Two good candidates. Either way Brevard wins, but our endorsement goes to John Thomas for District 3 School Board.

This editorial was written by the FLORIDA TODAY Editorial Board, which consists of Executive Editor Mara Bellaby, Engagement Editor John A. Torres, Sports Editor Tim Walters and Sr. Marketing Director Gina Kaiser.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Two good candidates vying for Brevard school board district 3