Escambia County, Florida

Escambia County School Board District 2

What this office does

School board member. The school board is the governing body of a public school district. It hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts the district budget, sets policies on curriculum, discipline, attendance boundaries and facilities, and approves contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Day-to-day operations belong to the superintendent; the board sets direction and holds the administration accountable.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Paul Fetsko, is on the ballot.

Florida › Escambia County › Escambia County School Board District 2

Decided at the 2026 primary: Paul Fetsko won the seat

DECIDED August 18: incumbent Paul Fetsko won outright with 66 percent over Gerald Washington, per WUWF. This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.

Winner

Paul Fetsko

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Top priorities

Expand the K-8 school model to keep families engaged with public schools
Recover funding lost to vouchers and secure sustainable funding with legislators

Per the interview with The Florida Trib.

Biography

Fetsko is a US Navy veteran and life-long educator who served the Escambia County School System for almost 46 years, including 12 years as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction from 2000 to 2012, per his campaign site. He is currently the District 2 School Board Member and holds degrees from Lenore Rhyne University and a master's degree from Troy University, per his campaign site.

Campaign finance

$2,250 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Also ran in the primary

Gerald Washington

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Pledges 20% of his board salary annually to sponsor student programs
A Workforce Innovation Campus linking students to technology, healthcare and trade careers
Teacher retention through better compensation and job security

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Gerald Washington is a sanitation equipment operator for the City of Pensacola, a lifelong Pensacola resident and former Brent Athletics head coach now studying legal studies at UWF, per The Florida Trib.

Campaign finance

$4,250 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotPensacola City Council District 2

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Escambia County School Board District 2 in 2026?

The Escambia County School Board District 2 race was decided at the 2026 primary - Paul Fetsko won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: Paul Fetsko and Gerald Washington. Candidate information follows official Escambia County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Escambia County School Board District 2 election in Florida?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Escambia County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Escambia County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Escambia County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Escambia County ballot

8 tracked races in Escambia County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Pensacola City Council District 4 Emerald Coast Utilities Authority District 2 Emerald Coast Utilities Authority District 4 See all 8 Escambia County races

Candidate profiles

Paul Fetsko, full profile Gerald Washington, full profile Official Florida election office