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, Marcus Nicolas, is on the ballot.
Florida › Leon County › Leon County School Board District 5
DECIDED August 18: incumbent board chair Marcus Nicolas was reelected outright with 71.6 percent (4,452 votes) over James Reilly, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results. This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.
Nonpartisan Incumbent
Marcus Nicolas is the District 5 school board incumbent and current board chair with nearly two decades in education, per WFSU's race coverage and the district's official site.
$18,048 raised · county campaign-finance filings
Nonpartisan
James G Reilly Jr is a hospitality industry professional and former Waffle House regional manager, per WFSU's race coverage.
$3,531 raised · county campaign-finance filings
Who is running for Leon County School Board District 5 in 2026?
The Leon County School Board District 5 race was decided at the 2026 primary - Marcus Nicolas won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: Marcus Nicolas and James G Reilly Jr. Candidate information follows official Leon County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Leon County School Board District 5 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 Leon 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.
Candidate roster from official Leon 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 Leon County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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