Marion County, Florida

Marion County School Board District 4

2 candidates are tracked for Marion County School Board District 4, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Mike Mills and Brigitte Smith. Candidate information follows official Marion County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 18 result: Mike Mills (37 percent) and Brigitte Smith (31 percent) advance to a November 3 runoff, per unofficial results.

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.

Florida › Marion County › Marion County School Board District 4

Mike Mills

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Student outcomes across all pathways - students should be 'highly educated, happy and healthy,'
Expand Career and Technical Education and trade programs, including military service as a post-graduation option
Audit program productivity and reallocate spending from programs without return on investment

Per Ocala Gazette.

Biography

Owner of Symmetry Coffee Company in Ocala, U.S. Navy veteran (nuclear machinist mate, 2010-2017) and adjunct business professor at the College of Central Florida with an MBA from Florida Atlantic University; past Education Foundation president, per the Ocala Gazette and VOTE411. Running for the open seat vacated by Nancy Thrower.

Campaign finance

$21,925 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Brigitte Smith

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Cut wasteful spending and redirect resources to math, reading and graduation rates
School safety, including increased Sheriff's Office oversight and zero-tolerance discipline
Build a culture where teachers feel protected, heard and valued, with strategic recruitment and retention funds

Per Ocala Gazette.

Biography

Registered nurse with 35 years of operating room/trauma experience, U.S. Army Nurse Corps veteran, and chairwoman of the Marion County Republican Executive Committee who serves on the county textbook review committee, per the Ocala Gazette and VOTE411. Running for the open seat vacated by Nancy Thrower. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Brigitte Smith.

Campaign finance

$6,960 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Next on your ballotMarion County School Board District 5

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Marion County School Board District 4 in 2026?

When is the Marion County School Board District 4 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 Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Marion County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Marion Soil and Water Conservation District 5 Florida House District 20 Florida House District 23 See all 8 Marion County races

Candidate profiles

Mike Mills, full profile Brigitte Smith, full profile Official Florida election office