Marion County, Florida

Marion County School Board District 5

2 candidates are tracked for Marion County School Board District 5, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Donald "Donny" Barber and Sarah James. Candidate information follows official Marion County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 18 result: incumbent Sarah James (49 percent) fell short of a majority and meets Donny Barber (35 percent) in 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. The sitting officeholder, Sarah James, is on the ballot.

Florida › Marion County › Marion County School Board District 5

Donald "Donny" Barber

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Safer schools
Responsible finances - redirect funds from 'administrative bloat' toward teacher compensation
Improved student performance with fundamentals, career pathways and accountability

Per Ocala Gazette and VOTE411.

Biography

City manager of Archer, Florida; chairs the Marion County Board of Adjustments and the Citra Community Center, and formerly served as Public Works & Utilities Administrator for Williston, per the Ocala Gazette and VOTE411.

Campaign finance

$7,847 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Sarah James

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Top priorities

Recruiting and retaining staff, including fixing pay compression for experienced teachers
Student-centered budgeting and planning for district growth
Expanding vocational opportunities

Per Ocala Gazette and VOTE411.

Biography

Sarah James is the incumbent school board member (four years) and current board chair; former teacher and school administrator with a doctorate in educational leadership who owns two preschools generating about $1.5 million annually, per the Ocala Gazette and VOTE411.

Campaign finance

$41,100 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotMarion Soil and Water Conservation District 5

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Marion County School Board District 5 in 2026?

When is the Marion 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 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

Florida House District 20 Florida House District 23 Florida House District 27 See all 8 Marion County races

Candidate profiles

Donald "Donny" Barber, full profile Sarah James, full profile Official Florida election office