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Less than two weeks to go before election day and our Election Spotlight is on the runoff for District 5 on the Palm Beach County School Board.
There were initially five candidates in the race for this seat being vacated by longtime board member and former Chairman Frank Barbieri.
Facing off November 5th are Gloria Branch, a banker and a substitute teacher, as well as the daughter of one-time Palm Beach Schools Superintendent Art Johnson, and Mindy Koch. She is the former Chair of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party who spent 40 years as a teacher, nearly half of those in Palm Beach County classrooms.
Koch wants to provide more mental health services for children.
"I would suggest working with the Legislature to see if we can get funding for mental health issues that is just that and that alone. It can't be used for anything else. Lobbying our legislators might be a way to go because they have kids too."
Branch's platform is centered around getting 'Back to Basics' and focusing on the fundamentals, including when it comes to reading.
We asked what makes her best-suited to be on the school board.
"My background in governance, education and business...knowing that my skills that I've had over 35-plus years in business and education and finance. I am equipped with the knowledge and the skills to do that, to be a school board member."
This is one of two School Board run-offs on the November ballot.