Laurie Rich Levinson
Laurie Rich Levinson was a member of the Broward County Public Schools school board in Florida, representing District 6. Levinson assumed office in 2010. Levinson left office on August 26, 2022.
Levinson won re-election to the Broward County Public Schools school board to represent District 6 in Florida outright in the primary on August 28, 2018, after the general election was canceled.
On August 26, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) suspended Laurie Rich Levinson from the Broward County School Board, along with three other members, for misuse of authority, neglect of duty, and incompetence.[1][2] DeSantis said the suspensions were a result of a statewide grand jury report on the investigation of the school district's handling of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.[3] For more information, click here.
Elections
2018
Incumbent Laurie Rich Levinson won election outright against Richard Mendelson in the primary for Broward County Public Schools school board District 6 on August 28, 2018.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Broward County Public Schools school board District 6
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Laurie Rich Levinson (Nonpartisan) | 56.4 | 20,041 |
 | Richard Mendelson (Nonpartisan) | 43.6 | 15,522 | |
| Total votes: 35,563 | |||
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2014
The August 26, 2014, general election in Broward County featured six seats up for election. District 1 incumbent Ann Murray defeated challenger Felicia Mychele Brunson. The District 3 race included incumbent Heather Pomper Brinkworth and challengers Sam Budyszewick and Nicholas A. "Nick" Sakhnovsky. Brinkworth retained the seat. Abby Merle Freedman won re-election to the District 4 seat against Robert Alan Mayersohn. District 6 incumbent Laurie Rich Levinson defeated challenger Lisa Lafferty Spince, while fellow board member Nora Rupert ran and won in District 7 against Hubert St. Clair. Donna Pilger Korn won re-election to the District 8 seat without opposition.
The general election determined if candidates for each seat could garner a majority of the vote total. If no candidate had received 50 percent plus one of the general election votes in a particular district, the top two vote recipients would have advanced to the runoff election on November 4, 2014. However, none of the races necessitated a runoff.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Laurie Rich Levinson Incumbent |
68.8% | 8,738 | |
| Nonpartisan | Lisa Lafferty Spince | 31.2% | 3,962 | |
| Total Votes | 12,700 | |||
| Source: Broward County Supervisor of Elections, "Official Results," accessed June 4, 2014 | ||||
Funding
Levinson reported $16,903 in contributions and $2,281.50 in expenditures to the Broward County Supervisor of Elections, as of July 25, 2014.[4]
2010
| Broward County Public Schools, District 6 Runoff Election, 4-year term, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Laurie Rich Levinson |
54.8% | 26,897 | |
| Nonpartisan | Phyllis C. Hope | 45.2% | 22,209 | |
| Total Votes | 49,106 | |||
| Source: Broward County Supervisor of Elections, "2010 General Election," November 2, 2010 | ||||
| Broward County Public Schools, District 6 General Election, 4-year term, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Laurie Rich Levinson |
42.3% | 8,313 | |
| Nonpartisan | Phyllis C. Hope |
33.2% | 6,529 | |
| Nonpartisan | Lynn Simon | 13.3% | 2,616 | |
| Nonpartisan | Melvin "Doc" Propis | 11.1% | 2,179 | |
| Total Votes | 19,637 | |||
| Source: Broward County Supervisor of Elections, "2010 Primary Election," September 2, 2010 | ||||
Campaign themes
2014
Levinson's campaign website listed the following themes for the 2014 race:
| “ |
SAVING TAXPAYER MONEY One of my campaign issues in 2010 was to focus on operating our District more efficiently. We have done so. Over the course of the past four years, we have found ways to cut operational costs in our departments, eliminate leases, and restructure contracts. I’m proud to report that Broward County Public Schools now has the lowest administrative costs of all 67 counties in Florida. My business background and degree in economics were valuable in helping me prioritize resources and bring a business minded, common sense approach to our schools. But we must remain vigilant in increasing these efficiencies and ensure that savings continue to be redirected back into the classrooms. ENHANCING EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS Another one of my campaign issues in 2010 was to look at new, out-of-the box ways to educate our children. We now have a wide breadth of exciting hands-on learning and creative, interactive programs in our schools including digital personalized learning, computer coding, robotics, music, the arts, debate, and chess. In Broward schools today, we emphasize teaching to each child’s individual needs, instead of teaching to a standardized test. |
” |
| —Laurie Rich Levinson's campaign website, (2014) | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of the Governor, "Executive Order Number 22-202," August 26, 2022
- ↑ Governor of Florida, "Governor Ron DeSantis Suspends Four Broward School Board Members from Office," August 26, 2022
- ↑ Supreme Court of Florida, "FINAL REPORT OF THE TWENTIETH STATEWIDE GRAND JURY," released August 26, 2022
- ↑ Broward County Supervisor of Elections, "Candidates for 2014 Election Cycle," accessed July 25, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Re-elect Laurie Rich Levinson, "Issues," accessed July 25, 2014
