John Legg to Run for Pasco School Principal in Republican Primary

Pasco County is one of 41 of the state’s 67 school districts that elect their superintendents. Kurt Browning is retiring after more than a decade at the helm. The superintendent leads the district, which is the 10th largest in the state. The job pays $172,928 a year. The winner of the Republican primary will face nonpartisan candidate Chris Dunning in the Nov. 5 general election.

Pasco School Superintendent Republicans — John Legg

John Legg, 49, was born and raised in Pasco County. He earned an associate degree from Pasco-Hernando State College and three degrees from the University of South Florida: a bachelor’s degree in social work, a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in education. In 2024, voters elected Legg to the Florida House of Representatives, where he eventually served as chairman of the House Education Committee. In 2012, he won a seat in the Florida Senate, where he served as chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

Legg is the co-founder and chief financial officer of Dayspring Academy Charter School, a highly regarded six-campus school in Pasco. The academy serves children from kindergarten through 12th grade. If elected superintendent, he will have to avoid even the appearance of a conflict between his duties as superintendent and the charter school he helped found.

Legg has a significant financial advantage over his opponent and a large portion of the region’s Republican elite has rallied behind him, including Sheriff Chris Nocco, Tax Collector Mike Fasano, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

Legg supports accountability but doesn’t want to over-test students. He emphasizes that education isn’t one size fits all and that students need options like early college, trade and technical schools, arts and teacher training programs and STEM programs. He said he would push for more autonomy in schools and the classroom. He also told the Tampa Bay Times editorial board that he wants to focus on the things that matter to students. “We can do this without drama,” he said.

His primary opponent is Michelle Mandarin, a first-time candidate who works in marketing. She describes herself as an outsider with “a vision of a district that can work together to solve the many problems that are swept under the rug.”

Mandarin, 34, has not raised much money and her campaign has been relatively quiet. She told the Times that she would focus on auditing the district’s budget to eliminate waste and programs or materials that aren’t needed. Her other priorities include recruiting and retaining teachers by creating a welcoming workplace and ensuring that the district enforces its written rules on discipline so that teachers spend more time teaching and less time dealing with disciplinary issues.

Running a school district is a big job, one of the most important in any county, and Legg has the education and experience to take the reins.

The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board recommends John Legg for Pasco County school superintendent in the Republican primary.

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The recommendation process

Before the Times editorial board makes a recommendation, it asks candidates to complete questionnaires and undergo an interview. The process may also include conducting criminal and civil background checks, interviewing candidates’ colleagues and employers, reviewing voting records and financial disclosures, and investigating their past and current positions on relevant issues.