JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two future school board members are all smiles the day after the election.
In District 3, Ashley Smith Juarez won 54 percent of the vote. In District 7, Jason Fischer had a 58 percent lead.
Eager to get to work, Smith Juarez is eager to hit the ground running.
"I'm just really excited, grateful and humbled to have been a part of this campaign," said Smith Juarez, "I will do the work. This was not just about the campaign for me, the campaign was the method and the mode to be able to do the work that I fully intend to follow through with."
Across the aisle, Fischer is ready to cash in on his campaign promises.
"I'm very excited. I'm glad that the campaign is over, I'm glad that we can move into governing," said Fischer. "I'm sticking to my guns. I think that people wanted us to get our budget in line, people wanted to make sure the superintendent could be an effective CEO and people really wanted quality school choice options."
Both candidates are fresh faces who feel their youth will be beneficial to the board.
"There's a lot of energy to be had from a younger generation that is taking ownership of these institutions and our community and making sure that we make our mark and that we leave this city better than we found it," said Smith Juarez.
The challenge is the new dynamic. Between the primary and General Election, four of the board's seven members will be new, and the new superintendent of school starts next week.
"I think we're going to mesh real well as a group, I think everybody wants our school system to improve in the fastest way possible," said Fischer. "I think with that, I think we'll be able to empower our superintendent to do great things."
The candidates are set to be sworn in Nov. 14.
