Four candidates were seeking the District 2 seat on the Clay County School Board. This is a nonpartisan office is elected by all voters in the district, regardless of party. As no candidate got more than 50% of the vote in the August primary, the top two finishers, Robert Alvero and James Hughes, advanced to the November general election.
News4Jax sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.
Recommended Videos
Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are published exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4Jax staff.
| CANDIDATES |
Robert Alvero
Occupation: Firefighter and Lieutenant Junior Grade for the Florida State Guard.
Age: 42
Family: Wife and 4 children
Education: College
Political experience: None
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
I think the Indoctrination and sexualization of our children is a problem that need to be eliminated, the safety physically and psychologically of our children is my priority, having a simple and transparent Budget where anyone who looks at it can understand it and
Teacher salary, we need to increase Teacher pay.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I am bilingual and the Hispanic community can benefit from having someone like me representing them.
I can also identify Marxist and Communist ideas a mile away and we don’t want that ideology in our schools.
I have the conviction of having 3 of my children enroll in Clay County public schools and I want the best for them and for all 40k children in the county.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I want to be remembered by being the school board members who put our children first in every decision I made, the one who listened to every parent concerns and I am committed to be honest and transparent from the beginning to the end
Campaign website: Alveroforccsb.com
Campaign social media: X | Facebook
James “Jim” Hughes
Occupation: Retired Clay County teacher and coach after 36 years.
Retired Director of Music Ministry from St. Catherine Catholic Church, Orange Park. Diocese of St. Augustine - Served for 48 years.
Music composer for International Liturgy Publications - Nashville since 2011 (contemporary and traditional Christian/Catholic music)
Age: 66
Family: Married 46 years to Shelly Hughes. We have three daughters, all graduates of Clay County Schools and six grandchildren, three of which are current students in Clay County schools. Two daughters returned to Clay County to teach in our schools.
Education: Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from he University of North Florida - 1979
Masters degree in Education from the University of North Florida - 1993
Political experience: First time candidate with no desire but to serve Clay County Schools. No other political aspirations.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
I believe in continuously striving to make things better by preparing students holistically for life beyond school - whether it be the workforce, higher education, military service, or any other path - through collaborative efforts involving parents, teachers, administrators, educational support personnel, and most importantly, the students themselves. This preparation must address Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, ensuring that students’ basic needs are met to facilitate their academic and personal growth.
Additionally, I advocate for the expansion of trade education within schools, providing students with more options and pathways to success. This includes promoting school choice in trade education, continuing partnerships with local businesses such as Garber and Vystar, as well as hospitals, and offering apprenticeship programs alongside traditional academic coursework. By fostering open communication and dialogue among all stakeholders, I aim to empower our students to pursue fulfilling careers and contribute positively to society.
Lastly, we must find a way to retain employment of our teachers and support personnel. Too many are leaving Clay County schools, either for other school districts due to better salaries or other, less stressful occupations. The demands placed upon teachers are many and financial rewards are few. Clay County offers an attractive starting salary for teachers, however the salary for teachers with ten, twenty, even thirty years of experience, lag behind other area districts and far behind other states. When a teacher with ten years experience is making only $500 more than a teacher just starting their career, improvements in salary need to take place in order to keep our teachers teaching in Clay County.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
My experience in education, especially Clay County education, is my number one asset. I know the schools and how they run. I know the curriculum. I have served on school district committees for curriculum development and technology education. I have served on accreditation teams in schools where I worked, as well as on visiting accreditation team for Duval County Schools. I have good communication skills and worked with parents in developing individual educational plans for their children. Being retired, I have the time to dedicate to the school board, without the distractions of another job. I have been a finalist for Clay County Teacher of the Year. I understand the demands of teaching, and how to manage the time it takes to prepare lessons and classrooms. All of the candidate bring some experience and knowledge to the campaign, but no other candidate brings as much experience to this campaign for school board as Jim Hughes. I am the most qualified candidate for this Clay County School Board seat.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Throughout my life, I have served others, whether through my teaching, at my church, or in my community. I have a desire to continue serving. If at the end of my term, I leave office knowing that our students received the best possible education from our schools, that our graduates were prepared to enter higher education, or the job force, or military service, that our teachers and support personnel became better compensated for their work, if all of this were attained, that would be enough for me. I don’t need accolades or awards of remembrance. Serving others has been my reward, my vocation throughout my life.
Campaign website: jimhughes4clayschools.com
Campaign social media: Facebook