The current District 1 board member, Tina Certain, is running for the Alachua County Commission, so this is an open seat in this election. Three candidates entered the race, but nobody got more than 50% of the votes in the August primary. As a result, the top two vote-getters, Hunter Miller and Janine Plavac, advance to the general election in November.
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.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES |
Hunter Miller
Occupation: I am currently a middle school math teacher at Howard W. Bishop Middle School.
Age: 27
Family: I am the first born American in my family. My 2 sisters, my dad, and my mom are all from Canada. Now everybody except for one of my sisters lives in the US.
Education: I currently have a bachelor’s in Middle Grades Math Education from Indian River State College.
Political experience: None. I am just a teacher.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
My top three issues are teacher support, school safety, and literacy. I want to make sure the training provided for our programs are effective and that teachers feel supported by their admin and the district. I want to make sure we have safe schools by having adequate staffing of guidance counselors and working with local organizations to mentor our students. With literacy, we need to embrace the science of reading and focus on K-2 literacy so that our students start off on a strong foundation. This includes early interventions and providing the right resources to our elementary school teachers.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I am the only candidate running that works for our public schools. I know what it is like in our classrooms first-hand and what pitfalls we have in our system.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I want to be remembered for making the correct choices that bettered our community, despite how tough they may be.
Campaign website: huntermillerforschoolboard.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
Janine Plavac
Occupation: Teacher/Nurse
Age: (No response)
Family: 3 children
Education: University of Miami, BSN
Political experience: Currently serving on the School Board of Alachua County, District 5, Governor appointee April 2025
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
Accountability, Unity, Progress
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
As a former public school teacher for 17 years, and currently teaching in our Catholic high school, I bring a vast knowledge of both public and private education.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Integrity, honesty, accountability, and putting children first
Campaign website: janineplavacforalachuacountyschoolboard.com
Campaign social media: Facebook