HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. , A political committee funded by the Hernando County firefighters’ union launched a mass text message attack campaign Friday targeting school board candidate Kara Champion, raising questions about why a union with no direct role in school governance is spending money to influence the race.
Residents across Hernando County received the unsolicited text from a group identified as “Firefighters” that targeted Champion, who is running for a seat on the Hernando County School Board. The union’s political committee funded the campaign despite the union having no formal endorsement in the school board race and no direct oversight role in public school operations.
The move drew attention because firefighter unions typically focus political spending on candidates and issues tied to public safety, fire department funding, and labor contracts, not school board elections. Critics questioned the motivation behind the attack, while others noted that school board races in Florida have become increasingly politicized in recent years, drawing outside money and interest groups not traditionally involved in education policy. Hernando County has seen competitive and contentious school board contests in recent election cycles, reflecting a broader statewide trend.
Champion has not yet publicly responded to the text campaign, according to available reports. The firefighters’ union also did not announce a formal endorsement of any opposing candidate in the race alongside the attack advertisement. Voters in Hernando County can learn more about candidates and the school board race through the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections office. Additional reporting on the campaign was provided by R News.
Originally reported by R News
Sources: R News
