Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance endorsed Trevor Tucker in next month's election for the Flagler School Board District 4 seat in a statement last week. Tucker is running to regain his former seat from incumbent Christy Chong, who defeated him in the 2022 election.
"I don’t give out political endorsements very often," Dance wrote in his endorsement. "For me, someone has to earn that. I need to know their character, their judgment, and how they handle themselves when things get difficult. That’s why I’m supporting Trevor Tucker for Flagler County School Board."
Dance served alongside Tucker for multiple terms on the School Board when he himself represented District 1. In 2020, while Tucker was still on the School Board, Dance resigned halfway through his term to run for County Commission. He won that race and was re-elected in 2024.
"Trevor and I served together on the School Board for ten years," Dance continued. "We didn’t always agree, but I always respected the way he approached the job. Trevor was level-headed, prepared, respectful of staff and families, and always kept a close eye on taxpayer dollars.
"We worked through some tough issues during those ten years, but we had a board that could disagree, work through it, make a decision and move forward. Our School Board needs that kind of stability and mutual respect again. I know Trevor, and I know what he brings to the table. Flagler County will be better served with Trevor Tucker back on the School Board."
Trevor Tucker was one of three candidates who appeared on the primary ballot for the School Board's District 1 seat in August. He amassed the most votes at 10,442, good for 39.5%. In order to win the election at that stage, he would've needed to eclipse 50%. Christy Chong was a close second at 9,831 (37.2%), with Ron Long trailing at 6,156 (23.3%). Tucker and Chong moved on to a runoff, appearing on the ballot for all Flagler County voters on November 3.
Tucker's campaign website also lists an endorsement from the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, signed by IBPO Local 598 President Nicholas Champion. Christy Chong has been endorsed by the Flagler County Association of Realtors (FCAR) and Florida Voice for the Unborn, a pro-life lobbying organization.
"The current record speaks for itself," Chong said in response to Dance's endorsement of Tucker. "Our schools are not worse off today; they are stronger than they were four years ago, and while there will always be opportunities to improve, we should be proud of the progress we’ve made. There has been a consistent effort this year to question my character, but the reality is that as a board member and the Chair, I have a good working relationship with my fellow board members. A board of four or five people will not agree on every issue, nor should we. What matters is that we can disagree respectfully, find consensus, and continue moving our district forward."
