Introduction to the State Board of Education
The State Board of Education in Florida plays a crucial role in setting policy and providing oversight for public K-12 institutions and state colleges. Recently, the board welcomed a new member, Daniel Foganholi, after a narrow confirmation vote by the Florida Senate. Foganholi, a former appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Broward County School Board, was confirmed by a vote of 20 to 17, with all 10 Democrats and seven Republicans voting against him.
The Confirmation Process
Foganholi’s confirmation process was not without controversy. Initially, his appointment seemed to be moving smoothly, having been recommended favorably by the Senate Education Pre-K-12 on March 31 and the Ethics and Elections Committee on April 22. However, the publication of an op-ed by Foganholi on April 23, in which he advocated for students and professors to carry guns on college campuses, sparked intense debate and opposition to his nomination.
The Op-Ed Controversy
In his op-ed, Foganholi argued that gun-free zones do not protect students and instead turn them into "defenseless, easy targets." He suggested that allowing students and professors to carry guns would provide them with a "God-given right to self-defense." This opinion piece was met with strong criticism from senators, including Sen. Tina Polsky, who had initially voted to recommend Foganholi to the full Senate but later changed her mind after reading his op-ed.
Senate Debate and Vote
During the Senate debate, Polsky expressed her concerns about Foganholi’s nomination, stating that his suggestion to allow students to carry guns on college campuses was "dangerous" and demonstrated a "poor understanding of safety." Despite her efforts to rally opposition, no other senators joined in on the debate, creating uncertainty about the level of support for Foganholi’s nomination. When the vote was cast, seven Republicans joined the 10 Democrats in voting against Foganholi, making it a close call with only two votes shy of defeat.
Reaction to the Vote
Foganholi expressed his disappointment with the "Republicans" who voted against his nomination, stating that he was simply defending the "God-given right to self-defense and the Second Amendment." The close vote is seen as a sign that Republicans in the Senate are becoming less willing to rubber-stamp DeSantis’ appointments to state boards and commissions.
Broader Implications
The confirmation of Foganholi to the State Board of Education is not an isolated incident. The Senate has also refused to consider two controversial appointments to the Ethics Commission and delayed confirmation hearings for leaders of the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Children and Families. This trend suggests that the Senate is exercising greater scrutiny over DeSantis’ appointments, potentially signaling a shift in the balance of power in the state government.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Daniel Foganholi’s narrow confirmation to the State Board of Education highlights the controversy surrounding his op-ed advocating for guns on college campuses. The close vote and opposition from both Democrats and Republicans demonstrate a growing willingness in the Senate to challenge DeSantis’ appointments and prioritize the safety and well-being of students in Florida.
FAQs
- Q: Who is Daniel Foganholi?
A: Daniel Foganholi is a former appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Broward County School Board and has been confirmed to the State Board of Education. - Q: What was the controversy surrounding Foganholi’s confirmation?
A: The controversy centered around an op-ed written by Foganholi advocating for students and professors to carry guns on college campuses. - Q: How did the Senate vote on Foganholi’s confirmation?
A: The Senate voted 20 to 17 in favor of Foganholi’s confirmation, with all 10 Democrats and seven Republicans voting against him. - Q: What are the implications of Foganholi’s confirmation?
A: The close vote and opposition to Foganholi’s nomination suggest a growing trend of Senate scrutiny over DeSantis’ appointments and a potential shift in the balance of power in the state government. - Q: What is the role of the State Board of Education in Florida?
A: The State Board of Education sets policy and provides oversight for public K-12 institutions and state colleges in Florida.An op-ed advocating for students and professors to carry guns on college campuses nearly cost Daniel Foganholi a seat on the state Board of Education.
Foganholi, a former appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Broward County School Board, was confirmed by the Florida Senate to his newest education position by a narrow vote of 20 to 17. All 10 Democrats and seven of the 27 Republicans voted no. Sen. Jason Pizzo, who switched from Democrat to no party affiliation last week, did not cast a vote.
The Board of Education sets policy and provides oversight for public K-12 institutions and state colleges in Florida.
“I am honored to have been confirmed by the Florida Senate today,” Foganholi told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “I will soon announce a statewide listening tour to meet with students, parents, and teachers at our schools and state colleges as we work to make education in Florida even stronger.”
Gov. DeSantis appointed Foganholi to the State Board of Education in August, a few days after he lost an election to try to keep his Broward School Board seat. Foganholi started the new position in November but needed Senate confirmation to ensure he could serve out his full three-year term.
His confirmation appeared to be sailing along, having been recommended favorably by the Senate Education Pre-K-12 on March 31 and the Ethics and Elections Committee on April 22.
But on April 23, a day after the Ethics and Elections Commission meeting, the conservative publication Spectator World published an essay written by Foganholi titled, “Let students and professors carry guns to class. We owe them their God-given right to self-defense.” The opinion piece was in response to the April 17 shooting at Florida State University.
“It’s time to get real: gun-free zones do not protect our students — they turn them into defenseless, easy targets,” Foganholi wrote.
Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat from Boca Raton, serves on the Ethics and Elections Committee and had voted to recommend Foganholi to the full Senate. But after reading his op-ed, she changed her mind. On Tuesday, she asked her Senate colleagues to reject his nomination, saying his suggestion that students should be freely allowed to carry guns on college campuses was dangerous.
“Fortunately, the bill that we had that would have done so was voted down by this Legislature, demonstrating our widespread understanding of the additional dangers this policy would create,” Polsky said.
A bill this year that would have allowed students to bring guns onto college campuses died after being rejected by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. A bill to lower the legal age to own a rifle from 21 to 18 never got a committee hearing, despite passing the House.
“The students of Florida, of Parkland and now Florida State continue to come to us asking us to listen and prioritize their safety,” Polsky said on the floor. “How do we justify to them appointing someone with such a poor understanding of safety on the Board of Education?”
No other senators joined in on the debate, creating uncertainty as to how much support Polsky had. But when it was time to cast votes, not only had the nine other Democrats voted no, seven Republicans had as well, making it two votes shy of defeat.
“If I’d known it would be this close, I would have worked it a little more to try to get it defeated,” Polsky told the Sun Sentinel after the vote. “I didn’t whip any votes. It was kind of organic.”
Among the no votes were three Republican senators from Miami-Dade County: Alexis Calatayud, Ana Maria Rodriguez and Ileana Garcia.
Foganholi was also opposed by Colleen Burton of Polk County, Nick DiCeglie of Pinellas County, Tom Wright of Volusia County and Clay Yarborough of Duval and Nassau counties.
“I am disappointed in the ‘Republicans’ who voted against my nomination simply because I defended our God-given right to self-defense and the Second Amendment,” Foganholi told the Sun Sentinel in a text.
The close vote is the latest sign that Republicans in the Senate are becoming less willing than in past years to rubber-stamp DeSantis’ appointments to state boards and commissions.
DeSantis made eight appointments to the Board of Trustees for the University of West Florida, but only five got confirmed. The Senate Ethics and Elections committee rejected one nominee, and two others dropped out due to Senate scrutiny. Joel Rudman, a former state legislator and staunch DeSantis ally, dropped out after senators questioned statements he made on a social media chat, suggesting some unnamed members of the Legislature may be involved in illegal activity.
The Senate also has refused to consider two controversial appointments to the Ethics Commission and delayed confirmation hearings for leaders of the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Children and Families due to intense scrutiny of the Hope Florida program, an
