Heidi Brandt submits application for Bridget Ziegler’s position on the Sarasota County School Board.

Key Information

• Candidate: Heidi Brandt
• Position: Running for Sarasota County School Board District 1 seat
• Current Role: Incoming President of the Southside Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization
• School Rating: Southside has been an “A”-rated school for 21 consecutive years
• Concerns: Recent school lockdowns and safety
• Political Context: Nonpartisan race; involvement of local parties
• Election Timeline: Seat up in 2026; first election scheduled for next August

Heidi Brandt, a longtime Republican leader from Sarasota, is set to run for the District 1 seat on the Sarasota County School Board, currently held by Bridget Ziegler. Brandt serves as the incoming President of the Southside Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization, where the school has maintained an exemplary “A” rating for 21 consecutive years.

Expressing her motivation, Brandt stated, “I take great pride in sending my daughter to public school in Sarasota County. It is imperative that we continue to empower parents, invest in high-quality teachers, and enhance workforce training so students can thrive inside the classroom and beyond.” She is the first candidate to officially announce her intention to file for the seat, a position many believe Ziegler may vacate due to a high-profile sex scandal from the previous year. Although Ziegler has faced calls for her resignation, she has firmly rebuffed these demands.

The recent increase in lockdowns of local campuses has heightened Brandt’s awareness as a concerned parent of an 8-year-old daughter, Mia. “Just last month, three public schools in South Sarasota County locked down due to threats received,” she noted. “We are fortunate to have a Sheriff’s Department that is so well-trained and prepared, but we can always do more to ensure the safety and security of our students, teachers, and staff.”

While school board positions are officially nonpartisan, local party involvement in the election process is increasing. Brandt’s role as Vice President of the Republican Women’s Club of Sarasota further emphasizes her political engagement. Moreover, she contributes to her community by assisting with Sunday School lessons at Covenant Life Church alongside her fiancé, Jerry Wells.

The District 1 seat will be contested in 2026, with initial elections set for next August and a subsequent runoff anticipated in November. In the last election cycle for this position, a conservative majority took control of the Sarasota County School Board. However, the previous year saw two Democrats successfully elected to the Board.