Gov. Ron DeSantis has endorsed 23 candidates in Florida school board races, including three in Duval County, saying, “we want the best for our children.”

The governor’s picks locally are:

• Tony Ricardo 
• Becky Nathanson 
• Melody Bolduc 

“I’m happy to endorse this slate of school board candidates who have pledged to serve with a focus on student success, parental rights, and curriculum transparency,” DeSantis said.

Districts 1,3,5 and7 are up for re-election next month.

Ricardo, who is running in District 1, the Northside and Arlington, is a former teacher, father of three, grandfather of eight and a commercial artist. Kelly Coker is the incumbent in that seat.

Nathanson is a lifelong resident of District 3, in Southside. She has a degree in human resources and was instrumental in improving transparency between DCPS and parents and has advocated on behalf of teachers who want to see common sense discipline restored in schools to improve the learning environment. The incumbent is Cindy Pearson.

Bolduc is running in Mandarin’s District 7 against Lori Hershey. Bolduc is a certified teacher and wants to keep politics out of the classroom. She supports the teaching of American history with an emphasis on the nation’s founding principles, our Constitution, rule of law, and civic responsibility. She says she will oppose any efforts to allow children to be used for social experiments.