Clearwater voters head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, to help pick the next Pinellas County School Board member for District 3. Incumbent Dawn Peters faces challenger Curtis Campogni in a runoff that will shape how the district handles falling enrollment and school closures.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. Anyone in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Results will be posted to the elections office website after polls close.

Why every Pinellas voter has a say

District 3 is an at-large seat, meaning all registered voters in Pinellas County can cast a ballot in this race, not just those living in the district's geographic area, which stretches from Gandy to Fort De Soto, according to WUSF.

The two candidates advanced from an Aug. 18 primary that also included a third candidate, Dawn Douglas. Peters earned about 36% of the vote and Campogni about 35%, according to Patch, citing the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office.

What's at stake

The next board member steps into a district under pressure. Pinellas County Schools lost 16.8% of its enrollment between 2018–19 and 2024–25, dropping from 100,985 students to 84,064, according to Tallahassee Reports, citing Florida Department of Education data. That was the steepest percentage decline among large Florida districts.

The board voted in February 2026 to close Cross Bayou Elementary and Disston Academy. The district reported approximately 45,000 empty student seats and was evaluating additional closures as of July, according to Spectrum Bay News 9.

Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said maintaining underutilized buildings is not financially sustainable. The district was still evaluating additional closures in July, according to Spectrum Bay News 9.

The candidates

Dawn Peters, 51, was elected to the board in November 2022 and serves as vice chairperson, according to her campaign website. She is a registered Republican. Before taking office, Peters worked in property management and as a personal trainer, according to WUSF.

In a candidate survey for the Florida Public Media Voter Guide, Peters said it is important to support students in academic growth, maintain stability and increase teacher and staff pay. "Now, as a seasoned and experienced school board member, I will continue into the next term with focus and without disruption," she said in the survey, according to WUSF.

Peters has endorsements from Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector, three Pinellas County commissioners, Pinellas County Clerk of the Court Ken Burke, Tax Collector Adam Ross and Property Appraiser Mike Twitty, according to her campaign website.

Curtis Campogni, 42, is a first-time candidate with no party affiliation. He lives in Safety Harbor and founded Speak4MC, a consulting firm that trains youth and family agencies, according to WUSF's runoff coverage. He has worked with at-risk youth in Pinellas County and central Florida for 15 years, WUSF reported.

Campogni told WUSF his top priority is supporting teachers through better pay and reduced burdens. "I believe the person that sits in the seat should represent everyone in Pinellas, not just one district," he said.

The Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association and Pinellas Educational Support Personnel Association (PCTA-PESPA) endorsed Campogni, according to WUSF.

How to check results

On Election Day, voters must go to their assigned precinct. Residents can verify their polling place through the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections at 727-464-8683 or at votepinellas.gov.