Herald endorsement: Our pick in Miami-Dade School Board District 3 runoff | Opinion

By the Miami Herald Editorial Board

Updated November 2, 2024 11:41 AM

School Board District 3 candidates Martin Karp and Joseph “Joe” Geller Provided

Editorial Board’s General Election Endorsements

In advance of the upcoming general elections on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, the Editorial Board interviewed and researched candidates to better understand their views on various issues and how their policies will affect their constituents. The goal is to give voters a better idea of who’s the best candidate for each race.

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Miami-Dade School Board District 3 has two candidates vying to represent schools in a coastal area that stretches from Coconut Grove north to Aventura. Two seasoned politicians with experience in education policies are running for this open nonpartisan seat: Joseph “Joe” Geller and Martin Karp.

Neither candidate received the Herald Editorial Board’s endorsement during the August primary elections, but they gained enough votes for a runoff in November.

We believe Geller is the stronger candidate who would stand up to political meddling from Tallahassee on local education policies. He has a daughter who attends a Miami-Dade public high school and knows first hand the challenges the school system is facing.

Geller, 70, is a lawyer who served four terms in the Florida House of Representatives as a Democrat and was a two-term mayor of North Bay Village. A strong advocate for quality public schools, he was a member of the House Education Committee and the ranking Democrat on the K-8 subcommittee.

Karp, 59, was a member of the school board for 16 years until he decided not to run again in 2020 after an Inspector General’s report detailed lax oversight of some after-school programs run by a Jewish center with connections to Karp.

The report, based on an anonymous complaint, found that Karp’s office helped the center gain free access to school facilities for a decade even though the program charged students and did not qualify for free facility use and that the center did not conduct proper background checks of employees. Karp, who also was a teacher in the school district for several years, disputes the findings and stresses that school officials, not his office, was responsible for oversight.

School board elections are nonpartisan but there is a proposed Florida constitutional amendment on the ballot to turn those elections into partisan races in the future. For now, we hope Geller can rise above the partisan tactics he had to employ in Tallahassee and instead bring people together on public education.

Geller would be replacing Lucia Baez-Geller (no relation), who is leaving the school board to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He told the editorial board his top three priorities are to tackle a growing teacher shortage and find funds to increase teachers’ pay, institute universal pre-K and “keep politics out of the classroom” to protect vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQ+ students and children with disabilities, and to fend off unfair policies that affect Black students and other minorities. He supports Schools Superintendent Jose L. Dotres.

Geller brings some creative ideas to find more funding. He says savings can be found in the district’s budget by cutting energy costs with solar panels on school buildings and that the district may be too top heavy with administrators.

He is opposed to public vouchers going to private schools but supports magnet public schools. He’s concerned about having some charter schools getting money for construction then eventually closing after using public funds.

“I’m ready to work with anybody,” Geller told the board. “I will not pick a fight, but I will not back down either.”

We expect no less, and believe he would do best by finding common ground with conservative board members.

For Miami-Dade School Board District 3, the Miami Herald Editorial Board endorses JOSEPH “JOE” GELLER.

BEHIND THE STORY

Who decides the political endorsements?

In advance of local and state elections, Miami Herald Editorial Board members interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The Editorial Board is composed of experienced opinion journalists and is independent of the Herald’s newsroom. Members of the Miami Herald Editorial Board are: Amy Driscoll, editorial page editor; and editorial writers Isadora Rangel and Mary Anna Mancuso. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.

What does the endorsement process look like?

The Miami Herald Editorial Board interviews political candidates to better understand their views on public policy and how their policies will affect their constituents. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates before making an endorsement. The Editorial Board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. Candidates who decline to be interviewed will not receive an endorsement.

Is the Editorial Board partisan?

No. In making endorsements, members of the Editorial Board consider which candidates are better prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with our editorial stances or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, readiness for office, depth of knowledge of key issues and understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points.

This story was originally published October 9, 2024 at 12:43 PM.