Will Furry, the one-term Flagler County School Board member who announced a run for Congress last year as a “MAGA Republican Candidate,” is dropping out of that race and will run for re-election to the School Board instead.
Furry made the announcement on Facebook. Frequently invoking the deity to explain his electoral decisions–he said God called him to run for the congressional seat when he announced last August–he attributed his decision to drop out of the race to redistricting.
“There are many unknowns as to where final lines will be drawn,” he said in his Facebook statement, a reference to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s push to redistrict congressional lines to increase Florida’s tally of Republicans in a bid to save the faltering GOP majority in the House. “It is clear to me that it is more advantageous for a proven Republican to run for a seat I know we can keep red and protect our public schools from the radical left.”
School Board seats are ostensibly non-partisan, though many candidates run openly partisan campaigns, as Furry did in 2022. His decision to drop out of the congressional race was first reported locally by AskFlagler.
It was not a surprise: Furry’s campaign never drew much attention or built any momentum, managing to raise less than $24,000, not including $15,000 of his own money.
Furry was one of six Republicans challenging incumbent Randy Fine. Charles Gambaro, the Palm Coast City Council member, had joined the race earlier last year and remains in it. “I wish Will Furry the very best in his school board race,” Gambaro said today. (Gambaro has raised $215,000, more than half of it his own.) Fine had almost $400,000 on hand as of the last campaign report in September.
No one has yet filed to run for the District 2 seat Furry occupies on the School Board. In District 4, Christy Chong has filed for re-election, loaning herself $10,000 for the effort, and Ronald Long is challenging her.
Furry last drew attention in November when, teaming up with Chong, he stretched a School Board meeting to nine hours and forced 103 votes so he could keep his grip on the title of vice chair, after two years as chair. The board had elected Chong chair, and although it is customary for the previous chair to step aside for new leadership, Furry and Chong blocked Board member Lauren Ramirez from the vice chair position.
Furry lectured Ramirez about her supposed lack of experience, though Ramirez had more education or business experience than either Chong or Furry even before she was elected to the board. Furry’s coveting of the title would have been important to whichever electoral path he chose. (See: “After 9 Hours, 103 Votes and Immeasurable Entitlement, Will Furry Grasps Vice Chair for School Board.”)
The board had deadlocked in 2-2 votes because the District 1 seat previously held by Derek Barrs has been vacant since Barrs took a job in the Trump administration last fall. Gov. Ron DeSantis has yet to make an appointment to replace Barrs.
Jim says
Well, I’m absolutely shocked (Shocked I say!) to hear that Furry’s congressional campaign never even got started. I guess when the good Lord told him to run for that seat, God needed a little amusement….
Anyway, since Furry has decided he’s what the school board needs to fend off all those liberal heathens, I sincerely hope someone/anyone will run against him. I’d say you’d almost be guaranteed to win. Furry is the complete opposite of the Christian he claims to be. This county will be much better off when Chong and Furry are in the rear view mirror. Neither can claim any “wins” for the school system under their watch. It’s been a long march of incompetence and pettiness from both. So, someone, PLEASE run against Furry. I’ll definitely donate some money to that candidate.
Oh, and Furry, be aware that we all anticipate you lying about your opponent and putting out false info at the last minute so you’d better be creative in how you’re going to uncut your opponent in a Christian manner this time!!
Laurel says
Hilarious! Apparently, God has a pretty good sense of humor!
Deborah Coffey says
I’m thinking about it. We have got to fix a school board that doesn’t put learning first. Let’s make education in Flagler County great again. Is that okay with all the Magas here or do they just love getting our money for vouchers…no matter what the quality of education their children are getting? I’ve taught high school for 28 years in both public and private schools and served as the Academic Dean of Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville. This school board needs help.
Duane says
That’s great. Put your money where your fat mouth is and do something instead of complaining on social media.
Otherwise, shut up.
celia says
Expected…not surprised at all.
Now lets see a good opposition candidate for his school Board. Also a good one after we lost Mr. Derek Barrs to the FDOT Seat!
Also lets work hard for our city Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri win her seat in our FCBOCC and Ray Stevens, back in his district 3 and Darlene Shelley and Jeani Duarte in our city council seats 4 and 2, working for Palmcoasters.
WTF says
… Jeani Duarte???
tulip says
absolutely no vote for her
Greg Ryan says
Thank God that’s a photo from 2022. For a second I thought Joe Mullins was back in town.