Debbie Jordan
Jordan has represented District 4 on the Lee County School Board since 2019 and is seeking a third and final term. She is a longtime Lee County resident with children and grandchildren in district schools. The race takes place as the district absorbs a proposed $47 million budget reduction and declining enrollment, with about 475 employees, including 275 teachers, not offered renewed contracts.
Campaign finance: state and county candidates file with the Florida Division of Elections or the county Supervisor of Elections. Search contributions ↗
Sources last checked 2026-09-28. Report an error ↗
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Leans disagree· stated position
In a Sept. 28, 2026 WGCU interview Jordan said she opposed the district's budget because of the scale of the cuts in it. She described herself as fiscally conservative but independent of the superintendent and the rest of the board, and said she decides each question on what is best for students and on what parents tell her.
"When I am looking at the amount of cuts that were being made...I have a problem with that."
Education & school choice Leans disagree· stated position
Jordan promotes the district's career academies as an advantage public schools hold over private schools, framing them as a reason families should stay in the district rather than take their funding elsewhere.
"In Lee County, the academies that we have in our schools, they don't have that in your private schools."
Teacher and staff pay Leans agree· stated position
Jordan objected to how the district described staff reductions during its budget cuts and said problems should be addressed 'at the top' so schools keep the resources they need. She also said the district should use its own experienced teachers to train colleagues rather than pay outside trainers.
"They consider them units. I consider them human beings with families."
No public position found on 4 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Property taxes, Gender identity laws, Library and classroom materials, School safety approach. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Record and campaign finance — Jordan, a retired nonprofit professional, has served nearly eight years on the Lee County School Board. WGCU reported she took about 35 percent of the August primary vote to challenger Tony Beougher's 28 percent, and had raised about $32,000 to his roughly $83,000.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Elected to the Lee County School Board in 2018, taking office in 2019, and re-elected to a second term; currently seeking a third term.
Endorsements (as reported)
- Equality Florida Action PACSources: Ballotpedia candidate page (2026-09)
- Ruth's List FloridaSources: Ballotpedia candidate page (2026-09)