Teacher to challenge Pasco superintendent

A Gulf High School history teacher announced Thursday that he would challenge first-term Pasco County school superintendent Heather Fiorentino in the fall election.

Steve Donaldson (left), 49, filed paperwork to run as a Democrat against Fiorentino, a Republican who also has served as a New Port Richey city council member and a representative in the Florida House.

"I'm really looking forward to some truth and transparency in how we run our schools," said Donaldson, who lives in Trinity. "We have a lot of room for change."

He acknowledged his bid for office appears an uphill challenge. Still, Donaldson said he had no plans to run a negative campaign, instead planning to focus on how he would lead the growing school district.

Donaldson, who teaches Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate government and history classes, is a retired Air Force intelligence officer. He began working for the school district in 2004. He also teaches an electrical apprenticeship program at Hillsborough Community College.

Born in Michigan, Donaldson grew up in Indiana. He has lived in the Tampa area since 1992, and in Pasco County since 1999.