Candidate: TARUAS A PUGH

Dear Friends & Neighbors:

I am Taurus Anthony Pugh and I want to represent YOU in District 5 on the Lee County School Board. I was born on December 28, 1981, and raised in the City of Fort Myers. I attended Lee County Public Schools and graduated in 2000 from Riverdale High School.  I continued my education and graduated from Southwest Florida College with a degree in Information Technology.  While a student in college, I served as a member of the Student Advisory Committee and New Student Orientation. In 1997, I signed on my first job at Regal Cinema where I rose to management quickly because of my sharp skills and quick thinking. 

During the 15 years at the Cinema, I started a security job at Dunbar High School, purchased a home in Lehigh Acres, and started my own business, UaStar Photo Booth. This business has produced a high demand. Within one year of starting, its demand prompted me to purchase another booth. Now, six years in business, I now own and operate four booths.  This was motivated by my Entrepreneurship training through Southwest Florida SCORE Program. I have managed business progress and development, budget management, and established grounds for others to grow by becoming a mentor within the program.  My business work started with the Young Entrepreneur’s Chamber of Commerce.

To date, I am a business owner, entrepreneur trainer, and security guard with the School District of Lee County. 

Despite growing up in unfavorable situations, I was determined to succeed. Growing up, my mother was killed by gun violence. I was staying the night with my Aunt and Uncle at the time of the news. Mom had a fight with her boyfriend and he took the gun and shot her in the heart. She died on the scene. My Aunt and Uncle, on their own, raised my sister and me with their other 5 kids. Years later my Aunt was killed with one bullet to the head and was left behind Harlem East Rec Center. This took a toll on me as, year after year, someone that was close to me was killed by a gun. This led me to build a determination to focus on making sure that others around me were safe. After organizing and taking students to Washington, DC, for the “March for our lives” gun rally after the Parkland shooting, I finalized my desire to run for School Board. 

My life experience and background has led me to focus on four issues: securing the schoolhouse, excellence in the classroom, diversity within administration, and financial stewardship. 

    1    As a security specialist, securing the schoolhouse is of upmost importance.  I will push retraining all school security to be certified to carry firearms.  This will allow a school to have a greater opportunity for safe schools

    2    Excellence in the classroom can be accomplished by the following:  Introduce a Superintendent concert which will allow students to select the celebrity entertainer.  This concert will be paid for by private funds

    3    Diversity within the process of administrator certification from Asst. Principal to Principal will be based upon merit. Appoints will be based upon merit, understanding and ability; and,

    4    Financial accountability is the foundation of effective operation and fiscal responsibility. Presently, I am against the sales tax increase.  Upon being elected, I will introduce a new board policy for appointing an Auditor/Inspector General position that would be charged with the responsibility of investigating fraud, waste, abuse, and complaints by members of the public and district. There will also be an employee incentive program that will allow them to be paid for reporting wrong-doing within operations of the district.