Hillsborough School Board District 2: The Choice Between Proven Dedication and Outside Ambition

Is a seat on our local school board up for grabs by the highest out-of-county bidder? For months, the District 2 race was a focused contest between candidates with deep, functional ties to our classroom, including professionals like veteran educator Chris Taylor, who has spent years in the trenches of our district. Chris understands student achievement because he has managed it from the front lines, and his commitment is rooted in the actual lives of the students he has taught and the teachers he has led. His vision is focused on stability, inclusivity, and the professional integrity our schools need to thrive.

In sharp contrast, the late entry of attorney Brittany Lyssy introduces a jarring shift toward outside influence and corporate-backed interests. While Chris Taylor’s support is local and organic, an analysis of Lyssy’s campaign finance reports reveals that nearly 45% of her total donations—excluding personal loans—flow from outside Hillsborough County. Backed by Tallahassee-based PACs and out-of-county law firms, her candidacy suggests an agenda more beholden to a state-level political machine than to our community. Hillsborough deserves a board member whose only “client” is the child in the classroom, not a strategist using our schools as a policy laboratory.

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The Tale of Two Doctors

This entry is in the series 2026 Elections

In a political era where labels are often used as shields, few examples are as stark as the “Dr.” honorific Donna Cameron-Cepeda wears to project authority over Hillsborough County’s $12 billion budget. While she cites her background as a financial analyst for a global corporation, her actual policy record reveals a troubling pattern of “pulling up the ladder” behind her. Having once relied on the very social safety nets and affordable housing she now votes to dismantle, her leadership has become a case study in the disconnect between personal history and public consequence.

The upcoming election presents a rare, high-contrast choice as Dr. Neil Manimala, a board-certified physician, enters the race with a platform centered on “healing” the damage done by recent regressive shifts. While Cameron-Cepeda’s tenure has been defined by culture-war distractions and the defunding of vital community nonprofits, Manimala represents a return to verified, professional competence. With even members of her own party filing to challenge her, the message is clear: Hillsborough is ready for a leader who values evidence over ideology and people over performance.

To understand the full scope of this “Doctor vs. Doctor” showdown and why this race has become a focal point for the future of our county, read the full analysis.

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