When psychologist Steven Kanakis had trouble finding child care for his son with autism, he pushed for a seat on the Pasco-Hernando Early Learning Coalition to help improve the choices for families like his.

His son now attends third grade at Longleaf Elementary School, and Kanakis has seen things in the special education system he thinks need fixing. So he's cast his name into the increasingly crowded field for Pasco School Board District 4.

"I feel like disabled kids need a voice on the School Board," Kanakis, 46, said.

Kanakis would run against pastor John Tracy, retired court reporter Billie Kaleel and medical supplies firm owner Christopher Cooley for the seat, which Kathryn Starkey plans to resign in July in order to run for State House District 45. The nonpartisan race would take place in fall 2010 unless Starkey changes direction; the seat otherwise is not slated to come open until 2012.