LARGO — Linda Lerner, who won her seventh term in office this year, was named Tuesday the chairwoman of the Pinellas County School Board. Board member Peggy O'Shea, who also won re-election in August, became vice-chairwoman. Board members voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint the new leaders.
Lerner, 71, is the board's longest serving member. She faced a tough re-election challenge from Maureen Ahern, a longtime journalist and wife of Rep. Larry Ahern, R-Seminole, but prevailed.
Three other board members were sworn into office Tuesday — Terry Krassner, Rene Flowers and Ken Peluso. Only Peluso is new to the School Board. He fought a tough battle to win his seat in District 4, which represents much of northern Pinellas. He beat Beverley Billiris, former mayor of Tarpon Springs, in a run-off race in November. The race was decided by fewer than 700 votes; Peluso took 50.4 percent of the vote.