
Justin Sharpless
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, BS in Agricultural Education and Communication, 2007
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, Masters of Agribusiness, 2008
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, MS in Agricultural Education and Leadership, 2014
WORK & MILITARY
Warner University, Agriculture Department Chair, 2015-2026
AFFILIATIONS
Florida School Boards Association, Vice President and Treasurer, 2022-2026
Polk Vision, Leadership Polk Class 18, 2023-2026
Sheriff Grady Judd's Advisory Council, Council Member, 2025-2026
Polk County Youth Fair, Board of Directors Member, 2022-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Polk County School Board, District 6, 2022-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Polk County School Board, District 6
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
Republican Party of Polk County
Jennifer Kincart Jonsson
Jon Albert
LIBERAL (3)
Florida Education Association
West Central Florida Labor Council AFL-CIO
Polk Education Association PEA PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Sheriff Grady Judd
Representative Jennifer Canady
Representative Jennifer Kincart Jonsson
Representative Jon Albert
Representative Hilary Holley
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Robert Charles "Chase" Brannan IV (2025)
Heather McArthur (2024)
Adam Putnam (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (2022)
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (2022)
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Campaign Treasurer's Report - P3 (06/27/2026 - 07/10/2026) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $29.25 expenditure to Swan City Republican Women Federated
Campaign Treasurer's Report - P2 (06/13/2026 - 06/26/2026) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $100.00 contribution from Kim Amontree (School Board Member)
- $250.00 contribution from WCLFC PC
Campaign Treasurer's Report - Q2 (04/01/2026 - 05/31/2026) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $50.00 contribution from Winter Haven 9-12
- $200.00 expenditure to Polk County GOP
Campaign Treasurer's Report - Q1 (01/01/2026 - 03/31/2026) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $1,000.00 contribution from Friends of Grady Judd PAC
Campaign Treasurer's Report - Q4 (10/01/2025 - 12/31/2025) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $500.00 contribution from Matthew Susin (School Board)
- $37.10 expenditure to Republican Club of Lakeland
Campaign Treasurer's Report - TR (08/19/2022 - 11/21/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $107.72 expenditure to Polk County Republican Party
Campaign Treasurer's Report - P6 (07/30/2022 - 08/05/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $250.00 contribution from Local Union No. 915 PAC
Campaign Treasurer's Report - P5 (07/23/2022 - 07/29/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $250.00 contribution from WCFFL Political Committee
- $250.00 contribution from Local Home Builders PAC
Campaign Treasurer's Report - P4 (07/16/2022 - 07/22/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $265.00 in contributions from PEA/Political Action Committee
- $1,000.00 contribution from Realtors PAC
Campaign Treasurer's Report - P3 (07/02/2022 - 07/15/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $250.00 contribution from Northeast Polk PAC
- $250.00 contribution from Melony Bell (Representative)
- $500.00 contribution from Business Voice Inc PAC
- $50.00 contribution from James M Schaill (City Commissioner)
- $15.00 expenditure to Lake Ashton Republican Club
Campaign Treasurer's Report - P2 (06/18/2022 - 07/01/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $200.00 expenditure to Florida AFL-CIO
Campaign Treasurer's Report - M5 (05/01/2022 - 05/31/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $125.00 contribution from Republican Club of Solivita
Campaign Treasurer's Report - M4 (04/01/2022 - 04/30/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $100.00 contribution from Robin Sessions
- $17.55 expenditure to Win Back America Rally
Campaign Treasurer's Report - M3 (03/01/2022 - 03/31/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $81.00 in contributions from Winter Haven 9-12 Project Group
- $200.00 expenditure to Win Back America Rally
Campaign Treasurer's Report - M2 (02/01/2022 - 02/28/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $80.00 in contributions from Winter Haven 9-12 Project Group
Campaign Treasurer's Report - M1 (01/01/2022 - 01/31/2022) from Polk County Supervisor of Elections website
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $100.00 contribution from Nicole M McDowell (City Manager)
Complete list of candidate's Campaign Finance Reports can be found on the Polk County Supervisor of Elections website.
OTHER INFORMATION
During the Polk County Public Schools School Board Meeting on 08/22/2023, candidate voted in favor of Action: 5. Discontinuing Proclamations.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
The school should ensure the student's safety because abuse and trafficking are far too prevalent in society. The school should also support the family and respect their autonomy in making medical decisions by maintaining confidentiality within legal limits. Also, the school should protect the student's educational opportunities by offering attendance flexibility and academic accommodations.
ECONOMY
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Neutral
It depends on how the student loans are forgiven. There are programs that require public service for loan forgiveness, and I believe that allows the borrower to give back in ways that compensate for the monetary value of the loan.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
An educated population benefits society as a whole. Generally, higher levels of education are associated with lower crime rates and stronger economic growth. This justifies public investment, through our government, in public education from Pre-K through college.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
With regard to public schools, what does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Separation of church and state regarding public schools means public schools should not establish nor inhibit religion. Our public schools should protect the religious liberty of the students and employees.
IMMIGRATION
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhances the safety and security of communities by identifying and detaining illegal aliens.
Agree
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Disagree
Consequences for bad behavior create a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Strongly Agree
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Strongly Agree
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Neutral
It all depends on how it's done. We must protect our vulnerable and at-risk students.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development
Sexual education should include these topics: abstinence; consent; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; stages of pregnancy and fetal development.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
In my opinion, listed by priority: Language Arts (reading and writing), Mathematics, Science, American History, Civics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Vocational Learning (Career & Technical Education), Information Technology, Art & Music, and Foreign Language.
Public schools should prioritize academic achievement and building character necessary to preserve American traditions and self-government.
Strongly Agree
School choice creates competition, and that competition will push public schools to improve their educational systems.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Biological males should be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian.
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
I support the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Agree
Mental health conditions such as anorexia and gender dysphoria need to be treated, not affirmed.
Agree
School library books that have literary value, as determined by experts, should be exempt from obscenity laws.
Disagree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2014 Republican Primary 2014 General Election 2016 Republican Primary 2016 General Election 2018 Republican Primary 2018 General Election 2020 Republican Primary 2020 General Election 2022 Republican Primary 2022 General Election
What political party are you affiliated with?
Republican
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
2ND AMENDMENT
Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.
Agree
Only if they go through Guardian training. The marksmanship requirements are more stringent than Law Enforcement Officers.
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