
Erika Picard
Non-Partisan | Florida
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Erika Picard
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2024
Election
Primary
Race
Pinellas County Schools School Board, District 4
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
Warner Southern University, Lake Wales, A.S., 2005
University of South Florida, Tampa, B.S. Elementary Education (w/minor in communications), 2008
University of South Florida, Tampa, M.A. School Counseling, 2010
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
PTA, VP, SAC
Member, PCTA, Member
Westlake Christian School, Board of Education Member, Girl Scout Leader
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (7)
Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida
Pinellas County Young Republicans
*Ron DeSantis
Chris Latvala
Nick DiCeglie
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Congressman Gus Bilirakis
State Rep Adam Anderson
Former Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls
State Rep Kimberly Berfield
State Rep Bernie Jacques
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Floridians for Economic Freedom (2024)
Florida Values Coalition (2023)
Floridians for Economic Prosperity (2023)
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Campaign Treasurer's Report - P2 2024 (06/15/2024 - 06/28/2024) from Pinellas County
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $50.00 contribution from Chris Latvala
Campaign Treasurer's Report - P1 2024 (04/01/2024 - 06/14/2024) from Pinellas County
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $500.00 contribution from Floridians for Economic Freedom PC
- $30.00 expenditure to Pinellas Federated Republican Women
- $37.00 expenditure to Belleair Women Republican Club
Campaign Treasurer's Report - Q1 2024 (01/01/2024 - 03/31/2024) from Pinellas County
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $50.00 contribution from Chris Latvala (Local Government)
- $25.00 expenditure to Belleair Women's Republican Club
- $10.00 expenditure to Leadership Institute
Campaign Treasurer's Report - Q4 2023 (10/01/2023 - 12/31/2023) from Pinellas County
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $1,000.00 contribution from Friends of Chris Latvala PC
- $37.00 expenditure to Belleair Women's Republican Club
- $40.00 expenditure to North Pinellas Republican Club
Campaign Treasurer's Report - Q3 2023 (07/01/2023 - 09/30/2023) from Pinellas County
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $1,000.00 contribution from Floridians for Economic Prospe PC
- $500.00 contribution from Florida Values Coalition PC
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Choose not to answer
My belief system on this topic have nothing to do with being a board member.
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
Contacting the student's family immediately and offering referral services for the student and baby. I would like to see the referral to a place where they do an ultra sound for the baby/mom and where they have resources to help this mom walk through each stage of pregnancy and offer counseling.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I believe there is a BIG disconnect from the school level all the way up to the state level. I am in favor of school choice, as I believe a parent should have the choice where they want to put their student in school. If the public schools are not cutting it, the parent should have every right to move their child to private/charter/home school and the money should move with the child. This will create a competitive market to make our public schools perform well and retain teachers
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Teachers should be required to instruct students on mandated curriculum even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
There should be a process in place when a teacher feels that there is something concerning in the curriculum, to bring it to a committee to vote if the curriculum in deed is in violation of any laws/policies in place at the board level. I also believe a board member should be able to weigh in as well.
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Disagree
Absolutely not. Those options should be between the student and their parents.
Consistent discipline creates a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Strongly Agree
If we do not have discipline, chaos will indeed follow. I think the key word here is CONSISTANCY. Classroom management and rules must be obtainable and consistently monitored by the teacher. I also believe teachers building rapport with their students is highly effective when it comes to discipline.
Do you believe print and digital material available or presented to students should be easily accessible for public review, including those without children enrolled in school?
Choose not to answer
I'm not too sure what the question is asking?
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Strongly Agree
I support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Strongly Disagree
When you break up the words separately, they sound like good things. However, now-a-days it brings a whole new meaning and one I am not in support of.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
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
Language Ats/Reading, Math, Science, American History, Civics, Art and Music, Physical Fitness, Personal Finances, Vocational Learning, Information Technology, Foreign Language
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
I believe this drives our public schools to be a competitive entity, which they need to be to continue doing better.
Which should students have: equity of outcomes or equality of opportunities?
Equality of Opportunites
Which type of written parental consent should be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE)? (A) Opt-In. (B) Opt-Out. (C) None.
Opt In
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian and have a relationship with the Lord
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
I believe that 5th grade is appropriate for students to learn about basic anatomy. I do not believe it is the school's responsibility to teach the children about how to have sex. I do believe health education would be the avenue to learn about all the diseases that come from sexually transmitted diseases (science). 7th/8th grade is a decent time frame for students to learn about this.
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
Abstinence, consent, human anatomy/reproductive system, stages of pregnancy and fetal development (with the proper curriculum). This should all have an opt in approach to parental consent.
Children have a right to reach maturity without chemical or surgical castration, which would damage their healthy bodies through surgeries and may cause a life-long dependence on cross-sex hormones.
Strongly Agree
Children have the right to be protected from sexual grooming (including drag shows and explicit materials) in schools and libraries.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman essential to the formation and sustaining of a civil and prosperous society.
Strongly Agree
Parents have the fundamental right to raise their child in accordance with their beliefs and values, including the right to make decisions about the child's education and healthcare.
Strongly Agree
Parents should have full and timely access to any and all records, including school and medical records, associated with their minor children.
Strongly Agree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Elections MUST maintain integrity
EQUALITY
Biological males should not 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 Agree
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
I may have missed a couple of primary elections due to specific reasons but I make a point to get out and vote!
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy 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
I highly believe in the Guardian Program in our schools. If school personnel are going to carry, they must be HIGHLY trained and have a mental health background check in my opinion.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
In the event of a pandemic, school districts can mandate whatever health precautions they deem necessary (including masks and vaccines) to protect students and staff.
Strongly Disagree
If you are not already receiving our emails, stay up to date with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.