Three months after deciding to return to his education roots and run for the District 1 School Board seat currently occupied by Mara Schiff, Bruce Green said last week he was withdrawing from the race to support his older brother, who earlier this month was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“It was the easiest tough decision I’ve ever made,” said Green, a former assistant school superintendent. “Running for School Board was something that I really wanted to do – to serve and give back to the community that has given so much to me and my family.

“But life’s priorities can change in the blink of an eye,” he added. “My last remaining brother has incurable cancer, and my family will always come first.”

Green’s withdrawal from the School Board race left no candidates for the District 1 seat – but only briefly. Within days of Green’s withdrawal, Dr. Gene Posca, a general practitioner, filed to run.

Contacted last week, Schiff said she had not yet decided whether to seek re-election and doesn’t know when she will. So, as of Monday, Posca was running unopposed in the nonpartisan race.

District 2 incumbent Jackie Rosario has filed to run for re-election, but is being challenged by political newcomers LaDonna Corbin and Cynthia Gibbs.

Corbin, who was born and raised in Indian River County, is a Treasure Coast Community Health Center health-and-wellness coordinator and the mother of six children, three of which are currently attending public schools here.

Gibbs is a Sebastian resident and former teacher who has two daughters who attend the county’s public schools.

School Board Chairman Teri Barenborg also has filed for re-election to her District 4 seat, and she is being challenged by Thomas Kenny, a broadcast operations specialist who has no children in public schools here.

This year’s nonpartisan School Board elections are scheduled for Aug. 23. According to the Supervisor of Elections office, candidates qualifying with petitions must submit them by May 16 (so they can be verified). Otherwise, the qualifying period is June 13-17.