Have You Heard #218 When the Circus Came to Town
May 7, 2026
Xander Moritz, student activist and founder of Sea Alliance organizing youth civic power. He recounts a graduation speech that sparked local action. He explains how Sarasota became a national school-board battleground. He describes turning student energy into voter turnout and building grassroots campaigns that defended public schools and shifted local politics.
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Graduation Protest Sparked Youth Organizing
- Xander Moritz used a graduation speech to protest Florida's Don't Say Gay law and was warned his mic might be cut.
- That moment propelled Xander into founding Sea Alliance and organizing youth for school board activism.
Meeting Time Change Drove Parent Into Politics
- Megan Tineman decided to run for school board after the majority moved meetings to 10 a.m., excluding teachers, working parents, and students.
- Her candidacy is part of a grassroots effort to flip a three-to-two conservative majority that favors vouchers and privatization.
Flight Attendant Runs To Restore Trust
- Jimmy Glover, a United flight attendant, ran for Bridget Ziegler's seat motivated by fear of ICE cooperation and community distrust in the board.
- He frames his platform as restoring trust and removing the 'circus' from the board.
