Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds said in a CBS News Miami interview with Jim DeFede that he is confident heading into Election Day, which is a few weeks away. The interview, taped Wednesday, covered education policy, his decision to feature Gov. Ron DeSantis in his TV ads and the future of data centers.
The conversation turned to his wife, Erika Donalds. Asked whether she would have any business involvement with charter schools in Florida, Donalds said she has none now and will not in the future. A Miami Herald investigation published Thursday described millions of dollars that Erika Donalds’ companies earn by managing charter schools funded with tax dollars, and CBS Miami said the Herald story contradicted his statement.
The Donalds campaign later issued a statement saying Byron Donalds was referring to former management contracts between Optima Management Services and independent brick-and-mortar charter schools. Those contracts have ended, the campaign said, and the schools now manage themselves.
The campaign also said Erika Donalds’ for-profit company, OptimaEd, continues to provide virtual instruction through Optima Academy Online, including a contract with Optima Classical Academy, a public virtual charter school. Byron Donalds has no management role in her businesses and no direct ownership stake, the campaign said.
For South Florida voters, the exchange puts a spotlight on how public education dollars flow to private education companies, a question that will matter to families choosing schools and to voters weighing the candidate’s record.
