TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- The 2016 election for Leon County Superintendent of Schools is heating up and it's still months before the polls even open.
Thursday, candidate Rocky Hanna announced that he is resigning from his post with the district so that he is able to continue his bid for superintendent.
Hanna has been with the district for 28 years and currently serves as Director of Special Sites and Programs, according to his campaign.
Hanna's campaign said that he is resigning with the district after local election officials made him aware of Florida Statute 99.012 which calls for the resignation of “subordinate officers” who choose to run against an incumbent seeking reelection.
"During the course of our lifetime each of us has several defining moments. This is when we must have the courage to follow our heart. Even with the personal risk, I am fully committed to this campaign," said Hanna.
His campaign claims that with his resignation, Hanna will loose tenured status as a classroom teacher and will adversely impact both his retirement and over 1700 hours of accrued leave.
As of the end of September, the Rocky Hanna Campaign has raised over $120,000, according to paperwork filed with the election office.
Among those also running for superintendent is incumbent Jackie Pons.
Pons says that he is very proud of the direction the district has taken under his leadership. According to Pons, graduation rates have increased in the county since he was first elected in 2006.
The Pons campaign reports that as of September, it has raised over $141,000 dollars.
Commissioner Scott Maddox's seat on the commission is up for re-election, but he has withdrawn his name from that race, and is instead running for superintendent.
Maddox has been in politics for 20 years and was the Mayor of Tallahassee from 1995 until 2003.
So far his campaign has reported raising $142,000.
Michael Wynn has also filed to run for superintendent. Records indicate that he has not raised any money for his campaign.
