Equality Florida Action PAC and the SPLC Action Fund are backing Pinellas School Board candidate Nancy Velardi as part of a nearly $400,000 statewide push in school board races. Velardi is one of 13 candidates benefiting from the effort, which includes a $250,000 direct-mail campaign as well as digital ads, texts and voter outreach aimed at electing candidates the groups describe as pro-equality and pro-academic freedom.