Keenan Wooten to Again Run for Bradenton City Council

BRADENTON – On Friday, longtime citizen activist Keenan Wooten announced he would again run for the Bradenton City Council in Ward 5. Wooten formally announced at a press conference held in from of "Old Cabbage Head,“ the historic locomotive on the foreground of the Manatee Historical Village.

The engine was the very same that one on which one of Wooten’s forefathers, Solomon Williams, broke the color line in 1921, becoming the first black locomotive engineer in the state of Florida.

"I chose this location as the backdrop for my announcement because my great-grand-uncle is Solomon Williams, the first black locomotive engineer in the state of Florida,“ said Wooten. "When he retired, so did ÔOld Cabbage’ because no one else around could drive it. My family has roots in Ward 5 going back five generations, which is why I’m so passionate to represent my community.“

Ward 5 incumbent Harold Byrd, who narrowly beat Wooten in 2016, is not expected to seek a fourth term. Former Mayoral candidate Eleuterio Salazar, Jr. has also filed to run for the seat.

Wooten is a Bradenton native and graduate of Southeast High School. He has a B.A. in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership in Developing Human Resources, M.A. in Adult Education from the University of South Florida.

Wooten currently works as a Student Support Specialist and Athletic Director at Lee Middle School. Previously, he was the College & Career Advisor at Southeast and the Administrative Parent Liaison at Lakewood Ranch High School.