Kruse Files to Challenge Trace in Republican Primary

MANATEE COUNTY – George Kruse filed to run for the Republican nomination for Manatee County Commission, District 1 this week. Kruse, who's spent his career in commercial real estate finance, will face incumbent district 1 commissioner Priscilla Trace in the August primary.

"Manatee County is growing, whether we want it to or not," said Kruse in a release announcing his candidacy. "How we manage that growth is the responsibility of our county commission. We need a board that focuses on the key issues facing residents like reducing traffic, keeping taxes low, protecting our beaches, waterways, and environment, and growing smarter."

District 1 includes much of north Manatee County, including Parrish, Ellenton, and part of Palmetto. Kruse, who graduated from Sarasota's Cardinal Mooney High School in 1993, has lived in district one since 2008. He has degrees in both Management and Finance from the University of Florida and subsequently received his MBA in real estate finance from Columbia Business School.

Kruse began his career working on an affordable housing equity fund at Raymond James, which he says spawned a passion for both finance and studying ways to generate attainable housing for communities. Kruse's experience in this realm led to positions on the City of Bradenton's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and the Chamber of Commerce's Attainable Housing Task Force.

"We can keep our taxes low and restructure our county budget so that we have the financial means to tackle problems like aging infrastructure, traffic congestion, and workforce housing. Focusing on these issues today is critical," said Kruse. "Putting in place long-term plans now, will make Manatee’s predicted growth more sustainable and help retain our community’s small-town feel."

County Commission seats 1, 3, 5 and 7 are all on the ballot this year. So far, only Republicans have filed to run in the predominantly blue districts. In district 3 (west Bradenton and the islands), Kevin Van Ostenbridge has filed to run for the Republican nomination, while incumbent Republican Stephen Jonnson has not yet announced whether he will seek another term.

In district 5 (East Manatee, including Tara, Myakka City, and Lakewood Ranch), incumbent Republican Vanessa Baugh is being challenged by former county administrator Ed Hunzeker for the party's nomination and in district 7 (countywide), incumbent Betsy Benac is being challenged in the primary by Palmetto-based attorney Paul Finer.