Politics Several Candidates File Early for 2016 County Races

BRADENTON – It's only May but some county officials and prospective candidates have already filed for next November's election. In the Manatee County Commission District 1 race, all three candidates from 2012 have thrown their hats back in the ring, while a newcomer takes aim at the school board and two countywide incumbents seek to return to office.

Nathanial Leonard

R.B. "Chips" Shore

Larry Bustle

County Commissioner Larry Bustle will look for a third term on the BOCC. Bustle will be opposed by Nathanial Leonard and Corie Holmes, both of whom ran against him in 2012 – Leonard in the Republican primary and Holmes in the general election.

However, Holmes has switched his registration and filed as a Republican, which will make the race a three-way primary that would be open to all voters unless a Democrat or write in were to file. Bustle, who raised over $100,000 in 2012, easily fended off both challenges from his grass-roots challengers.

Fellow county commissioner John Chappie has also filed to run for reelection in District 3, where he is the only one to have filed as of this time. District 1's Vanessa Baugh and countywide commissioner Betsy Benac will also be up for reelection next November. At this time, no candidates have filed in those races.

First-time candidate Edward Viltz is the first to file for the school board district 1 seat, currently held by board chair Bob Gause, who is serving his second term. Viltz, who brings experience from a diverse business career that includes time as an executive at IBM, has worked locally for the past six years as a consultant to Team Success Charter School, where he also taught math and mentored at-risk students. Viltz says he will resign from Team Success at the end of this school year and dedicate himself full-time to the campaign.

In addition to Gause's district 1 seat, incumbent district 2 school board member Dave Miner will be up for reelection in 2016.

Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Michael Bennett has filed to run for reelection, quelling rumors that Bennett, who termed out as a state senator in 2012, might be interested in other races, including Vern Buchanan's Congressional seat, were Buchanan to seek the Senate seat that is expected to be vacated by Marco Rubio when he runs for President.

Also, long-time Manatee County Clerk of Courts R.B. “Chips” Shore has filed to run again in 2016. Shore has been the county's clerk and comptroller since 1977.