2012 Primary Special Features Local Candidates Laud More Endorsements

BRADENTON – This week brought several key endorsements in local political races. The Manatee Coalition for Responsible Government endorsed Vanessa Baugh in the County Commission District 5 race, Joe McClash in the District 7 race and Nathaniel Leonard in District 1, who takes on incumbent Larry Bustle in the Republican primary. The Manatee County Law Enforcement Council has endorsed Ed Brodsky for State Attorney, and the West Central Florida Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO Labor Unions has endorsed Bill Waldron for Manatee County Sheriff.

Baugh, who faces fellow Republican John Colon in an August 14 primary, was earlier endorsed by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. McClash, the District 7 (county-wide) incumbent faces a challenge from Betsy Benac in a closed Republican primary. McClash was also endorsed by the Sierra Club. Brodsky, currently an assistant state attorney, also earned the LRBA endorsement. He faces Peter Lombardo in the Republican primary in a race that will see one of the candidates take on lone Democratic candidate, John Torraco, in the November election where voters will decide on retiring State Attorney Earl Moreland's replacement. Waldron faces incumbent Manatee Sheriff Brad Steube in an open primary August 14.

Joe McClash	Vanessa Baugh	Bill Waldron	Nathaniel Leonard	Ed Brodsky