Bradenton City Council to Discuss Ward 3 Vacancy at Tuesday Workshop

BRADENTON — Bradenton City Council Ward 3 incumbent Josh Cramer has officially vacated his seat to accept the position as the new Chief of the Bradenton Police Department. At next Tuesday's work session, council members are scheduled to discuss the vacancy, which the council will ultimately fill by majority vote. Here's a look at who has submitted applications.

Thomas Baldwin
Baldwin is the COO for Prosperity PEO, a payroll, employee benefits, and workers' compensation firm. He is also the Managing Agent and Senior Vice President for Employers First Insurance.

Marsha Forrest

Forrest was the owner/operator of Manatee County's Central Market from 2002 to 2020. She has owned Central Cafe in Bradenton since 2017. She served as the board President of the Humane Society of Manatee County from 2016 to 2018 and was a member of the Manatee County Economic Development Corporation board from 2014 to 2016.

Mike Kennedy
Kennedy owns Kennedy Solutions, an IT services and consulting firm, and was the executive director of the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority from 2006 to 2010. He served as the Director of Florida Operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1999 to 2004.

Jim "Cork" Miller

Miller owns Cork's Cigar Bar, a popular pub on Old Main Street. He served as a county commissioner in Georgia before relocating to Florida. Miller has also had a career in construction and has served on numerous advisory boards and downtown Bradenton groups.

Teri Nattress
Nattress has a background in property management, wellness, and interior design. She has served as the chairwoman for the Tamiami Trail District Community Redevelopment Agency since 2023. Nattress has also been a member of the Village of the Arts board since 2022.

Kemp Schuessler
Schuessler is an independent insurance agent who previously worked on Wall Street and has three decades of experience in the financial services industry.