Candidate: Robin DiSabatino

Party Affiliation: Republican

Born: Wilmington, DE

Lives: Bradenton

Education: Robin is a graduate from Mt. Pleasant High School in Wilmington, Delaware and a graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University Of Delaware in 1975. She also earned a Paralegal Degree from Wilmington College and has been a licensed realtor since 1986.

Occupation: Manatee County Commissioner

District 4 Manatee County Commissioner Robin DiSabatino is seeking a second term on the BOCC. While no Democrat has filed for the seat, she is opposed by Tim Norwood, whom she defeated in 2010, in this August's Republican primary.

As a former Realtor, many voters were concerned that DiSabatino would be just another pro-development vote, but the commissioner has shown she's not afraid to say no to developers when their requests don't seem to serve the best interests of county residents.

From the Long Bar Pointe development to the proposed indigent care sales tax, Commissioner DiSabatino has shown that she'll go against the grain to represent the interests and address the concerns of average citizens over powerful special interests and as a result, she's built a core of populist support that crosses both sides of the aisle.

DiSabatino says she's eager to continue her work and sees big challenges ahead including a successful transition from the county's Community Redevelopment Areas to one, larger Tax Incremental Financing district (which she opposed), where the struggling urban core does not continue to take a back seat to new development.

related:

A Commissioner Who's Earned her Stripes … and a Retraction

New and Improved Manatee County Commission with DiSabatino and Gallen