Candidate: Tim Norwood

Party Affiliation: Republican

From: Texas

Lives: Bradenton

Education: BA in Architecture from Texas Tech

Occupation: Manufacturing engineer

Tea party Republican Tim Norwood will take another shot at the Republican nomination for Manatee County Commission District 4. Norwood surprised many when he collected 30 percent of the vote in a three-way primary for the same nomination in 2010, despite being heavily outspent by current commissioner Robin DiSabatino when they were vying for the seat vacated by longtime commissioner Ron Getman.

Tim was born into a military family, living on a base until age of five. His father was an Air Force Captain during the Korean war. When Tim was six, his father died and his family relocated to a small town in Texas, where he attended school and continued on to a University in Lubbock. He says he paid his own way through college by working construction.

After graduating, Tim moved to Washington state where he worked as a design engineer for a mega-yacht builder. He became Chief Engineer of one yacht building firm (Heisley Marine) and the Marketing Design Engineer of another nearby boat factory (Tollycraft Yachts) simultaneously.

Tim feels his business background will provide the knowledge and capability for his desired position and that he can help bring manufacturing jobs to the area. He has advocated for using impact fee rebates for builders that hire locally to persuade more manufacturers to move their businesses to Manatee.

Norwood supports a 10 percent budget cut across the board, with the exception of "essential services" such as law enforcement and says he would work with the Sheriff's office to lower the crime rate in his district. Norwood is staunchly against raising taxes.

Norwood and DiSabatino will compete in an open primary (all registered voters can participate regardless of party affiliation) on August 24. As there are no other candidates on the fall ballot, the winner of the primary will be awarded the seat.

related:

Tim Norwood Running for County Commission on Jobs, Crime and Budgets