For Manatee County Commission District 2, we recommend Charles Smith

The Manatee County Commission District 2 race features incumbent Amanda Ballard and former D2 Commissioner Charles Smith.

Amanda Ballard has brought several admirable qualities to the board. Unfortunately, the courage to do the right thing when it is most difficult has not been one of them. Ballard has demonstrated empathy toward addicts, indigents, and children in foster care, but not the willingness to vote against powerful special interests, even amid a loud chorus of encouragement from her constituents.

In 2023, Ballard sat through a sham presentation from a paid consultant the county hired to advise the board to eviscerate the county's wetland protection policies when its own environmental staff proved unwilling. The consultant had actually represented developer Carlos Beruff when he unsuccessfully tried to sue Manatee County over the very same policy, a fact which was known to Commissioner Ballard.

Despite hearing a litany of public comments from far more qualified experts, many of whom provided studies contradicting the developer-driven policy change, Ballard rebuked the public outcry and once again sided with developers. Ballard, an attorney, was certainly smart enough to understand the game being played, and we found her painful attempt to feign ignorance of the facts during this year's campaign insulting. 

After every commissioner who joined Ballard in that vote and was up for reelection in 2024 lost in a landslide, the commissioner publicly shifted her position. Unfortunately, her allies in the state legislature had already passed a preemption law that has prevented this board from enacting the will of the people following that historic primary. Ballard also voted for a developer giveaway on impact fees that has left our county less able to match growth with required infrastructure.

We believe Commissioner Ballard has done her constituents no favors in protecting an administration that has consistently failed to meet public expectations, and whose financial mismanagement has many Manatee County voters prepared to support Amendment 3, even though it would likely have ruinous effects on our community. Her time on the board has, unfortunately, caused far more calamity for county residents than any amount of positive work could overcome.

Charles Smith is a District 2 native with an existing service record as the district's commissioner. Smith was a responsive representative with deep ties to the District 2 community who consistently delivered for his constituents. He also proved willing to say no whenever it was clear that the will of the majority and/or their financial supporters did not align with his district's best interests or that of the county at large.

District 2 needs representation that will put its needs above those of special interests. More broadly, the Manatee County Commission needs more commissioners with the courage to make difficult choices when what is best for the county does not align with what those with political power are seeking. In both cases, we believe that, based on the one term each has served on the BOCC, Mr. Smith is far more likely to deliver.

Podcast interviews with each candidate are available below.