Governor Ron DeSantis Park Now Official

BRADENTON – Following months of petty debate after a park-naming process became central to a bitterly-contested Republican county commission primary, Manatee County commissioners made a split vote on Tuesday to officially change the name of Kinnan Park in southwest Bradenton to "Governor Ron DeSantis Park."

Commissioner Misty Servia, who represents District 4, where the park resides, had created a contest hoping that nearby residents would participate in naming their community's park. Soon after, Servia found herself in a vitriolic Republican primary in which several of her fellow Republican commissioners backed her opponent, Mike Rahn.

Both Rahn and Republican County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh urged supporters on social media to select "Governor Ron DeSantis Park," and votes from all over the county soon came in, propelling the governor to the top of the list over previous favorites like "Snooty Park," "Prospect Park," and ideas to name it after Christopher Cobb, a 19-year old Marine and Bayshore High graduate who was killed while serving in Iraq in 2004.

Servia lost the primary to Rahn and will vacate the seat in November, but nevertheless made a plea with fellow board members to rethink the move now that the election had been decided.

"Sadly, this fun contest that I put together was hijacked for political reasons during a campaign," said Servia during Tuesday's meeting. "So, the game was to have Republicans at the REC to sign in during a meeting ... and go in there and vote to name it Governor Ron DeSantis Park, and a lot of people did."

Servia said that while she is a fan of DeSantis and has even supported his campaign financially, she does not feel that the governor should be used as a pawn in a political fight. She also noted that of all the emails the county received on the matter, each one was in opposition to the naming, expressing concerns that the divisiveness of politics would lead to vandalism, the repairs of which would fall to taxpayers.

"I ask you today to please step aside from the political game," said Servia. "You won. It worked. Please, don't name this neighborhood park after Governor Ron DeSantis, not because he's not deserving of it, but because it's just inappropriate."

Several citizens weighed in during public comment, all pleading with the board not to make a community park the subject of a divisive political culture, with more than one noting that the governor had yet to even serve a full term. After lengthy deliberations, the board nevertheless voted 4-3 in favor of the motion with commissioners Servia, Whitmore, and Bellamy dissenting.