All the developer money in the world couldn't get Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge past George Kruse in Tuesday's Republican primary for the Manatee County Commission D7 seat.
Despite a massive developer-backed fundraising advantage, the "tiny tyrant" dropped the race to Kruse by a whopping 17 points. The defeat represents the worst loss per dollar spent in the history of Manatee County politics.
Van Ostenbridge has often been called the "worst commissioner in Manatee County history" as well as the "most hated." His landslide defeat would seem to validate both statements.
The incumbent D3 commissioner, Van Ostenbridge made a late jump to the countywide "at-large" race, most likely calculating that having angered island residents with his parking garage war and island/west Bradenton residents with his war on our wetlands, he would have an easier time pitching to low-information voters out east in a countywide race.
However, there is apparently only so much damage you can inflict on a community before too many people begin to pay attention to win through the non-stop negative attack ads Van Ostenbridge's campaign relied on.
Kruse, who was endorsed by The Bradenton Times, was not the only grassroots candidate to win on Tuesday. In a stunning repudiation of local developers like Carlos Beruff, Manatee County voters turned away every developer-backed candidate on the ballot.
It was also a bad night for Anthony Pedicini. The Ybor-based political consultant, who had once counted all seven Manatee County Commissioners as clients, lost every Manatee County race he represented in Tuesday's races.
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kmskepton
Beautiful!!!!
Tuesday, August 20 Report this
NA74
Absolutely amazing!! I love it.
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
Cat L
Excellent news!
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
lib224
WE THE PEOPLE!
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
Buldog
YES! Way to go Manatee! So proud of the work that has been done to convey the importance of this primary. Good job!!!!
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
JanaDM
This is a good start and we should celebrate this victory, but don’t be fooled into thinking we have won the war. The developers aren’t going to just take their toys and go home. We must stay vigilant!
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
Libby23
Power to the people!!!
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
David Daniels
Pedicini lost 4 of those 7 fingers last night. Voters are on to his one play playbook of cute-sy sounding fake committeess and quarter-truths. He owes an apology to the Siddique’s but I’m sure they aren’t holding their breath. Congratulations to all the grass roots candidates, the grass roots sign wavers, the grass roots keyboarders, and especially the fact checking, investigating, truth telling media. I am so proud of our County.
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
Julieperry279
Democracy prevails! Manatee county residents see the truth! So proud.
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
writerlynn9717
Yay! Feeling great to see the power of the people. So glad I changed my party to vote against Satcher and KVO. What is also great is that DeSantis appointed Satcher and he lost, and Turner and he lost, and DeSantis advertised for KVO, and he lost. I think Manatee County wants DeSantis to stay out of our local elections too.
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
NancyLoizeaux
YEAAAAAA
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
Debann
YAY...WHAT AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO SEE PEOPLE GET OUT AND VOTE FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE...GOT RID OF THE TRASH..
WE CAN VOTE OUT THE REST IN 2026..THE PEOPLE SPOKE...DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YA WHERE THE GOOD LORD SPLIT YA..
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
Rudy
Amen!
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
Mark Winston
I never contribute to candidates, but I just subscribed to TBT. Excellent job of informing the local community about the issues and the candidates, and it is worth it to support this resource.
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
rjckeuka4
Great job of informing the populace Mitch and Dawn...along with JOE! I circulated that paper to more than 400 folks. We also need to promote TBT...for their good work on this Primary, but also for continuing to keep us well informed. Given the Sarasota HT endorsement of KVO, I'm cancelling my subscription! How can anyone have faith in a newspaper so uninformed?? And so...spread the good word about TBT! You know, if 5 MAGA's can be jettisoned in Manatee County, anything can happen across the Country! As a lifelong Republican, I'll consider myself a Patriot to vote for the Harris/Walz...not a Democrat. :)
Thursday, August 22 Report this