Local Government McClash to Seek Reelection to Manatee County Commission

BRADENTON – On Friday, 21-year County Commission veteran Joe McClash (R-District 7) filed to run for reelection. McClash is the last of the four commissioners on the board who are up in 2012 to announce his intentions. Commissioners Chappie and Bustle filed in 2011, while Commissioner Hayes has filed, but most recently said that she will not seek to retain her seat in 2012.

By far the longest-serving commissioner on the board, McClash touted his experience and accomplishments in a letter announcing his intention to seek reelection, including the fight to keep a controversial experimental-fuel source from being used at the power plant in Parrish, which instead now uses natural gas; environmental issues like the creation of Robinson Preserve, economic issues like the growth of Port Manatee as a major economic engine for the county, as well as pocketbook issues like the water and landfill fees, which he said are the lowest in the state.

Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash

In recent years, McClash's vote has often been at odds with his fellow board members, especially on issues of growth management and wetland preservation, in which he's advocated a smart-growth policy that seeks to curb urban sprawl and preserve natural resources.

After running a bare-boned campaign in 2008, in which he said he raised just enough money for the $4,500 qualification fee and about $1,000 in advertising, the commissioner said that this year he intends to collect the 2,028 signatures needed to qualify by petition rather than paying the fee and will not accept campaign money from developers that regularly do business in front of the board or phosphate companies, because they routinely bring land use issues before them. Meanwhile, county commission races have seen campaigns run on over $100,000 by candidates in recent years.

McClash formerly owned and operated a successful heating and air conditioning company and is currently the owner of both McClash Rentals and The Bradenton Times. Two opponents, Betsy Benac and Paul Stehle, have also filed to run for the Republican nomination for the seat, which is one of two ”at-large“ seats, meaning it serves the entire county. Unlike the other districts, which serve specific geographic areas that alone vote on their representative, voters throughout the county can cast votes in at-large races. No Democrats have yet filed to run for the seat. 

Disclosure: Joe McClash is the owner and publisher of The Bradenton Times Inc. However, he has no editorial role in the publication. All decisions on content are made by Dennis Maley, Editor in Chief. He can be reached at editor@thebradentontimes.com