Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore Files for Re-election

photo by Brian David Braun

BRADENTON – Carol Whitmore will seek a third term to the Manatee BOCC in the District 6 at-large seat, having recently filed for the 2014 race. Whitmore, 58, is a Republican from Holmes Beach, where she previously served as commissioner and then mayor. She was first elected to the countywide post in 2006, when she replaced retiring commissioner Pat Glass. 

Commissioner Whitmore's signature issue has been her work to support a "no-kill" policy for stray pets in Manatee County shelters, and has also been a strong advocate for the Bill Galvano One Stop Center and the Food Bank of Manatee.

Her most controversial issues as of late included her support for the future use map amendment at Long Bar Pointe, which passed 4-3 in the face of historic public opposition; and the health care sales tax referendum, which she was a vocal proponent of, though it was soundly defeated by Manatee voters in a June 18 special election.

Commissioner Whitmore was also a strong supporter of County Administrator Ed Hunzeker's controversial contract, which was renegotiated in January at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars to Manatee taxpayers.

So far, Whitmore is the only candidate who has filed to run for the seat. As one of the county's two "at-large" seats, all registered voters in Manatee County are eligible to vote in the race.