More Candidates File as Local Races Begin to Take Shape
Posted
Dennis Maley
BRADENTON – As 2015 comes to a close, next year’s political races are
beginning to fill out. With several key offices up for election, some
races feature crowded fields, while other well-heeled incumbents again
face no opposition.
When Manatee County Commissioner Larry Bustle announced he would not seek a third term next year, the floodgates opened for district 1, a
geographically large district that includes some of Palmetto and most of
north Manatee County. Though no Democrats or independents have yet
announced in the Republican-leaning district, five candidates have
already filed for that party's primary.
Perennial candidate
Corrie Holmes, who ran for the seat in 2012, as well as the district 2
seat in 2014, both times as a Democrat, has again filed, though this
time as a Republican. Holmes, a private investigator who used to work
for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, leads the field in fundraising
so far with $6,635.80 as of the last reporting deadline.
Former Florida House Rep. Ron Reagan has also filed to run in the district 1 race. Reagan, who served in the Florida House
until terming out after eight years in 2010, will likely see the most
support from the local GOP establishment. Reagan has so far raised
$4,750 in his first two months of campaigning.
Palmetto City
Commissioner Jonathan Davis has also filed to run for the district 1
seat. Davis, who was elected to the City Commission on a grassroots
campaign in 2014, is a smart growth advocate who has also expressed
concern for protecting our local environment. Sheri Clinard, who has
been a longtime animal rights activist in Manatee County, will also be
vying for the nomination, as will Dustin Schaal. Neither Clinard nor
Schaal have reported contributions at this time. Nathaniel Leonard, who lost to Bustle in the 2012 Republican primary, had originally filed but has since withdrawn from the race.
District 5
County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh has so far drawn two opponents.
Kathleen Grant has filed to run against Baugh in the Republican primary,
while Longboat Key firefighter Thomas Batchelor has filed as an
independent. Baugh, who was elected in 2012 and was recently voted chair
by her fellow commissioners, is off to an enormous fundraising lead,
having already raised over $60,000.
In the countywide race for
the district 7 at-large BOCC seat held by first-term Commissioner Betsy
Benac, only one candidate has filed, though Benac has announced she
intends to run for reelection. Republican Candace Luther has filed, but
has not reported any campaign activity at this time.
District 1
Manatee School Board member Bob Gause has announced he will not seek
reelection. So far, two candidates have filed in the non-partisan race
for the district that covers some of Palmetto and most of north Manatee
County. Former Charter School teacher and board member Edward Viltz and
longtime education activist Xtavia Bailey have both filed to run.
Viltz has a wealth of corporate experience with companies such as IBM. He
also served on the board of Fielding Graduate University in California.
After retiring from the corporate world, he focused on education and
helped the local PAL’s charter school, Team Success, improve from an F
to an A over a three-year period. Mrs. Bailey, a Manatee High and MCC grad,
has been involved with Take Stock in Children and Jim Brown’s Amer-I-Can
program in the Manatee School District. So far, Bailey has reported
$14,405, while Viltz has raised $13,785.
In the district 3 school board race, embattled incumbent Dave Miner will face at least two challengers, both of whom have raised more cash
so far. Misty Servia, a local planning consultant and longtime PTO and
SAC volunteer, has already raised $24, 275, while Palmetto High teacher
Sadie Montanus, a Manatee County local and FSU alum who worked as a policy analyst on Gov. Rick Scott’s
reelection campaign, has raised $4,565.27. Miner, who has been the
subject of multiple lawsuits and controversial votes and actions since
being elected in 2012, has raised $4,020, though he’s also reported
$5,500 in in-kind contributions.
Several local officeholders
remain unopposed though there is still plenty of time to qualify for the
ballot. Angel Colonneso, the late Chips Shore's deputy clerk, who was
appointed to the office when Shore passed this summer, is running
without opposition for the countywide post. Colonneso, who is supported
by many of her highly-popular predecessor’s supporters, has already
amassed $17,740 in campaign cash.
In the district 5 school board race, incumbent John Colon, who was also appointed to the seat this summer after the death of an incumbent–in this case, the late Mary
Cantrell–has filed to run for the seat. Longtime property appraiser
Charles E. Hackney is again running unopposed, as is Supervisor of
Elections Mike Bennett and longtime tax collector Ken Burton Jr.
In the district 3 Manatee County Commission race, incumbent John Chappie is again unchallenged thus far, as he seeks a third term to the seat that represents west Bradenton and the islands. Chappie has already taken in $38,965 in contributions. Chappie ran unopposed in 2012, raising more than $70,000 but violated state election laws by paying "winning bonuses" to two political consultants, despite not having an opponent.
Charles
"Rick" Wells is so far the only candidate who has filed to run for the
post that will be vacated by retiring Manatee County Sheriff Brad
Steube. Wells is the son of former Manatee Sheriff Charlie Wells and was
recently appointed as Steube's number two, after serving as Palmetto's
Police Chief. Wells has already amassed an astonishing $105,657 in campaign funds.
Citizens considering running for these or other elected offices should visit the Manatee Supervisor of Elections website's "Become a Candidate"
page.
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