BRADENTON – On Tuesday, Talha "Tal" Siddique announced that he will challenge Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge in the 2024 Republican Primary for the District 3 seat.
Siddique has a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Sciences with a minor in Computer Science from George Washington University. He has served in roles within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Air Force
"I have had a tremendous amount of encouragement from Manatee County residents, which has been humbling," said Siddique in a press release announcing his candidacy. "Our residents are frustrated with mismanagement, and the scandalous theft of property and personal data by politicians who think this is an appropriate use of their power and our taxpayer dollars. They clearly want to see new leadership, as do I."
Tal and his wife, Bradenton native Kristen Truong, have deep roots within the Manatee County community. Siddique says his candidacy is "founded on a genuine desire to advocate for the needs and aspirations of the community, bringing forth a fresh and inclusive perspective to enhance the lives of all residents."
Siddique is a member of the 2023-24 class of Leadership Manatee. He is also a member of Bradenton Kiwanis, Manatee Young Professionals, Manatee Young Republicans, Lakewood Ranch Republican Club, Lakewood Ranch Young Leaders Alliance, the Elks Lodge, Manatee Tiger Bay and University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Alumni Board, and is the founder of the community advocacy group Speak Out Manatee.
Siddique will be up against a well-funded incumbent in Van Ostenbridge, a developer-backed candidate who put up a record $170,000 in campaign contributions in his first report for this cycle. Van Ostenbridge was elected in 2020, when he again enjoyed enormous financial support from developers, including dark money PACs that sent vicious attack ads regarding his opponent, Matt Bower.
However, Van Ostenbridge has also built a dubious record thus far, making many enemies among those who follow county government. District 3 includes Anna Maria Island, and the commissioner's feud with Holmes Beach over parking and his role in forcing an unwanted parking garage has many island residents up in arms.
Van Ostenbridge has also proven himself to have been a good investment for developers who have benefited from his leadership on issues such as gutting the county's wetland protection policies and pushing for policies that allow increased density east of the county's future development boundary and within critical watersheds, including our reservoir at Lake Manatee. For a commissioner whose district includes nearly all of the county's coastal communities, that could prove to be a major hurdle in getting reelected, even with all of that money at his disposal.
Perhaps more critically, Van Ostenbridge has on numerous occasions given voters good reason to question his ethics. During this term, the commissioner was actually put on probation after getting caught on video stealing property from one of his constituents. Soon after, an attempt to purchase highly detailed voter information on his constituents using a county credit card led to a massive data breach when the information became part of the public record.
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jimandlope
Well thank you! Van O needs to go!
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Report this
Cat L
Very happy to see someone challenge his seat! KVO is massively unethical and should be in charge of NOTHING.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Report this
spiceyar
Thank you! KVO needs to go!!!
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Report this
rjckeuka4
Haven't seen any news this good regarding our County in almost 4 years!!
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Report this
sandy
Diana Shoemaker (D) former CEO of Habitat for Humanity has also filed to run against KVO. He needs to go. He cares nothing of the citizens of the county or their opinions only for his puppet master. Let's get out in force for whichever of the two candidates you prefer to oust KVO.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Report this
Fishhead
The guy needs to go. He’s single handily destroyed a 2 generational name before him. Dunce
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Report this
Debann
YAY..MAYBE DISTRICT 3 WILL GET SOME REAL REPRESENTATION..OUT WITH THE TRASH...
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Report this
Dianna
A vote for either Siddique or Shoemaker will be a win for Manatee County! In less than 3 years Van Ostenbridge and his cohorts have brought this county to its knees- to the likes of which citizens have never seen before. The destruction by this board along (with the behind-the-scenes direction of the Chair- KVO) will cost taxpayers, both current and future, millions of dollars and years to overcome and rebuild. Just when you think this board can’t possibly ruin anything else -they find something new to blow up. Next on the agenda is the Tunnels to Towers project which the foundation fully funds after the donation of the Cortez Road property. Instead we- the taxpayers of Manatee County, are now “going into the business” of Veterans housing without funding or expertise on a piece of unsuitable wetland property that we will be unable to provide wrap around services or transportation. Of course, this is just another “illusion” or “delusion” by Bearden because as soon as the developer gets the Cortez Road utility property, they will never discuss veterans housing again. Anything printed on a glossy flier about KVO-will be a lie. A big “no” vote for: Van Ostenbridge- Satcher-Turner in 2024!
Saturday, September 23, 2023 Report this