Manatee County Commission, School Board Primary Election Voting Guide

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Voters will decide on the Democratic and Republican nominees for three available Manatee County Commission seats during Tuesday’s primary election. The top vote-getters for each party will go head-to-head in the Nov. 8 general election.

Voters will also choose three members of the School Board of Manatee County.

Who’s running for the Manatee County Commission?

In District 2, Amanda Ballard is the lone Republican commission candidate.

Her challengers Reggie Bellamy, the incumbent, and Charles B. Smith are vying for the Democratic nod.

In a Patch questionnaire for candidates, Smith wrote, “We must at this time have individuals that have compassion for people. Since I left the commission, in 1998, I’ve seen my opponent lose over a hundred million dollars in projects and economic development within District 2 that had already been voted on and approved in the (CIP) capital improvement projects. I fought hard for these projects, sidewalks, infrastructure. My interest is people, not a paycheck.”

The business owner has previously served on the Palmetto City Commission and the Manatee County Commission.

Bellamy, who didn’t respond to the survey, has served on the commission since 2018 and he sits on the Manatee County Port Authority Board.

Prior to his joining the commission, he spent more than 20 years working with youth in the county. Roles included dean at Buffalo Creek Middle School in Palmetto and serving as executive director of the Palmetto Youth Center, according to his campaign website.

In District 4, two candidates, Mike Rahn and Misty Servia, are trying to get the Republican vote Tuesday. There are also two write-in candidates, Daniel Hansen and Timothy Norwood, who will appear on the ballot in November.

“I’m a public servant who has spent my career working and volunteering to improve Manatee County for the current residents and the next generation,” Servia wrote in her responses to a Patch candidate survey.

She’s served on the commission since 2018 and said that as the incumbent, “(I) believe I have done an excellent job for our community. One of the things I am most proud of is creating the ‘Citizens Coalition on Growth’ as a way to bring more voices to the table on traffic (and) growth issues. This group is made up of representatives throughout District 4 and they have opined on public policy matters and made a difference in their neighborhoods and in our community.”

Rahn, who didn’t respond to Patch’s survey, is a local mortgage lender and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He’s also previously sat on the county’s planning commission.

“I believe in personal freedoms and personal liberties. Certain members on the county commission don’t believe in that. I’m a conservative Republican who believes in limited government and lower taxes,” he told the Bradenton Herald. “There has not been real representation for this district.”

For the District 6 at-large seat, Republicans will choose between three candidates — Jason Bearden, Carol Ann Felts and Carol Whitmore, the incumbent. The winner will go up against write-in candidates Robert Lesher and Manuel Antonio Llamas in the fall.

“As an eighth-generation native of Florida, 35-year resident of Manatee County and proactive participant as a citizen in local government for many years, the public needs a voice on the board that represents and understand their interests and priorities in how our communities are formed and how we are governed,” Felts responded to Patch’s candidate questionnaire.

The Myakka City resident has served as the Environmental Lands Management and Acquisitions Committee’s at-large citizen representative.

Whitmore, a Holmes Beach resident, told Patch in her survey response, “We need somebody that has knowledge and the temperament to deal with what is going on with the board of County Commission. We need somebody that can bring this commission back to work and stop the personal agendas. The most common concern I get from all the citizens is the lack of professionalism and ethics on our board.”

Bearden, who didn’t respond to Patch’s questionnaire, is an entrepreneur, a national nonprofit leader and a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Iraq, according to his campaign website.

“In Manatee County, we’re paying a price for failures caused by some on our Board of County Commissioners. If there’s a continued lack of leadership and preparation in place, we’ll pay an even higher price in the future,” he wrote on his website.

Who’s running for the Manatee County School Board?

There are three candidates running for the Manatee County School Board District 2 seat — Susan Agruso, Harold E. Byrd Jr. and Cindy Spray.

A former educator, Agruso told Patch in response to a candidate survey that after “40 years of public-school experience, including being a superintendent for eight years, I know how school systems are supposed to work, how to get things done, what questions to ask and can cut through the jargon to get information. I understand school district budgets and where to find waste. After more than six years on the district's Audit Committee, I am very familiar with this school district's budget. I know the difference in roles for the superintendent and the School Board, and I understand what it means to hold a superintendent accountable. I don't need two years to learn what it means to be a Board member. I hit the ground running on day one.”

Meanwhile, Byrd, a former Bradenton city councilor, wrote in response to Patch’s candidate questionnaire, “Over the last year it became apparent that the needs of all sectors of our community were not considered as important by the Manatee County School Board. The importance of addressing the equity gaps that exists so that all students have an equal opportunity to learn. The commitment to public services applies throughout the entire school district. It is my dream that our school system will become more inclusive with all residents and not just some. I have the education, experience and the competence to lead. We need a transition leader that will change the old ways of doing to a more professional direction for the betterment of all our citizens.”

Spray, who didn’t respond to the survey, began her career as a bookkeeper in her native Indiana before landing a job in manufacturing, working for PepsiCo in numerous departments, according to her campaign website. She later moved to Florida and worked as the bookkeeper for the Tropicana Federal Credit Union.

In District 4, two candidates are facing off for the seat — Chad Choate and Sean L. Conley.

Choate, the incumbent, was appointed to the position by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year to replace Scott Hopes, who was named Manatee County administrator.

A financial advisor and former teacher, he wrote in response to Patch’s candidate survey, “School safety needs to remain a priority. Continuing to evaluate the procedures and training we give to our teachers and staff. Also making sure students know ALL the choices they have after high school. College, military and especially vocational/technical programs inside the district to build a skill and be workforce ready.”

His challenger, Conley, a former intelligence analyst, wrote in his response to Patch’s candidate questionnaire, “The reason that I decided to run for Manatee County School Board, District 4 was to make the schools hard targets against school shootings, to ensure that the policies and oversight of the county schools are fiscally sound, and that teachers, administrators and support staff that excel at their job are properly compensated.”

Three candidates — James T. Golden, Richard William Tatem and Chantal Wilford — are vying for the District 5 seat.

Golden, the incumbent, previously served on Bradenton City Council and also served on the Tampa Bay Planning Council.

He wrote in response to Patch’s candidate questionnaire, “I have four years of experience that has been enhanced by my service over the last two years as vice chair and now chair of the (school) board.”

He also said that the district faces two major issues, “Insufficient personnel and the lack of funds to attract more applicants.”

Wilford has a background in translation, childbirth education and was a birth doula, and was also a home-school parent in Manatee County.

She wrote in response to Patch’s candidate survey, “I have zero political aspirations beyond the school board - I am first and foremost a parent and educator. My primary goal is to support students and teachers in this district and throughout Manatee County. I want to support students, listen to teacher and parent concerns, and help to implement any changes that may further benefit our students, our community and our future. My belief is that our district is already strong in many ways but there is always room for reflection and improvement, and we should build on existing strengths as we look to the future. Let's ensure safe and high-quality public education for ALL students in Manatee County.”

Tatem didn’t respond to Patch’s candidate questionnaire. According to his campaign website, he’s a retired U.S. Air Force colonel from Ohio. He currently serves as an executive coach at the Arbinger Institute and a substitute teacher at Sarasota Military Academy High School.

Among his primary issues are transparency, accountability, participation and patriotism.

Where and how to vote

In order to cast your ballot in the 2022 primary election, you’ll need to bring a valid and current photo and signature ID to your polling station. Without proper identification, you may still vote a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility.

If you’re not sure where to vote, you can look up your polling station on the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website. Sample ballots are also available.

If you voted by mail, you can track the status of your ballot here.

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 23. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote, but if you arrive at the polling place after 7 p.m., you will not be allowed to vote.

Voters are welcome to bring a sample ballot to the polling place marked with their choices so there are no delays in voting.

When you arrive at the polls:

1. Check in with your valid and current photo and signature ID.
2. Receive your paper ballot and proceed to a privacy booth.
3. Using the black pen provided, completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections.
4. Review your ballot. If you wish to make changes, request another ballot.
5. If you have any questions, ask a poll worker before you insert the ballot in the scanner. Once a ballot has been accepted, it cannot be retrieved.

If you are satisfied with your selections:

• Take your ballot to the optical scanner in the secrecy folder provided.
• Insert your ballot into the optical scan feeder.
• The scanner will record your votes and place your ballot into the locked ballot box.
• The scanner will alert you if your ballot appears blank or if it detects too many votes.
• You will have the option to either submit the ballot as is or make changes.
• You are not required to vote in every race or for every issue on the ballot, therefore, the scanner will not alert you of instances in which you did not vote.