Joe McClash Is Out as County Commissioner

A Republican newcomer has knocked out incumbent Commisioner Joe McClash from the At-Large District 7 seat.

Betsy Benac now advances to the general election on Nov. 6, where she will face write-in candidate Thomas Dell.

The upset was one of three county commission races on the ballot in Tuesday's primary in Manatee County. McClash has held office for more than 20 years. Benac is considered pro-development, while McClash is considered more of a moderate, with support from environmentalists and business interests, according to the Herald Tribune.

In other County Commission races:

• District 1: Incumbent County Commissioner Larry Bustle won against Nathaniel Leonard. He faces Democrat Corie M. Holmes in the general election.
• District 5: Businesswoman Vanessa Baugh beat banker John Colon on the Republican ballot. Democrat James T. Golden,a former Bradenton city councilor, won against Frank Archino. The winners from each party face off in November.