Q&A: Meet Thomas J. Schwarz, Bradenton City Council Ward 3 Candidate

BRADENTON, FL — Voters in the Nov. 3 general election will decide between Kemp F. Schuessler and Thomas J. Schwarz in the race for the Bradenton City Council Ward 3 seat.

Ward 3 represents parts of central Bradenton, including the Village of the Arts and the downtown Main Street area.

Patch sent a questionnaire to both candidates. Below are Schwarz’s unedited responses.

• Name: Thomas J. Schwarz
• Office Sought: Bradenton City Council - Ward 3
• Political Party Affiliation: Independent
• Age: 30
• City or Town of Residence: Bradenton
• Education: BA in Professional and Technical Communications
• Occupation: Communications Specialist and I moonlight in the hospitality industry as a server and bartender.
• Family Background: My mother, Sandra, was a stay at home mom who passed away when I was 8. My father, Thomas R., was a factory worker until his retirement.
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?No.
• Previous public office, appointive or elective: N/A
• Campaign website and social media:

Campaign website

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

• Why are you seeking this office?

I am running because I truly want to bring residents and City Hall closer together. I love Bradenton. It has been my home for most of my life, and I care deeply about what this city looks like in the coming decades.

Over the course of this campaign, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to residents, business owners, city employees and community organizations. I’ve seen how much people care about Bradenton, but also how often they feel disconnected from the decisions being made around them. I want to help bridge that gap and make local government more accessible, transparent and responsive to the people it serves.

• What sets you apart from the other candidate seeking this post?

I bring a different kind of experience and perspective to this race. I’m not coming from inside City Hall or from a traditional political background. My career has largely been spent in hospitality, communications and working directly with people. That has taught me how to listen, explain complicated information clearly, solve problems and work with people from very different backgrounds.

I’ve also approached this campaign the same way I would approach serving on the Council, by doing the homework. I’ve spent months attending meetings, reading city documents, talking with department leaders, businesses, nonprofits and residents, and learning how Bradenton actually works before asking voters to let me help lead it.

• What issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

My priorities are responsible growth and infrastructure, greater transparency and accessibility in local government, supporting small businesses and neighborhoods, housing affordability, and making sure residents have a meaningful voice before major decisions are made.

Bradenton is growing, and growth itself is not something I oppose. The question is whether our roads, utilities, drainage, public safety and other infrastructure are keeping pace with it. I also want residents to have a clearer picture of what projects are planned, why decisions are being made, where public money is going and how they can participate before something reaches the finish line.

• What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Much of my professional life has revolved around communication, leadership and working with people. I’ve spent more than fifteen years in hospitality, including management and training roles, and have trained dozens of employees over the course of my career. I’ve also spent years working in writing, editing, research and communications, where my job has often been to take complicated subjects, understand them and communicate them clearly.

This campaign itself has also been one of the best examples of that skill set. As a first-time candidate, I’ve built relationships across the community, spoken with residents and organizations throughout Bradenton, studied issues ranging from infrastructure and housing to permitting and redevelopment, and made a point of learning directly from the people doing the work. I don’t believe leadership requires pretending you already know everything. It requires knowing how to listen, ask good questions, learn quickly and follow through.

• Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I want people to know that I genuinely love this city and the people who live here. I’m not running because I think Bradenton is broken or because I believe every decision made before me was wrong. I’m running because I think a growing city should constantly be asking how it can work better for the people who call it home.

I’m an Independent running for a nonpartisan office, and I try to approach local issues on their merits. I believe in responsible growth, strong neighborhoods and small businesses, protecting what makes Bradenton unique, and making City Hall easier for ordinary residents to understand and participate in. Above all, I think representation starts with listening. You don’t have to agree with me on every issue for me to take your concerns seriously. That is the kind of council member I intend to be.