Tuesday’s municipal elections in Manatee County feature contested races for three Bradenton City Council seats, Bradenton Beach mayor, Holmes Beach City Commission and Anna Maria City Commission.
All voters in the city of Bradenton get to cast ballots for all three Ward seats. Both the Holmes Beach and Anna Maria commission contests have five candidates, and the top three vote-getters in each will earn seats on their respective commissions.
Here are summaries of the Herald Editorial Board’s recommendations in each of those race:
Bradenton City Council Ward 2: Marianne Barnebey
With the city at a crossroads over a weak economy and budget, and trying to push forward on such major initiatives as Downtown by Design, Realize Bradenton and Tamiami Trail redevelopment, citizens need council members with detailed knowledge and experience in order to advance into a prosperous future.
With her long years on the council and as a Bradenton native, Barnebey’s devotion to the city is unquestionable.
She’s committed to listening to citizen concerns on any matter, and she respects all viewpoints and works for consensus. She’s also an ardent supporter of government transparency.
Ward 3: Patrick Roff
We agree with the Bradenton officials when they say statistics show crime is down, even though the perception remains the opposite. This is not a substantive issue that requires additional spending, not when every other department endures far deeper cuts. Roff made the tough call on denying additional police funding — the correct call, in our opinion, in order to keep taxes down and avoid even steeper spending cuts in other city departments.
As co-founder of the Historic Wares Creek Neighborhood Association, Roff’s passion for the creek dredging project is well known. Roff has worked tirelessly to ensure success. His determination to continue urban renewal along Tamiami Trail is also one of the keys to a brighter future for the city.
Roff’s strong commitment to the city makes him worthy of a second term in office.
Ward 4: Bemis Smith
Smith’s time in government is wide ranging. He has worked the halls of Congress as a legislative liaison. He serves with both the Downtown Development Authority and the Central Community Redevelopment Agency.
After two terms on the council, his deep knowledge about Bradenton issues and passion for city improvements are a strong asset — invaluable as the city struggles through an economic downtown and a tough redevelopment environment.
His ideas on a citywide turnaround make him the best candidate, and his amiable and down-home nature serves residents well.
Bradenton Beach mayor: Mike Pierce
Under his stewardship, Bradenton Beach has made great strides with civic improvement projects. The Historic Bridge Street Pier is a wonderful addition to the waterfront community and a strong economic asset. The new sidewalks, and others on the drawing board, are critical to both the visitor experience and public safety.
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