Manatee County plans tributes for late Commissioner Felts. Here’s what to know
Manatee County Commissioner Carol Ann Felts, a Myakka City resident who represented District 1 on the Manatee County Commission, died Tuesday at age 68.
Fellow commissioners and local officials remembered her as a fierce advocate for rural Manatee County who fought against sprawling development. In the wake of her death, officials and residents plan memorials to remember the passionate commissioner.
Here are key takeaways:
- Felts began her first term in public office in 2024 after unsuccessful bids in 2020 and 2022. She defeated a developer-backed candidate to earn a four-year seat representing more than 77,000 residents in Myakka City, Parrish and parts of Ellenton and Palmetto.
- A cause of death was unknown as of Tuesday afternoon. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation.
- Commissioner Amanda Ballard is proposing the board name a portion of Myakka City’s Crane Park after Felts, possibly as the Carol Ann Felts Preserve at Crane Park. The board will consider the item at its March 3 meeting.
- A GoFundMe launched Wednesday had raised about $1,600 of its $3,500 goal by Friday afternoon, seeking funds for a Felts memorial plaque and marker in Myakka City.
- An eighth-generation Floridian originally from Little Havana in Miami, Felts owned nearly 10 acres in Myakka City where she tended to horses, chickens and an African spurred tortoise. Commissioner Bob McCann said she “really fought for her people.”
- Gov. Ron DeSantis must issue an executive order declaring a vacancy before the seat can be filled. According to Supervisor of Elections Scott Farrington, there is no set timeframe for the governor to act, and the District 1 seat will be added to the 2026 election ballot. DeSantis may also appoint someone in the meantime.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full stories at the top were reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.