State, local candidates to participate in Manatee County forums | Bradenton Herald

Candidates for local and state political offices have just about a month before voters cast their ballots.

The Bradenton Herald, in partnership with METV and University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, will host forums for individual races during the first week in August to help educate voters on the races.

The first forum will feature Democrats running for State House District 70, which covers parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee counties. Three Democrats are competing to replace state Rep. Darryl Rouson, who is running for state Senate.

Wengay Newton, Dan Fiorini and Christoper “C.J.” Czaia will participate in the forum.

Brent King and Jan Schneider, Democrats running for Florida’s 16th Congressional District, which covers all of Sarasota County and part of Manatee County, will participate in a following forum.

The forums will be at USFSM’s Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Other forums through the primary and general elections will be announced later.

At 3 p.m. Aug. 3, Manatee County School Board candidates will participate in forums at the METV studio. Charlie Conoley, Dave Miner and Misty Servia, all running for the District 3 seat, will participate.

Xtavia Bailey, Gina Messenger, Linda Schaich and Ed Viltz, all running for the District 1 seat, will follow at 4 p.m.

At 3 p.m. Aug. 5, candidates for county commission will face off in forums. Vanessa Baugh and Kathleen Grant will begin and Corie Holmes, Ron Reagan and Priscilla Whisenant Trace will talk at 4 p.m.

Herald staff report