Manatee County Commission welcomes new board members in swearing-in ceremony
Three newly elected officials and one returning commissioner took the oath of office, marking the beginning of their four-year terms as Manatee County commissioners.
Surrounded by family, friends and county staff, Carol Ann Felts, Tal Siddique, Bob McCann and returning Commissioner George Kruse participated in a Tuesday morning swearing-in ceremony at the Manatee County Administration Building. Existing board members and those in attendance welcomed the elected officials.
“Please join me in welcoming Commissioner Felts, Siddique, McCann and Kruse as they commence this term,” said County Attorney Pamela D’Agostino, who led the event.
Following the brief ceremony, the three new commissioners took a seat at the dais for the first time to pose for photos with the rest of the commission.
New members join Manatee County Commission
Representing District 1, Felts was among those sworn in Tuesday after she won the race for the vacant District 1 seat, defeating Democratic candidate Glenn Pearson and independent candidate Jennifer Hamey.
An eighth-generation Floridian, Felts was raised in a family of first responders, law enforcement officers and city employees. She ran on a platform of managing growth, promoting affordable housing, preventing wasteful spending and conserving the environment and natural resources.
James Satcher left the District 1 seat vacant in April after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him as Manatee County’s Supervisor of Elections. Satcher lost his bid to keep the elections supervisor job to Scott Farrington in the August primary.
Republican newcomer Siddique, a software engineer who has worked for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, took the oath of office after defeating Democratic candidate Diana Shoemaker for the District 3 seat on the county commission.
Siddique’s election campaign focused on taking a fiscally conservative approach to the board while also focusing on infrastructure improvements, improving local water quality and reducing property taxes while stimulating economic growth.
During Tuesday’s ceremony, Robert McCann was joined hand-in-hand by his wife, Rose Marie, as he took his oath of office. The Republican is representing District 5 after defeating independent candidate Joseph Di Barolemeo. McCann’s campaign promised to slow down rapid development, conserve green space and work to bring more recreation opportunities to his district.
McCann defeated incumbent Republican Commissioner Raymond Turner in the August primary after Turner was appointed to the board by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023. The appointment came after former Commissioner Vanessa Baugh resigned for personal reasons.
Kruse, the only returning commissioner sworn in Tuesday, had his wife Jessica join him as he took the oath of office. The incumbent Republican commissioner and real estate finance executive won his second term on the board after defeating Democratic challenger Sari Lindroos-Valimaki for the at-large District 7 seat.
Kruse previously told the Bradenton Herald he would focus on infrastructure issues, responsible development, protecting wetlands and the environment, as well as tightening the county’s budget.
Kruse also defeated Kevin Van Ostenbridge in the Republican primary in August after the former District 3 Commissioner Van Ostenbridge switched to the District 7 race.
The four-year term for Felts, Siddique, McCann and Kruse will expire in November 2028.
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 12:00 PM.
