2020 Manatee Republicans weigh importance of experience, new energy in candidate forum
With several elected official positions up for grabs in 2020, Republican newcomers say it’s time to inject new life into local politics, but others say they’re already on the right track.
Candidates running for Bradenton City Council and the Manatee Board of County Commissioners pitched their policy platforms in an Thursday night event hosted by the Manatee Sarasota Republican Assembly. With some officials stepping down and others deciding not to run for re-election, newcomers said it’s time for “new energy” in politics.
According to Kevin Van Ostenbridge, his early fundraising success is proof of the concept. He collected more than $70,000 within a month of launching his campaign for the District 3 County Commission seat now held by Steve Jonsson.
Newcomers suggest fresh ideas for Manatee politics
“I came out like I was shot out of a cannon,” he explained. “People seem to resonate — even at the local level — around the idea of having a candidate who is pro-life, supports the Second Amendment and supports our president’s policies.”
Van Ostenbridge is the only candidate running in the district, and says that if elected, he will pursue strict water quality standards, infrastructure improvements, along with a major promise.
“Everyone I talked to told me not to say this, but I promise to never, ever vote to raise your taxes,” Van Ostenbridge told the crowd.
Another county commission candidate, George Kruse, reiterated his call for a more diverse board.
“Boards work better when they’re more diverse,” Kruse said, who also called for a two-term limit on the county board.
Kruse, a political newcomer challenging incumbent Republican Priscilla Trace, explained that several factors inspired him to run in District 1, including President Donald Trump’s approach to dealing with the government like a business, his opposition to the county’s stormwater fee and a leadership workshop that taught him about opportunities that weren’t being utilized.
Manatee’s District 7 candidates highlight past experience
Paul Finer, a local lawyer, is running against Commissioner Betsy Benac, who has a background in urban planning. Although he has never held political office, he says his legal background is the driving factor behind his call for a new Office of the Inspector General that would investigate claims of conflict of interest or bias among county officials.
Finer also said he would support the county raising the impact fees from the 90 percent rate that was recommended in a 2015 study.
“I think we need to raise the impact fees up to 100 percent, even with the old study, and maybe even kick it up some more and commission a new study right away,” Finer said.
Benac was candid in her speech to guests, and explained that while she hadn’t planned to run for a third term, she says her experience in dealing with the county’s land development code is still needed on the board.
“I just really feel that it’s important that we have good information, a little bit of a historic perspective moving forward and that we can continue to educate folks on how to make this a better community,” Benac said, leaning on her record as a knowledgeable commissioner.
Wooten wants ‘renewed energy’ in Ward 5
Keenan Wooten was the only candidate running for City Council at Thursday’s forum. In 2016, he lost to retiring Ward 5 Councilman Harold Byrd Jr. by less than 400 votes. Now, Wooten says he’s got a great shot at revitalizing the town.
“We need some renewed energy on City Council,” said Keenan Wooten.
“We need to take a little step back from Ward 5 and bring everybody together and let’s at ways we can improve Ward 5, because we know Ward 5 is a gateway to the city of Bradenton,” he added. “A better Ward 5 is better for the entire city of Bradenton.”
City Council elections are nonpartisan.
The Republican primary is Aug. 18. The general election is Nov. 3.
For more information on the Manatee Sarasota Republican Assembly, visit www.ManateeSarasotaRA.com.
