Manatee County’s at-large commission candidates debate plans for conservative policies
Three candidates for an at-large seat on the Manatee Board of County Commissioners marketed themselves based on their private sector knowledge, conservative values and experienced leadership in a Tuesday night debate.
Tea Party Manatee hosted the meeting at Mixon’s Fruit Farm, 2525 27th St. E., Bradenton, giving former county administrator Ed Hunzeker, real estate broker George Kruse and conservative minister James Satcher the opportunity to share their campaign platforms with more than 70 people.
All of those candidates are running for Commissioner Betsy Benac’s District 7 seat. The two-term official announced in May that she would no longer seek re-election in order to focus on her family. She also endorsed Hunzeker, who served as county administrator from 2006 to 2019, in the process.
Paul Finer, also a Republican running for the District 7 seat, declined to participate. No Democrat has filed to enter the race.
Several debate prompts were aimed at Hunzeker’s tenure with Manatee County government, with his rivals taking various shots at his decisions during that period. Responding to a question about how much oversight commissioners and the public should have over the county administrator, Satcher was the first to criticize Hunzeker for the P25 public safety tower controversy.
“He didn’t hold a single meeting, even after they passed a motion reprimanding them,” said Satcher, criticizing Hunzeker for not listening to the public. “They built an entire tower in a park with kids nearby.”
“Find the spot along University [Parkway] between the airport and the concession that doesn’t have a house near it. Trying to move it was an impossibility, especially given the cost,” Hunzeker responded.
Taking issue with budget reserves
Hunzeker’s opponents also teamed up against him and his former administration for stockpiling the county’s budget reserves. The county, they argued, could tap into those funds to resolve longstanding issues.
“On a local level, we need to look at our reserves first and foremost. This is a good opportunity to do housekeeping on the budget,” said Kruse. “The amount of reserves we sit on it almost offensive in the first place.”
“I think it’s smart financially to save up for a rainy day,” Satcher added. “What’s happened in this county is that we’ve saved up for a rainy year or two.”
Hunzeker defended the county’s strong reserves, noting that the government may have to tap into them to revitalize the economy and make up for lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The board currently has significant reserves, but we see on the horizon that things are going to change,” he said. “You can spend savings in order to avoid problems.”
Transportation debate
Candidates agreed, however, that traffic and transportation is one of the biggest issues Manatee County faces. Their approaches to fixing the problem varied.
“The biggest thing is fixing intersections, taking impact fees we have and using them in the neighborhoods that connect them. We need to finish 44th Avenue East and then look at Moccasin Wallow up north. The board ought to sit down until we have a plan for 2040 to 2050, in what order and who is going to pay for those roads,” said Hunzeker, who hinted at the possibility of increasing impact fees.
Kruse suggested incentives that would encourage developers to build homes closer to large employers, like Port Manatee, which could minimize the need for drivers to travel across the county for work. Satcher’s idea was similar, noting that the county could prioritize the creation of jobs that allow telecommuting to reduce traffic.
Each candidate said they supported President Donald Trump’s policies, including less business regulation, pro-life ideologies and the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Manatee County voters will determine which candidate advances on Aug. 18.
