Kruse vs. Hunzeker for Manatee County Commission. Who has the right experience?
The race to represent the at-large District 7 seat on the Board of County Commissioners comes down to whether voters prefer a candidate with or without experience leading government decisions.
In one of the most contentious local races of 2020 election cycle, two Republican candidates have called each other liars and taken hard looks at past records in an effort to sway voters.
George Kruse, a businessman, is running against Ed Hunzeker, who previously served as county administrator. Candidates acknowledge that the race comes down to a difference in government experience.
No Democrat is running for the seat, and the winner of the Republican primary on Aug. 18 will face write-in candidate Thomas Dell in the Nov. 3 general election. Dell’s candidacy means only registered Republicans can vote in the race.
Commissioner Betsy Benac, who currently holds the seat, previously announced her intention to run for re-election but has since decided to retire instead.
In a recent debate hosted by the Manatee County League of Women Voters, candidates highlighted their platforms.
Kruse is a political newcomer and spent the past few decades running a small business. In interviews with the Bradenton Herald, he said he hopes to bring that private-sector focus to local government, similar to President Donald Trump’s approach.
“What we’ve got on our board right now is a lot of planners and politicians. We don’t have a true private-sector view. The closest thing is Commissioner Stephen Jonsson and he’s leaving this year,” Kruse said. “We’re losing an important voice for small businesses. We don’t need more government voices.”
Hunzeker, on the other hand, boasts his familiarity with the inner workings of Manatee County Government, having run the administration from 2006 to 2019.
“I’m running for this office because I have years and years of experience,” Hunzeker said. “I originally wanted to focus on the issue of growth in the community but as time goes on and we move through this coronavirus business, I think the challenges are going to be a downturn in the economy and individuals suffering from job loss.”
Instead of government experience, Kruse argues that his free-market beliefs make him the stronger candidate. If elected, Kruse said his top priorities would be rolling back regulations and examining the county’s budget to identify cost-saving opportunities.
“I want to dig into the budget and see where the money is and where it’s not and see how to make our government more efficient for everybody,” Kruse explained.
Hunzeker’s first goal would be to modify the budget in a way that lessens the impact of an economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want to make sure the county moves forward and prospers,” said Hunzeker, adding that he helped create a $100 million program to boost the construction industry during the Great Recession.
In recent months, candidates have gone back on forth in social media posts, which began when Hunzeker’s campaign posted an ad that claimed Kruse had “turned his back on healthcare workers.”
Kruse told the Bradenton Herald that he wasn’t interested in addressing Hunzeker’s ads and would rather focus on connecting with voters. Instead, Kruse has used Facebook videos to respond to clarify his record and point out what he sees as some of Hunzeker’s own shortcomings.
“He’s going to do what he’s going to do. That’s the campaign he chose to run. He started doing that all the way back in June,” Kruse explained. “If he feels that trying to knock me down is more important, that’s his choice.”
In a campaign ad video launched Thursday morning, Kruse accuses Hunzeker of being “too liberal for Manatee.”
Hunzeker chalked up the negative campaign ads to his political consulting firm, which has been paid about $30,000 to produce digital advertising, according to campaign finance records.
“That’s political people doing political stuff. I try to steer away from that,” Hunzeker said.
With an uncertain economic future in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hunzeker is billing his handling of the Great Recession as one of the main reasons he should be elected.
“They could develop a vaccine tomorrow, but that’s not going to cure the recession that’s facing us in the next few years,” Hunzeker said.
“You wouldn’t go to a brain surgeon who had never done surgery,” he added. “You wouldn’t hire a lawyer who has never done any legal work. I believe experience counts, especially in a crisis.”
On some policy items, Kruse and Hunzeker agree. Both have suggested rolling back some of the regulations in Manatee County’s Comprehensive Plan and working with developers to encourage development in areas that would help keep cars off the road to alleviate traffic concerns.
Hunzeker’s priorities include coming up with a detailed plan for roads in Manatee County, coming up with a new stormwater fund without raising taxes and continuing to expand county services in rapidly developing parts of the county, such as Lakewood Ranch and Parrish.
Kruse has said he hopes to bring more affordable housing to the area, reduce traffic congestion and protect the county’s water quality, all while keeping taxes low.
Hunzeker has been endorsed by the Manatee County Medical Society, the Gulf Coast Builders Xchange and the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
Kruse has been endorsed by the Manatee-Sarasota Republican Assembly, former Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube and the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association, as well as other officials and groups.
