Di Bartolomeo, McCann seek District 5 election in Manatee. What are their policy ideas?

Two candidates will go head-to-head for the District 5 seat on the Manatee County commission in the Nov. 5 general election.

Republican candidate Robert McCann and independent candidate Joe Di Bartolomeo will seek to represent Lakewood Ranch and parts of East Bradenton. There is no Democrat running in this race.

In the August primary, McCann defeated incumbent Manatee County Commissioner Raymond Turner, who Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed to the board in 2023.

McCann says top priorities include improving disaster management and flooding issues, promoting parks and recreation, responsible zoning and land use and protecting the environment.

Di Bartolomeo says top priorities include improving quality of life issues like traffic and schools, ensuring that residents’ property rights get the same respect as developers’ and protecting the environment.

Who is Joseph Di Bartolomeo?

Background: Originally from New Jersey, Di Bartolomeo is a small business owner with a background in management, finance, accounting and technology who has lived in East Bradenton for 18 years, according to his campaign bio.

He has served on the board of the Tara Preserve Community Development District for six years and was recently elected chairman.

Top priorities: Di Bartolomeo says his commission goals center on preventing water pollution, improving infrastructure, holding developers responsible for their share of costs and taking the focus off of partisan politics.

Quality of life issues include saving taxpayers money and addressing issues like traffic congestion, drinking water issues and overcrowding in local schools, Di Bartolomeo said.

On property rights, Di Bartolomeo said that the needs of residents have been pushed aside for developer profits.

“The infrastructure is not matching the current growth of our community,” Di Bartolomeo said. “I would like to see the development industry paying their fair share of the cost to the community. And I would like to see a more balanced approach to future development, with an adherence to a more realistic Comprehensive Plan and Future Development Area Boundary.”

He also said that the county needs to address current and future flooding issues in East Manatee County by updating its hydrology studies and Comprehensive Plan and considering a stormwater utility fee.

On the environment, Di Bartolomeo said that county government needs to do more to prevent sewage spill pollution, preserve green spaces and prepare for more extreme weather.

“We need to increase mangrove planting and reduce mangrove trimming. And focus on natural buffers rather than man-made buffers that are eventually destroyed by nature,” Di Bartolomeo said. “The Earth is changing and we have to be proactive in our response.”

Why vote for Di Bartolomeo?: Di Bartolomeo said not belonging to a political party will give him more freedom to do what residents want.

“One of the reasons I chose to run for a local government position is because the federal and state political environment is so toxic and partisan,” Di Bartolomeo said.

“The issues facing Manatee County are nonpartisan. They don’t care whether you’re right or left. When I’m sitting on the dais and making decisions, I can focus on the wants and needs of my constituents rather than the party I have sworn alliance to.”

Di Bartolomeo said his financial background will help him govern responsibly.

“As a financial professional, I would like to focus on making sure that our budget reflects the needs of our community as a whole, enhancing the value of living in Bradenton and maintaining a tax base that is reflective of the economy and the value that our commission brings to its constituents. This is supposed to be an ultra-conservative board, yet fiscal responsibility and small government is the (last) thing on their mind.”

Who is Robert McCann?

Background: Originally from Chicago, Robert McCann is a physician, lawyer, business executive, educator and U.S. Navy veteran, according to his campaign bio.

Top priorities: McCann’s platform highlights curbing rapid development, addressing the flooding issues his district experienced during Hurricane Debby, conserving green space and bringing more recreation opportunities to the Lakewood Ranch area.

“It’s a wonderful community,” McCann said of the district. “People were drawn here by paradise, and it still has the potential to be that. We just need to slow the growth down.”

McCann blames poorly-planned development and building over wetlands for the flooding issues the area experienced after Hurricane Debby.

“I want to stop the building in District 5 and I want to look at the flooding. We need to mitigate that in the future. We also need to build more infrastructure and buy more lands for conservation,” McCann said.

But McCann said any spending will be carefully measured.

“I’m fiscally conservative and believe our money should be spent more appropriately,” McCann said.

McCann said he will take a resident-first approach to governing.

“What I’d like to see is a lot more community participation in the government,” McCann said. “I see the commissioner’s job as public service. I want to bring the agenda out to the people so they can tell me how they want me to vote.”

According to McCann, other issues that need addressing include the future of Manatee County’s potable water supply and addressing shortages of affordable housing and essential workers like doctors and nurses.

McCann said the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch has the potential to be a top-notch facility for professional sports.

“I’m concerned about Premier park. They’ve been promising to finish it and it hasn’t gotten done,” McCann said. “They’ve got professional rowing over at Nathan Benderson Park. We could have professional soccer right here and bring in a lot more revenue.”

Why vote for McCann?: McCann said his education and experience outweigh his opponent.

“I’ve been a doctor for 30 years and a lawyer for 25. I have better analytical skills, I have much more education, and I can listen a lot better than my opponent,” McCann said. “I was chairman of the Florida Osteopathic Board of Medicine. I know how boards work.”

McCann also sees his Republican political affiliation as an advantage on the dais.

“I think the party politics is for building coalitions within the commission itself,” McCann said. “It makes for a better understanding of how people are thinking on the board.”