Palmetto voters will elect first new mayor in over a decade. Meet the candidates
An agriculture executive is facing off against a former city and county commissioner in the race to become Palmetto’s next mayor.
With Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant choosing not to seek re-election, Dan West is running against Charles Smith to become the next elected leader of the city. Two Palmetto City Commission seats will also be on the ballot.
Bryant has served four terms as Palmetto’s mayor since 2008.
West and Smith have different visions for Palmetto and what their time in office would look like. Both candidates say they want to see the city’s continued growth under their leadership.
West believes his experience in leadership positions with various agricultural organizations will serve him well, but Smith says his political experience makes him the most qualified candidate for the job.
Palmetto voters will choose new mayor
West has lived in Palmetto his entire life and graduated from Palmetto High School and the University of Florida. He returned to Palmetto High School as an agricultural teacher before serving as manager of the Manatee County Fair for 17 years. He is now the Executive Director of the Florida Federation of Fairs, a role he said he would step down from if elected so he could serve as a full-time mayor.
West says his priorities as mayor would include serving with honor and integrity, fostering an open-door policy and continuing outreach within the community.
“I want to continue what’s been happening here. I want to reach out to people, whether it’s the food giveaway programs or just continuing to help people. I like to be out in the community and find out what people need and how we can help,” West said.
Palmetto’s continued growth is also a major focus of West’s campaign.
“The growth and development of the City of Palmetto has made great strides and we’ve got to continue that effort. We’ve got the new hotel here with the Palmetto Marriott, we’ve got the groups working on the downtown business corridor. We want to have growth and development and have people come to Palmetto to shop and to eat so they don’t have to cross the bridge. We want them to be here in Palmetto,” West said.
Smith brings several years of experience as an elected official to the race for Palmetto’s next mayor.
Born in Batavia, New York, but raised in Palmetto, Smith is also a graduate of Palmetto High School and says he has a degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida, however, the Bradenton Herald previously reported that the validity of Smith’s degree was brought into question in 2014.
Smith is the co-founder of Manatee Harvesting Co., a business he has run with his family for over 40 years. In 1990, he became the first African American elected to the Palmetto City Commission and had been re-elected four times, also serving stints as vice mayor of Palmetto and as a Manatee County commissioner. Smith most recently ran for Palmetto mayor in 2020, earning around 24% of the vote.
“I am fully trained and state-certified in all aspects of government, which, combined with my extensive business background, make me the most qualified candidate to serve as mayor. My leadership style is collaborative, and I believe in the power of partnerships between the private sector and government to drive innovation and create opportunities for all,” Smith said on his website.
Smith says as mayor, he would prioritize expanding Palmetto’s police force, improving housing conditions and encouraging “smart growth.”
“Palmetto needs a leader with the experience and vision to move our city forward and I am ready to take on that responsibility,” Smith said.
West has raised about $35,000 in his campaign to become Palmetto’s mayor, while Smith raised about $17,800.
Voters will also get to decide two seats on the Palmetto City Commission on Tuesday, as Scott Whitaker is challenging incumbent Sheldon Jones for the at-large seat 1, while Matt Kezar is challenging incumbent Tamara Cornwell for the at-large seat 2.
Palmetto City Commission: Whitaker vs. Jones
Whitaker, too, is a graduate of Palmetto High School. He served in the U.S. Army for several years and has been the president of Arctic Air, an air conditioning and plumbing company, since 2008.
Whitaker says he would bring strong conservative leadership to Palmetto if elected and would work “hand-in-hand with Manatee County’s law enforcement to make Palmetto stronger and safer.”
“As a lifelong Palmetto resident, I know this city has a special charm that surrounding communities don’t have and I will work extremely hard to keep that alive. I’ve built my business here, raised my family here, and now I’m ready to serve Palmetto as your City Commissioner,” Whitaker said in a post to social media.
The incumbent, Jones, is a postal worker, military veteran and lifelong Palmetto resident.
Born and raised in Palmetto, Jones and his family are fourth-generation Manatee County residents. He served in the United States Army from 1986 to 1993 and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. He also worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 19 years.
Jones said if re-elected, parking, housing and sewage would be some of his main priorities.
“Experience matters in these elections. I’ve been very upfront and have integrity within this community and with voters every day and on every level. I’m not bought and sold. I listen to their voice. I’m a people person and that’s what drives me day in and day out, to listen to the voters on what we need in this city. We’ve got to have someone who can continue to do that and not special interest,” Jones said.
Palmetto City Commission: Kezar vs. Cornwell
For the at-large seat 2, Kezar is up against incumbent Cornwell.
Kezar is a Florida native and a veteran, having graduated from West Point with a degree in engineering and management before serving as a commissioned armor officer and Brigade HQ executive officer in the U.S. Army. After his military service, Kezar pursued a career in real estate development and finance.
Kezar previously ran for a Palmetto City Commission seat in 2020 on a campaign of attracting businesses to increase the city’s tax base, attracting new residents with the creation of jobs and affordable housing. Kezar’s bid ultimately came up short against Jones, but he did manage to secure around 37% of the vote.
Cornwell, meanwhile, is a local educator and fifth-generation Manatee County resident seeking another term in office. First elected in the late 1990s, the veteran commissioner has held the at-large 2 seat for 27 years.
As a member of the Community Redevelopment Authority board, she helped create the city’s revitalization plan, which has resulted in the completion of the new police station, Sutton Park improvements, the Riviera Dunes development, the newly-opened Marriott Hotel Resort and Spa and more.
“While I am proud of the progress we have made in Palmetto, there is still much work to be done, and with outsider influence at an all-time high, it is important that I continue to provide guidance and oversight,” Cornwell said in her campaign bio.
Whitaker raised $35,000 to challenge Jones, compared to his roughly $16,000 raised for re-election. Cornwell raised nearly $8,700 for her re-election campaign, while Kezar raised over $28,000 to challenge her.
