Candidate response: Charles Conoley, School Board Candidate, District 3

Editor’s note: The Bradenton Herald allows candidates who did not receive the Editorial Board’ recommendation the opportunity to respond.

I am amazed that your Editorial Board truly believes that Misty Servia being president of a monthly political lunch club is in any way, shape or form superior to my 12 years of experience as a President, CEO and director of a publicly traded bank holding company, as well as significant time (23 additional years) as a loan officer and senior executive with large regional and community banks.

I believe that my 35 years as a banker, director and business owner with direct strategic planning, budgeting and fiscal management experience far exceeds Mrs. Servia’s work experience as a mid-level county planner with no financial responsibilities.

I believe your readers would be better served if instead of re-hashing Mrs. Servia’s campaign material in the guise of your editorial recommendation, you just reported that due to the paper’s relationship with the local political establishment, you felt obligated to recommend the candidate that was endorsed and financially supported by the establishment, instead of a much more qualified private businessman, who brings a wealth of high level SEC regulated, public company board experience, significant community involvement as a director of many community not-for-profit organizations, a MBA in accounting and finance, and as volunteer economics instructor with hundreds of hours in local community schools at all grade levels.

With significant budget issues and large capital project challenges in the School Board’s future, the School Board needs the most qualified business and financial professionals with proven leadership skills. I am by far the most qualified candidate to address the main mission of the School Board, which is the oversight of the school system administration and budget. I respectively ask the Manatee County residents to vote for Charlie Conoley for School Board on Aug. 30.

This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Candidate response: Charles Conoley, School Board Candidate, District 3."