Bradenton City Council: Incumbents Barneby, Sanders Seek Re-Election

BRADENTON, FL — In addition to statewide and countywide races, three Bradenton City Council seats are up for grabs in Tuesday’s general election.

While Josh Cramer is running unopposed in Ward 3, the other two races are contested, as two incumbents face challengers for the roles.

Ward 2

In Ward 2, incumbent Marianne Barneby faces challenger David M. Levin.

In response to a Patch candidate survey, Levin said that he’s seeking office “because the recycling program fell apart under the current ‘leadership.’ It’s a basic function of local government and they failed.”

The city ended its recycling collection earlier this year.

“I represent the interests of the people, not the developers. Second, I actually have a vision for the city,” Levin added. “I’d like to see the city be a better steward of itself, but especially the stretch between downtown and LECOM Park. Reinstate recycling. Replace the sporadic Marauders banners with something more inspiring. Install a Little Free Library in every city park and host more 5K races.”

Barneby, who did not respond to the candidate questionnaire, was first elected to serve as a city councilor for Ward 2 in 1998. She was elected to four terms and resigned to run for another office in 2012, according to her city bio. When the seat was vacated in June 2020 by current Mayor Gene Brown, she was appointed to complete his term.

In a recent debate, she said, according to the Bradenton Herald, “As a native of Bradenton, I have a passion for serving you and serving our city. This city supported me growing up, educated me and encouraged me to dream. The city made an investment in me and serving you is a way to pay all of that back.”

Among the issues she backs are downtown revitalization, infrastructure improvements and supporting the police.

Ward 4

In Ward 4, incumbent Bill Sanders is up against two opponents, Kurt Landefeld and Lisa Gonzalez Moore.

Sanders, who is completing his first term on council, after being elected in 2018, didn’t respond to Patch’s candidate survey. Originally from Indiana, he spent much of his career in the financial sector, according to his campaign website.

Among his top priorities are addressing traffic issues and building infrastructure, affordable housing, and economic development through recruiting new employers and creating an urban footprint.

He has also been a vocal critic of plans to sell and redevelop the downtown Bradenton City Hall property.

Earlier this summer, a third-party investigation by a law firm into allegations that Sanders created a hostile work environment for city employees were found to be “substantiated.”

“While he is not a city employee subject to dismissal, if he were a city employee, there is no doubt his employment would be terminated for his egregious, repeated violations of this policy,” the investigator wrote.

He also recently settled a defamation lawsuit with a former councilor, paying former councilor Bemis Smith $175,000 for allegations made leading up to the 2018 election.

According to his campaign Facebook page, Landefeld, who did not respond to Patch, is running to “restore civility and effective representation to Ward 4.”

He’s currently a member of the Bradenton Planning Commission, according to the city website.

Landefeld, who moved here in 2016 from Ohio, told The Bradenton Times that his top priorities are workforce housing and the sale and redevelopment of the city hall property to revitalize downtown.

Moore is a small business owner and real estate attorney, according to her campaign website. Originally from Tampa — where her family immigrated to from Cuba — she and her husband moved to the Sarasota/Bradenton area in 2000. She’s been active in the community since then.

Among her top issues are long-range strategic planning for the city, updated infrastructure (including roadways, drainage and pedestrian safety), sustainable and affordable housing, and the preservation of waterways and beaches.

“I have lived in Ward 4 for over 12 years and have watched in hopes that the area would grow into a more vibrant part of the city, especially in light of my belief that all of the wards within the city have a vested interest in the health of the other wards,” Moore said in response to a Patch candidate questionnaire. “Now that Bradenton is poised to address the requisite infrastructure and housing needs of a rapidly growing resident base, the time is now for serious planning for this growth across all wards.”

Where and how to vote

In order to cast your ballot in the 2022 general election, you’ll need to bring a valid and current photo and signature ID to your polling station. Without proper identification, you may still vote a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility.

If you’re not sure where to vote, you can look up your polling station on the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website. Sample ballots are also available at that link.

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 8. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote, but if you arrive at the polling place after 7 p.m., you will not be allowed to vote.