DeSantis Chooses Baugh’s Replacement For Manatee County Commission

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Gov. Ron DeSantis has named the replacement for Vanessa Baugh as she steps down from the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners.

Raymond Turner will take over her unexpired term as the District 5 commissioner starting Aug. 1, according to a news release.

Baugh announced her resignation, effective July 31, for family reasons last month.

“I’m honored to be appointed by Gov. DeSantis,” Turner said. “I will do the very best job I can to serve the people of Manatee County. After orientation, I look forward to hitting the ground running to keep Manatee County free, our economy thriving, our taxes low and our quality of life ever-improving.”

• Also Read: Vanessa Baugh Steps Down From Manatee County Commission: Report

A resident of Manatee County for more than 20 years, Turner has been active in the community. He serves on the Planning Commission for Manatee County and is the secretary of the Manatee Sarasota Building Industry Association.

Born in Australia and educated in England and Canada, he began his real estate career in 1991, selling custom homes, and soon transitioned into many facets of the industry, including real estate finance, international marketing and executive management. Turner attended Seneca College.

“I want to extend a warm welcome to Commissioner Turner,” Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “We are looking forward to continuing the great work our board is doing for the taxpayers of Manatee County with him by our side.”

Turner will be sworn in at the start of the Aug. 1 commission workshop.

Baugh was first elected to the board in 2012 and has been reelected twice since then.

When she officially steps down from her seat, there will be 1.5 years remaining of her third term.

During the past two years, she’s been embroiled in a scandal involving COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Manatee County.

In January of this year, Baugh admitted to violating Florida ethics law after hosting an exclusive vaccination event in Lakewood Ranch in February 2021. The pop-up event at Premier Sports Campus was available only to those living in the county's two wealthiest ZIP codes.

In a settlement with the Florida Commission on Ethics, she was required to admit guilt and pay an $8,000 fine.