Manatee County Election: 1 School Board, 3 Commission Seats Open

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Manatee County voters have several decisions to make in Tuesday’s general election.

Not only will they decide three Board of County Commission races, but they’ll choose the winner in a Manatee County School Board run-off.

Manatee County School Board

In the August primary election, the top two of three candidates advanced to the Nov. 8 run-off election for the Manatee County School Board District 2 seat — Harold E. Byrd Jr. and Cindy Spray.

Byrd, a former Bradenton city councilor, wrote in response to Patch’s candidate questionnaire, “Over the last year it became apparent that the needs of all sectors of our community were not considered as important by the Manatee County School Board. The importance of addressing the equity gaps that exists so that all students have an equal opportunity to learn. The commitment to public services applies throughout the entire school district. It is my dream that our school system will become more inclusive with all residents and not just some. I have the education, experience and the competence to lead. We need a transition leader that will change the old ways of doing to a more professional direction for the betterment of all our citizens.”

Spray, who didn’t respond to the survey, began her career as a bookkeeper in her native Indiana before landing a job in manufacturing, working for PepsiCo in numerous departments, according to her campaign website. She later moved to Florida and worked as the bookkeeper for the Tropicana Federal Credit Union.

Manatee County Board of County Commission

In the Manatee County Board of County Commission races, the District 2, 4 and 6 seats will be filled.

Democrat Reggie Bellamy, the incumbent, and Republican Amanda Ballard are vying for the District 2 seat.

Bellamy, who didn’t respond to Patch’s survey, has served on the commission since 2018 and he sits on the Manatee County Port Authority Board.

Prior to his joining the commission, he spent more than 20 years working with youth in the county. Roles included dean at Buffalo Creek Middle School in Palmetto and serving as executive director of the Palmetto Youth Center, according to his campaign website.

He said he plans to work with law enforcement on community safety matters, advocate for workforce and veterans’ housing, and support workforce development to create new jobs in the county.

Ballard, who also didn’t respond to the survey, has spent her legal career working as an attorney in the child welfare system in Manatee County.

According to her campaign website, she supports Gov. Ron DeSantis “and will strive to bring economic opportunity and relief to the most underserved areas of Manatee County.”

She said she’s running for office “because public servants should stand up for Parents’ Rights and Individual Liberty, not trample them.”

Republican Mike Rahn is up against two write-in candidates, Daniel Hansen and Timothy Norwood, in District 4.

Rahn, who didn’t respond to Patch’s survey, is a local mortgage lender and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He’s also previously sat on the county’s planning commission.

“I believe in personal freedoms and personal liberties. Certain members on the county commission don’t believe in that. I’m a conservative Republican who believes in limited government and lower taxes,” he told the Bradenton Herald. “There has not been real representation for this district.”

According to his campaign’s Facebook page, Norwood, who didn’t respond to the survey, wrote, “I am your clean waters, nature first referendum vote write-in.”

In another post, he wrote, “I used to pray for somebody to speak out, to stand up and defend our liberties. Then I realized, I am somebody.”

Patch couldn’t locate a candidate website or social media page for Hansen, who also didn’t respond to the survey.

And in District 6, Republican Jason Bearden also faces two write-in candidates, Robert Lesher and Manuel Antonio Llamas.

Bearden, who didn’t respond to Patch’s questionnaire, is an entrepreneur, a national nonprofit leader and a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Iraq, according to his campaign website.

“In Manatee County, we’re paying a price for failures caused by some on our Board of County Commissioners. If there’s a continued lack of leadership and preparation in place, we’ll pay an even higher price in the future,” he wrote on his website.

Campaign websites couldn’t be located for Lesher or Llamas. Llamas also didn’t respond to Patch’s survey.

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.