Manatee County Board of Commissioners

The Manatee County Board of Commissioners is the legislative body of the municipal government of Manatee County, Florida. The board consists of seven members, each representing one of seven corresponding districts from which they were elected.Odd numbered Districts (1,3,5,7) are up for election in Presidential years and Even numbered Districts (2,4,6) are up for election in Mid-Term years. Every seat is up for election every 4 years.

Manatee County Board of Commissioners
Type
Type	Unicameral of the County Government
Leadership
Chair	Betsy Benac, Republican since 2017
Vice Chairman	Robin DiSabatino, Republican since 2017
Structure
Seats	7 (2 At-Large)
Political groups	Government   Republican: 6 seats Opposition   Democratic: 1 seat
Elections
Voting system	First-past-the-post
Last election	November 6, 2018
Next election	November 3, 2018
Website
https://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/board-of-commissioners.html

Members

Manatee County Commissioners in 2016.

The board is made up of 7 members each elected from one of 7 districts every 4 years. There are 6 Republicans and 1 Democrat. Also 5 of the members are female and 2 are male.

Priscilla Whisenant Trace, District One

Priscilla(R) was elected to the board by the voters of District one in 2016. The district is made up of the cities and towns of Duette, Ellenton, Palmetto and Parrish.

Reggie Bellamy, District Two

Reggie(D) was elected in 2014 by the voters of 2nd District. The district is made up of the cities and towns of Bradenton, Ellenton and Palmetto.

Stephen R. Jonsson, District Three

Stephen(R) was elected in 2016 by the voters of 3rd District. The district is made up of the city and town of Anna Maria and Bradenton.

Misty Servia, District Four

Robin(R) was elected in 2018 by the voters of the 4th District. The district is made up of the city of Bradenton.

Vanessa Baugh, District Five

Vanessa(R) was elected in 2012 by the voters of the 5th District. The district is made up of the cities and towns of Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Mayyka City

Carol Whitmore, At Large

Carol(R) was elected in 2006 by the voters of Manatee County as her district is At-Large.

Chairman Betsy Benac, At Large

Betsy(R) was elected in 2012 by the voters of Manatee County as her district is also At-Large.

Districts

It is made up of 7 districts, Districts 1-5 each have boundaries. 6 and 7 are At-Large districts.

Elections

Odd numbered Districts (1,3,5,7) are up for election in Presidential years and Even numbered Districts (2,4,6) are up for election in Mid-Term years. Every seat is up for election every 4 years.

2016

Districts 1,3,5 and 7 (At-Large) were up for election in 2016. Districts 1 and 5 both had a Republican primary but were uncontested in the General election. Districts 3 and 7 had a General election but had no Primary election.

Primaries

District 1 Republican Primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Priscilla W. Trace	5,402	40.42
	Republican	Ron Reagan	4,148	31.04
	Republican	Corie Holmes	3,815	28.54
Total votes			13,815	100

District 5 Republican Primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Vanessa Baugh	7,358	53.12
	Republican	Kathleen S. Grant	6,497	46.88
Total votes			13,851	100

General Election

District 3 General Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Jonsson	16,404	46.31
	Independent	Matt Bower	11,300	31.90
	Independent	David Zaccagnino	7,720	21.79
Total votes			35,424	100

District 7 (At-Large) General Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Betsy Benac	105,143	64.80
	Independent	Jack Richardson	57,116	35.20
Total votes			162,259	100

2014

Districts 2,4 and 6 (At-Large) were up for election in 2014. District 2 had a Democratic Primary and a General election. District 4 had a Republican Primary but was uncontested in the General election. District 6 (At-Large) had a General election but no primary election.

Primaries

District 2 Democratic Primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charles B. Smith	1,029	34.37
	Democratic	Michael Gallen	1,024	34.24
	Democratic	Corie Holmes	884	29.53
	Democratic	Under Votes	53	1.77
	Democratic	Over Votes	3	0.10
Total votes			2,994	100