Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and George Kruse will vie to represent Manatee County Republicans in the race for an at-large commission seat in the Aug. 20 primary election.
Both commissioners were elected to their first terms in 2020 in a conservative wave of votes that shifted Manatee County’s top governing body farther to the political right. Together they voted to oust former County Administrator Cheri Coryea in what marked the beginning of a major shakeup in county administration and staff.
While Van Ostenbridge and Kruse started as seeming political allies, they’ve since become rivals who frequently clash on the dais.
Kruse holds the District 7 seat, one of two at-large commission seats that represent the entire county. Van Ostenbridge currently represents District 3, which includes Anna Maria Island, part of Bradenton and the Palma Sola and Terra Ceia areas.
But in May, Van Ostenbridge made a surprise switch to the countywide race for at-large commissioner to attempt knocking Kruse off the board.