We recently learned that there is a plan to transition Seaport Manatee from a dependent district governed by the Manatee County Commission to an independent district with a governor-appointed board, consisting of one county commissioner serving as liaison. While that might make sense in a vacuum, our history with such boards should serve as a flashing red light, warning us against such a change.
Supporters of the bill—which included three of our county commissioners—argue that a large and growing port operation could benefit from a board appointed for its members’ special seaport-related expertise. But let’s consider such boards and Manatee County’s experience with them. It quickly becomes clear that they are routinely stacked with political cronies who are not only no more qualified than the average commissioner but also not subject to voter oversight.
The Manatee County Airport Authority board, none of whose members have a background in airport operations, has spent recent years attempting to carry out the governor’s hamfisted plans to expand New College. This has come at the expense of the long-term needs of one of our community’s most essential resources, attempting to sell land it will need for future operations to the college so that it can needlessly grow into a larger campus, despite the school’s unparalleled expenses in terms of cost per student and the existing presence of USF-Sarasota Manatee just north of its campus. Only the FAA’s denial of the sale has saved the community so far…