Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown is seeking reelection against former Councilman Bill Sanders, a frequent critic of the city’s leadership.
Brown, 57, was elected mayor in 2020 after serving three terms as a Ward 3 councilman. Sanders, 71, was elected in 2018 after unseating a longtime Ward 4 councilman. He lost his bid for a second term in 2022.
There is no love lost between the two candidates. Brown has been the target of complaints, insults and accusations from Sanders, who has called the mayor “corrupt” and claimed without evidence that he has used city resources for personal political gain.
“He is a very dirty evil person,” Sanders said of Brown.
The mayor has repeatedly dismissed Sanders’ claims, characterizing the former councilman as a chronic liar who has failed to prove any accusations.
“All he does is lie,” Brown said of Sanders. “I’ve lived it for six years.”
Who is Bill Sanders?
Background: Originally from Indiana, Sanders has a degree in business administration and led a career in business and finance management, according to his campaign bio.