Manatee County voters have elected three new candidates and one incumbent to the seven-person Board of County Commissioners.
Election victories went to Carol Ann Felts in District 1, Tal Siddique in District 3, Robert McCann in District 5 and George Kruse in District 7, according to preliminary results.
All of the winning candidates are Republicans, maintaining all-GOP control of the county’s top governing body. But the candidates say they represent a change in philosophy from the previous board.
The candidates ran grassroots campaigns with an emphasis on listening to residents over special interests, slowing down rapid development, conservative fiscal policy and protecting the environment.
Here’s how the ballots were cast.
Manatee County Commission District 1: Felts wins
Republican Carol Ann Felts won the race for the District 1 seat on the county commission, defeating Democratic candidate Glenn Pearson and independent candidate Jennifer Hamey.
Felts’ platform included managing growth, promoting affordable housing, preventing wasteful spending and conserving the environment and natural resources.