Candidate Forum - County Commission D-5

Candidates Recommended for Election - Manatee Association of REALTORS, Inc.

Representatives of the Manatee Association of REALTORS® have met with screened candidates seeking election to county commission, school board, and sheriff.

The candidates listed below have been recommended for election.

We urge you to consider supporting these candidates in the pirmary, August 14th, and in the general election, November 6th.

They have been found to identify strongly with those issues important to our industry.

If at all possible, we urge you not only to vote for these candidates, but to become involved in their campaigns as well.

CANDIDATES RECOMMENDED

County Commission - District 1: Lawrence E. Bustle, Jr. (REP)
County Commission - District 5: Venessa Baugh (REP)
County Commission - District 7: Betsy Benac (REP)
Manatee County School Board - District 2: Robert Moates (NON)
Manatee County School Board - District 4: Bob Gause (NON)
Sheriff: W. Brad Steube (REP)
Supervisor of Elections: Mike Bennett (REP)

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Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Announces Political Endorsements

November 30, 2011 For more information please contact: Craig Cerreta, 941-993-2502

LAKEWOOD RANCH BUSINESS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS
Endorsements made by LWRBA Board of Directors

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance is pleased to announce the first of many political endorsements.

Vanessa Baugh - Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, District 5
Tom Knight - Sarasota County Sheriff
Brad Steube - Manatee County Sheriff
Ed Brodsky - State Attorney, 12th Judicial Circuit
Larry Eger - Public Defender, 12th Judicial Circuit

The LWRBA is the voice of nearly 500 businesses representing several thousand employees in and around Lakewood Ranch.

A critical part of the Alliance mission is to make a difference in the community by interviewing, evaluating, and recommending pro-business political candidates.

The Business Alliance Governmental Affairs Committee will continue its interview and endorsement process in the upcoming year with candidates on the local and state level. The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance has a diverse membership that encompasses varied political views and parties. The common thread is that the organization promotes the business interests of entrepreneurs in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance is a group of members striving to provide an organized voice to assist in influencing the different county, city and governmental organizations to improve the Lakewood Ranch community and surrounding region. The LWRBA mission is to provide a vehicle to facilitate visibility and growth for our businesses, fostering economic development and the appropriate infrastructure to accompany this growth.

Thank you to everyone who joined me on October 20th for the Bratwurst at the barn fundraiser.

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The challenge is to strengthen our Community!

For many months, I have been engaged in discussions and consultations with friends, neighbors and business colleagues regarding a wide variety of serious challenges that face our community. Over and over, I hear many of the same concerns and a very clear message: We can do better!

We have all been living in difficult times, for some of us, young and old, it has been the most difficult of times that we could imagine.

Many have lost their jobs and homes with no where for them to turn. We have been equally frustrated that government has been spending like "there is no tomorrow". Manatee County has felt this downturn and it's not over. I am sure we all agree that Manatee County needs to rein in spending and that means when you cut the budget you don't spend more money in other areas and you don't rely on grants for projects either because as we all know nothing is free, there are always consequences.

It is time, my friends, to start moving forward, to have all sectors of the Community working closely together in a partnership.
The challenge is to strengthen our Community, help business succeed and diversify our economy. We need a strong and fair voice because right now we have a disconnect between the people and the Commissioner.

By working together as a unified Community, we can make District 5 and all of Manatee County, a better, stronger and safer community. This means we must have a Commissioner that will look at the issues with a new pair of eyes, challenge and change the way of doing county business. We cannot continue to do the same things, WE MUST DO BETTER. We cannot be so deep in the forest that we can't see the trees. For the past approximately 6 ½ years, that is 78 months or 2,340 days (I can do hours if you would like), the current Commissioner has made over 500 votes. What do we have to show for it??? We need someone who shares the same values and ethics that the residents of District 5 do. Someone they can depend on, and that they know will be their voice. It is time we get out of that forest and open our eyes. WE NEED CHANGE.

We need a Commissioner, who will be accessible and accountable to all the people in our wonderful District.

My goal is to reach out to all citizens and businesses, to hear their concerns, to start working with all. I am announcing today that I will immediately begin a "Listening Tour". I want to reach as many citizens and businesses as possible. I want to know their concerns, and problems. This is about the people of District 5, the citizens of Manatee County, I want to be their voice. The goal is to build our opportunities, help businesses succeed, and help residents get back to work and start thriving. My campaign is grassroots and I pay respect to all segments our District and County.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have reached out to me. I have been so blessed by their encouragement and support as well as their enthusiastic offers to help. This experience only serves to deepen my respect for the residents and businesses of District 5 who care so deeply about this Community.

Now with that being said, lets' get started because TOGETHER WE WIN.

I respectfully ask for your vote and support for Manatee County Commissioner, District 5. Should you have any questions, please contact me at 941-780-6467 or through this website.