Manatee County Commission welcomes new board members with swearing-in ceremony

Three newly elected officials and one re-elected commissioner were sworn in, marking the start of their four-year terms as Manatee County commissioners.

Surrounded by family, friends and county staff, Carol Ann Felts, Tal Siddique, Bob McCann and returning Commissioner George Kruse participated in a swearing-in ceremony Tuesday morning at the Manatee County Administration Building. Current members of the board of directors and those present welcomed the elected officials.

“Join me in welcoming Commissioner Felts, Siddique, McCann and Kruse as they begin this term,” said County Attorney Pamela D’Agostino, who led the event.

After the brief ceremony, the three new commissioners took their seats on the dais for the first time to pose for photos with the rest of the commission.

New Members Join Manatee County Commission

Representing District 1, Felts was among those sworn in Tuesday after winning the race for the vacant District 1 seat, defeating Democratic candidate Glenn Pearson and independent candidate Jennifer Hamey.

An eighth-generation Floridian, Felts grew up in a family of first responders, law enforcement officers and city employees. She ran on a platform of managing growth, promoting affordable housing, preventing wasteful spending, and conserving the environment and natural resources.

James Satcher left the District 1 seat vacant in April after Gov. Ron DeSantis named him Manatee County’s supervisor of elections. Satcher lost his bid to retain the supervisor of elections position to Scott Farrington in the August primary.

Republican newcomer Siddique, a software engineer who has worked for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was sworn in after defeating Democratic candidate Diana Shoemaker for the district seat 3 on the county commission. .

Siddique’s election campaign focused on taking a fiscally conservative approach to the board while also focusing on improving infrastructure, improving local water quality, and reducing property taxes while stimulating economic growth.

At Tuesday’s ceremony, Robert McCann was joined hand in hand by his wife, Rose Marie, as he took the oath of office. The Republican represents District 5 after defeating independent candidate Joseph Di Barolemeo. McCann’s campaign promised to slow rapid development, conserve green space and work to bring more recreational opportunities to his district.

McCann defeated incumbent Republican Commissioner Raymond Turner in the August primary after Turner was appointed to the board by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023. The appointment came after former Commissioner Vanessa Baugh resigned over concerns personal reasons.

Kruse, the only commissioner to be sworn in Tuesday, asked his wife Jessica to join him as he took the oath of office. The incumbent Republican commissioner and real estate finance executive won his second term on the board after defeating Democratic challenger Sari Lindroos-Valimaki for the District 7 at-large seat.

Kruse previously told the Bradenton Herald he would focus on infrastructure issues, responsible development, wetlands and environmental protection, as well as tightening the county budget.

Kruse also defeated Kevin Van Ostenbridge in the Republican primary in August after former District 3 Commissioner Van Ostenbridge switched to the District 7 race.

The four-year terms of Felts, Siddique, McCann and Kruse will expire in November 2028.