Manatee County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026

Per Suncoast Searchlight, Arnold is a retired executive from Florida Power Corp., where she handled cash management and efficiency improvements. Her campaign site says she spent over two decades with Florida Power Corporation, rising to Director managing major financial operations, after earlier efficiency-review work for the City of St. Petersburg.

Priorities: Conservation: 'Protect What We Have' by preserving Old Florida rural lands and fighting overdevelopment in sensitive areas, per votelizarnold.com · Infrastructure first: 'We cannot keep approving development without the roads, drainage, and emergency services to support it,' per votelizarnold.com · Public safety: improve EMS response times and better pay for EMS personnel, per votelizarnold.com

Raised $20,148 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per his campaign site, Dunn is 'a former first responder, and U.S. Air Force veteran' who describes himself as a local rather than a politician.

Priorities: County charter reform: 'Create a Manatee County Charter. Prioritize accountability, transparency, and district consent,' per votedunn.com · Establish a Future Development Area Boundary 'to keep our rural lands rural and stop suburban sprawl,' per votedunn.com · 'Protect FDAB, stop overdevelopment, ensure infrastructure & emergency services can support population,' per votedunn.com

Raised $7,945 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Michael L. Harrison is a qualified Republican candidate for Manatee County Commissioner District 1 on Manatee County's 2026 ballot, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list.

Raised $8,609 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per his campaign site, Johnson is a small business owner and founder of Help Take a Stand Inc. Per Suncoast Searchlight, he is a MAGA influencer known as 'Lectern Guy' from the January 6 Capitol riot, who pleaded guilty and was later pardoned by President Trump.

Priorities: Fraud, waste and abuse: 'Audit county spending and expose wasteful contracts,' per voteadamjohnson.com · Affordability: 'Stop unnecessary tax and fee increases,' per voteadamjohnson.com · Sustainable growth: 'Infrastructure before approvals,' per voteadamjohnson.com

Raised $14,394 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per Suncoast Searchlight, Stanoch is a retired technology executive and former Dell Computers executive who managed the Dell-Microsoft relationship, and previously ran for the county school board in 2024. His campaign site describes him as a community activist and a major voice behind the Manatee Patriots organization.

Priorities: Reduce traffic congestion by expanding in-county employment so job growth aligns with population growth, per votemarkstanoch.com · Attract high-paying employers, recruiting medium-to-large enterprises in fields like tech and aerospace, per votemarkstanoch.com · Government efficiency through shared services between county government and schools, per votemarkstanoch.com

Raised $24,816 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per Suncoast Searchlight, Taylor is a Manatee County native, former Florida Legislature intern, and a criminal defense and family lawyer. Per his campaign site, he serves as Chairman of the Manatee County Infrastructure Sales Tax Oversight Advisory Board.

Priorities: Water and coastal protection: 'Champion for Clean Water & Coastal Access,' per lelandformanatee.com · Fiscal responsibility: ensuring taxpayer funds are spent transparently and effectively, per lelandformanatee.com · Growth management: 'Protecting Neighborhoods Through Smart Planning' against unmanaged growth straining roads and infrastructure, per lelandformanatee.com

Raised $23,247 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per Suncoast Searchlight, Lindroos-Valimaki works in cybersecurity and previously ran for the county's at-large District 7 commission seat in 2024.

Priorities: Reassess the county's long-term plan, per Suncoast Searchlight · Prevent development-related loss of natural land, per Suncoast Searchlight · Restore integrity in governance: 'We need integrity back in government, and decency,' per Suncoast Searchlight

Raised $11,406 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per his Manatee County VoterFocus candidate filing and his campaign website, Bailey is a lifelong District 2 resident who previously worked as a Manatee County commissioner aide, serving as the main liaison between Commissioner McCann, the public, and county departments, and has worked on campaigns for State House, County Commission, School Board, and Supervisor of Elections.

Priorities: Home rule: restoring local government authority against state preemption and opposing special-district changes that bypass county oversight, per electedwardbailey.com · Water management: halting development approvals until infrastructure can support population growth and protect water supplies, per electedwardbailey.com · Preventing urban sprawl: restoring wetland buffer protections and controlling development until adequate infrastructure is in place, per electedwardbailey.com

Raised $23,257 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per her official Manatee County commissioner biography on mymanatee.org, Ballard worked for nearly eight years as an attorney in the local child welfare system before being elected to the County Commission in November 2022; she holds a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2015.

Priorities: Housing affordability and reducing homelessness, per her official commissioner biography on mymanatee.org · Addiction recovery and job training, per her official commissioner biography on mymanatee.org · Strengthening families in Manatee County, per her official commissioner biography on mymanatee.org

Raised $56,521 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Charles B. Smith Sr. is a qualified Democratic candidate for Manatee County Commissioner District 2 on Manatee County's 2026 ballot, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list.

Raised $8,475 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per his Manatee County VoterFocus candidate filing and his campaign website, Gibellina is a community advocate who has served as Vice Chair of the Manatee County Affordable Housing Advisory Board, introduced Remote Area Medical to Manatee County, served on the Suncoast Partnership board addressing homelessness, and received the Manatee Tiger Bay Club's 2025 Community Leadership Award.

Priorities: Opposing exploitative development and giving District 4 residents decision-making power over neighborhood changes, per electglengibellina.com · Infrastructure over over-development: becoming the deciding vote against the commission's current 4-3 pattern of developer-friendly approvals, per electglengibellina.com · Water management: protecting wetlands, increasing reclaimed water use, and halting development that ignores water restrictions, per electglengibellina.com

Raised $14,227 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per his official Manatee County commissioner biography on mymanatee.org, Rahn worked for over 35 years as a residential mortgage leader in the Manatee/Sarasota market and is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer who served 13 years including in Operation Desert Storm; he was elected to the County Commission in November 2022, served as its Chair in 2024, and previously served on the Manatee County Planning Commission (20

Raised $65,450 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Real estate broker of 21 years and retired firefighter/paramedic; U.S. Army veteran and founder of the Heroes Welcome Home veterans nonprofit, per his candidate statement filed with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections (VoterFocus).

Priorities: Veteran support, including helping veterans access housing and support services through his nonprofit Heroes Welcome Home, per his VoterFocus candidate statement · Strengthening the local community through volunteer efforts across Manatee County, per his VoterFocus candidate statement

Raised $10,200 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Owner of ASP - America's Swimming Pool Company of Manatee County, per his campaign website; previously a lead executive sales manager for Primary Color, a nationwide printing company, per his candidate statement on VoterFocus (Manatee County Supervisor of Elections).

Priorities: Environmental conservation and wetland protection, including restoring (not mitigating) the 50-foot wetland buffer and stopping urban sprawl, per electjohncalovich.com · Infrastructure and traffic solutions - completing roads and investing in infrastructure before authorizing new development, per electjohncalovich.com · Government efficiency and tax relief - simplifying government, lowering the millage rate, and reducing bloated reserves, per electjohncalovich.com

Raised $39,215 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Worked more than 30 years for Manatee County Utilities, starting in field positions and advancing through the ranks, per his candidate statement on VoterFocus (Manatee County Supervisor of Elections) and his campaign website electedference.com.

Priorities: Manage growth responsibly so infrastructure can catch up and keep up, per electedference.com · Protect beaches, natural lands, agriculture and wildlife for future generations, per electedference.com · Keep taxes fair and county spending accountable, per electedference.com

Raised $26,490 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

District Chief of Staff for Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16), overseeing district operations across Manatee County and southern Hillsborough County, per her campaign website tarapoulton.com and her VoterFocus (Manatee County Supervisor of Elections) filing; her career also includes roles at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and DeSoto County government, per her campaign website.

Priorities: Fiscal responsibility - holding the line on government spending to address affordability, per tarapoulton.com · Environmental protection, including opposing the proposed Manatee County cruise terminal over ecosystem concerns, per tarapoulton.com · Responsible growth and economic development with taxpayer protection, per tarapoulton.com

Raised $45,901 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Executive Director of the Palmetto Youth Center, U.S. military veteran, and former Manatee County Commissioner, per his campaign website reggiebellamy.com; he is not the current officeholder - the county's two at-large commission seats are held by George Kruse and Jason Bearden, per mymanatee.org.

Priorities: Infrastructure-first growth - roads, sewer, and stormwater addressed before development approvals, per reggiebellamy.com · Environmental protection balancing economic growth with stewardship of water resources and ecosystems, per reggiebellamy.com · Fiscal accountability - cutting waste, improving efficiency, and transparent use of taxpayer dollars, per reggiebellamy.com

Raised $9,725 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Golden is a pastor and attorney, per Ballotpedia, which also notes he previously served on the School Board of Manatee County representing District 5 from 2018 to 2022 before losing his 2022 re-election bid. Per Suncoast Searchlight, he served as board chair in 2022 and has worked as a substitute teacher across all grade levels.

Priorities: Civility: master board training and expanded public comment during school board meetings, per jamestgolden.com · Continuity: continue initiatives such as third-grade reading proficiency efforts and transforming STEM into STEAM (STEM + Arts), per jamestgolden.com · Stability: leverage his prior board experience, including being elected chair by fellow school board members, per jamestgolden.com

Raised $3,250 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Jefferson has been an educator in Manatee County for more than 26 years and currently teaches social studies at Sugg Middle School, per Suncoast Searchlight, which also reports she serves as education chair for the Manatee County NAACP.

Priorities: Support Title I schools and economically disadvantaged students, per Suncoast Searchlight · Improve teacher retention, per Suncoast Searchlight · Address students' mental and emotional needs and eliminate educational gaps, per Suncoast Searchlight

Raised $3,221 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Nanney, 72, is retired; she formerly headed the Manatee school district's communications department and has worked as a teacher, paraprofessional and enhancement technician, per Suncoast Searchlight, which also notes she has served on boards including the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Council, United Way and Salvation Army.

Priorities: Reduce overreliance on technology in classrooms, per Suncoast Searchlight · Strengthen trade-school pathways for career preparation, per Suncoast Searchlight · Support both academic and vocational student success, per Suncoast Searchlight

Raised $13,912 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Spray is the sitting School Board of Manatee County District 2 member, in office since November 22, 2022, per Ballotpedia; neither Ballotpedia nor Suncoast Searchlight details her professional occupation outside the board.

Priorities: 'Putting students first' through increased classroom resources and teacher support, per Suncoast Searchlight · Transportation improvements and school security, per Suncoast Searchlight · School choice, including extending millage funding to charter schools, per Suncoast Searchlight

Raised $26,426 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

White grew up in Manatee County and has worked in district schools as a computer technician and as an Emotional Behavioral Disorders specialist, per Suncoast Searchlight.

Priorities: Reduce overreliance on technology in schools, per Suncoast Searchlight · Increase community engagement with parents and teachers, per Suncoast Searchlight · Improve literacy and academic performance, per Suncoast Searchlight

Raised $3,335 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per Suncoast Searchlight, Bedinghaus is the 23-year-old director of the Turning Point USA Manatee County Hub and works as an independent journalist for Coastal Conservative News; his personal website describes him as a Christian conservative author, speaker, and independent journalist.

Priorities: Declare a 'reading emergency' and refocus on common-sense academics, citing that nearly half of district students cannot read at grade level, per camforschoolboard.com · Accountability and transparency, including more parental access to information (a parent portal to view lesson plans), per camforschoolboard.com and Suncoast Searchlight · Teach real-world skills such as personal finance, budgeting, and economics, per camforschoolboard.com

Raised $5,200 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per his campaign site votemullis.com, Mullis is owner and CEO of Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida in Bradenton with over 17 years as a small business owner; Suncoast Searchlight likewise describes him as a physical therapist and business owner.

Priorities: Academic excellence: proficiency in reading, writing, math, and science, per votemullis.com · Expand vocational and technical programs with real-world work exposure, per Suncoast Searchlight · Support teachers by reducing administrative burdens, plus school safety and fiscal responsibility, per votemullis.com

Raised $27,863 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Per Suncoast Searchlight and her campaign site votewilford.com, Wilford is a substitute teacher in District 5 who previously taught English as a foreign language (including in Paris), serves on the League of Women Voters' Education Issues Action Team, and founded the 'Education Matters in Manatee County' Facebook page.

Priorities: Student achievement and well-being: expand collegiate and vocational pathways and strengthen mental health supports, per votewilford.com · Attract and retain teachers, including peer mentor programs with stipends and better pay, per votewilford.com and Suncoast Searchlight · Communication and transparency between the district and the public, per votewilford.com

Raised $3,743 · per Supervisor of Elections filings

Scott Johnson is a qualified candidate for Manatee County Mosquito Control District Group 1 on Manatee County's 2026 ballot, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list.

Per kellerspestcontrol.com/about-us, O'Quinn is the sole owner and president of Keller's Pest Control, a Bradenton-based family pest control company he joined as a service technician in 1997; his Manatee County candidate filing (VoterFocus) lists a kellerspestcontrol.com email as his contact.

Charles Richards is a qualified candidate for Manatee County Mosquito Control District Group 1 on Manatee County's 2026 ballot, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list.

Raised $1,200 · per Supervisor of Elections filings