Voters choose the candidates who will appear on the general election ballots months before the election in August.The primary election is Aug. 18, and those who are not yet registered or wish to change their party affiliation must do so by Monday, July 20.Registration can be done online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, in person at a supervisor of elections office (2001 Adams Lane for Sarasota County residents or 600 301 Blvd. W., Ste. 108 for Manatee County residents) or by mail by filling out an

The property tax referendum was the topic that rose to the top during Commissioner Bob McCann's joint workshop with Community Development Districts on June 30 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.Representatives of each CDD were able to submit questions to the commissioner beforehand.The referendum would increase homestead exemptions up to $250,000 by 2028 and could cost Manatee County over $149 million in annual revenue. McCann’s response was that property taxes are too high. &ldquo

Manatee County enacts a countywide burn ban as drought conditions continue across the region. The post The Scoop: Mon. July 6, 2026 Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

With two attorneys already seated on the Manatee County Commission — Amanda Ballard and Bob McCann — another attorney has entered the race for District 1: Leland Taylor. Taylor said lawyers can make good county commissioners because they’re open-minded, know how to apply the Constitution, and are adept at reading statutes and ordinances.  “There are so many different areas to learn, you can’t know it all,” Taylor said. “But you have an approac

Tony Barrett, a candidate for the at-large Manatee County District 6 commission race and a currently seated fire commissioner for East Manatee Fire Rescue, was arrested for the second time within two weeks.Barrett was initially arrested June 18 for battery touch and strike. The probable cause affidavit states he and his ex-girlfriend “engaged in a verbal altercation in her bedroom that turned physical.”Tony Barrett, candidate for District 6, was arrested June 30 for violating the co

Although Manatee County spent $10.5 million last year cleaning canals and waterways to reduce the risk of flooding, the stormwater department reported that approximately $18.8 million more is required to finish the job. Those dollar amounts represent initial cleanings, not maintenance. Maintenance is expected to cost about $2 million annually. Tom Gerstenberger, the stormwater engineering division manager, presented the plan to commissioners during the June 10 budget session, but the

In the race for District 1, one candidate stands out among the rest: Sari Lindroos-Valimaki. Why? Lindroos-Valimaki is a Democrat. Out of the 19 qualified candidates running for four Manatee County Commission seats this year, only three are Democrats — Lindroos-Valimaki in District 1, Charles B. Smith Sr. in District 2 and Reggie Bellamy in District 6. Manatee County is a predominantly Republican county. However, during an interview with the East County Observer, Lindroos-V

For the past 12 years, East Manatee Fire Rescue has been building a technical rescue team.Technical rescue teams perform beyond the regular duties of a fire department. Members respond to swift water rescues and structural collapses, among other complex emergencies. Paul Wren, who will succeed Lee Whitehurst as chief in January 2027, said East Manatee Fire Rescue was at a point where the team had to either merge with another team or create its own team. That was until a bigger, better offe

Manatee County Beach Patrol pulled 136 swimmers from rip currents over four days in mid-June. The spike has officials urging caution as Independence Day nears. Rescues occurred the week of... The post Lifeguards Perform 136 Rescues in Four Days as Rip Currents Surge Before July 4th Weekend appeared first on WiLD 94.1.

Some Manatee County expenditures cited as overspending by the state Department of Government Efficiency were called money “well spent” by the Manatee County Government Efficiency Liaison Committee.The committee met June 23 to discuss its final recommendations with County Administrator Charlie Bishop before presenting those recommendations to commissioners July 28. Committee member John Settineri kicked off the meeting by going through the three Manatee County capital expenditur