Manatee County residents protest commissioners

Manatee County residents gathered on Manatee Avenue in downtown Bradenton to protest against the controversial over-development issues affecting their community.

Downtown Bradenton has undergone significant changes over the years, looking very different from when longtime residents like David Daniels first moved there.

“You used to not have to go very far to find nature and wildlife, and it’s just being paved over everywhere now,” says Daniels, who has lived in the area since 1988. He notes that many aspects of life in Manatee County have changed dramatically.

“Just a decade ago, I could get to the interstate in 30 minutes. Now it takes 50 or 55 minutes. That’s a quality-of-life issue when you are trying to go anywhere.”

Many residents share Daniels' concerns, believing change is needed in the county’s leadership. They argue that commissioners are prioritizing developers' requests over residents' needs. Daniels and other residents are organizing protests to inform voters about the priorities of candidates in this year's election.

Incumbent commissioner George Kruse, who also joined the protest, is pushing to reduce developers' influence on the county.

“There’s no reason to build right up to the wetland. There’s no reason to endlessly build as far as the eye can see, three houses per acre further and further away, which requires us to extend our utilities and infrastructure when we can’t afford it,” says Kruse.

Kruse is in a hotly contested primary race against fellow incumbent Kevin Van Ostenbridge. Van Ostenbridge provided ABC7 with a statement:

“Liberals chant negative attacks and protest because their candidates do not have a positive message to campaign on. Republican candidates, including myself, are committed to making Manatee County more affordable, reducing traffic, and lowering your taxes.”