The pace slows on AMI in August, including the pace at the polls for elections.
Island Republicans, Democrats and independents Aug. 23 cast primary ballots — none were lengthy ballots but some contained major contests, including a Republican race for Manatee County commissioner in District 6.
The race for one of two at-large seats in Manatee saw challenger Jason Bearden defeat four-term incumbent Carol Whitmore of Holmes Beach. Carol Ann Felts also lost to Bearden.
Bearden won 61.54% of the vote. Whitmore, a former Holmes Beach mayor and city commissioner elected to the county board in 2006, placed second with 25.33% and Felts fell into third with 13.13%.
On election night, Whitmore posted to Facebook, “Congratulations to the winners tonight.”
Whitmore and Bearden did not respond to The Islander’s requests Aug. 25 for comment.
Bearden and Whitmore waged contentious campaigns — both taking in more than $100,000 in campaign donations — across the county. Earlier this summer when Whitmore removed unauthorized Bearden campaign signs from properties in Holmes Beach, Bearden asked that a criminal charge be filed by the state attorney’s office, a request apparently still under review.
While she lost the race, Whitmore won the island. In Anna Maria, she had 62.43% of the vote; in Holmes Beach, 51.51%; and in Bradenton Beach, 47.62%.
Bearden advances to the Nov. 8 general election, where he faces minimal opposition from two write-in candidates, Manuel Antonio Llamas and Robert Lesher.
The entry of those write-in candidates created a closed Republican primary, blocking Democrats and independents from casting ballots in the Aug. 23 contest.
Meanwhile, in District 4, incumbent Manatee County Commissioner Misty Servia lost the GOP primary to Michael C. Rahn, who will face write-in candidates Tim Norwood and Daniel Hansen in November.
Bearden and Rahn campaigned with endorsements from a bloc of sitting Republican commissioners — Vanessa Baugh, George Kruse, James Satcher and Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who represents the island.
On votebearden.com, Bearden identifies as a U.S. Marine sniper, small business owner, patriot, family man, Christian and conservative.
Rahn is a county planning commissioner and mortgage broker.
In a Democratic primary for county commission, incumbent Reggie Bellamy defeated challenger Charles B. Smith in District 2 to face Republican Amanda Ballard in November.
Commissioner salaries are $91,913 in 2022.
Turnout results
On the island, voters cast ballots in three precincts.
Anna Maria’s precinct, 301, had 944 eligible voters, with in-person balloting on the day of the election at Roser Memorial Community Church.
Turnout was at 37.7%, with 189 ballots by mail, 16 cast in early voting and 151 cast at the church.
Holmes Beach voters — precinct 305 — cast ballots at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive. The city had 2,670 eligible voters.
Turnout was at 36.1%, with 631 ballots by mail, 23 cast in early voting and 310 marked at the church.
Bradenton Beach voters — in precinct 307 — cast ballots at the volunteer fire hall, 201 Second St. N. The city had 679 eligible voters.
Turnout was at 33.9%, with 144 ballots by mail, 13 in early voting and 73 cast at the fire hall.
The SEO reported overall turnout in Manatee at 31.28%, with more than 50% of voters casting ballots by mail.
More island numbers
One statewide race, for agriculture commissioner, was on island Republicans’ ballots. Wilton Simpson won statewide and on the island.
At the federal level, Republicans nominated incumbent Vern Buchanan for the House in District 16. Buchanan polled strong on AMI against challenger Martin Hyde, with 92.59% in Anna Maria, 88.8% in Holmes Beach and 85.24% in Bradenton Beach.
Buchanan will face Democrat Jan Schneider in November.
The Democratic ballots for islanders included primaries for the U.S. Senate, governor, Florida attorney general and agriculture commissioner.
Val Demings won the nomination for U.S. Senate to face Republican Marco Rubio in the general election. Demings polled at 90.24% in Anna Maria, 90.85% in Holmes Beach and 86.75% in Bradenton Beach.
Charlie Crist won the nomination for governor and faces incumbent Republican Ron DeSantis in November. Crist polled at 64.8% in Anna Maria, 65.06% in Holmes Beach and 71.95% in Bradenton Beach.
Aramis Ayala won the nomination for attorney general and faces incumbent Republican Ashley Moody in November. On the island, Ayala lost to Jim Lewis and Daniel Uhlfelder in Anna Maria and to Uhlfelder in Bradenton Beach.
Naomi Esther Blemur won the nomination for agriculture commissioner. Blemur polled out front in the three island cities.
In a universal primary, voters reelected Jim Boyd to the state Senate in District 20. Boyd faced a challenge from John Houman.