The Republican nominee for Manatee County’s District 3 commission seat came into the race as a newcomer.
But Talha “Tal” Siddique knocked on a lot of doors and shook a lot of hands on his way to notching 6,061 votes, or 61.04% of 9,929 total votes, in the Aug. 20 primary election to secure the GOP nomination over April Culbreath.
Culbreath, the current chair of the Manatee County Republican Executive Committee, received 3,868 votes.
District 3 covers the western side of the county, including all of Anna Maria Island, Cortez and part of Longboat Key.
The seat is held by Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who ran for and lost the District 7 at-large commission GOP nomination to incumbent George Kruse.
The District 3 primary was won on all fronts by Siddique, even though Culbreath outraised and outspent him.
Siddique raised $68,357.70 in campaign contributions and spent $58,901.01 of that money heading into the primary while Culbreath raised $106,393.24 and spent almost all of it — $99,088.13 — before the primary.
Nevertheless, Siddique garnered more votes on primary day, 2,624 to 1,536, more early votes, 999 to 541, and more votes by mail, 2,438 to 1,791.
Siddique told The Islander Aug. 21 that he held a party on Aug. 20 with Kruse and Scott Farrington, who won the Republican nomination for supervisor of elections over James Satcher.
Siddique said he was happy to see himself with an early lead over Culbreath but did not relax until he saw results from the other elections.
“I just felt a wave of relief and a sense of optimism,” Siddique said. “I’m glad that all of us won. This is really the best-case outcome for our county.”
Siddique said heading into the general election, he planned to run a clean and fair campaign.
“I think people voted for me because they understood not only do I not stand for the negativity and the special interests, but because I want to represent them and do so in a way that is ethical and transparent,” he said.