Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
Let's all give thanks for what we've accomplished in 2024!
I know it’s been a while since I was regularly on social and Substack. After the primaries, it was a good time to pause, reflect and prepare for the next steps in our efforts to bring your government back to you, the citizens of Manatee County.
Today, I wanted to hop on to give thanks to each and every one of you.
Each of you who took the time to campaign for your new Commissioners.
Each of you who contributed your time, your donations and your support.
Each of you who saw a break in how your government was being run and knew there had to be a better way.
Each of you who decided to stand up to Take Back Manatee!
There is a lot to give thanks for in 2024 and it all circles back to each of you.
But as we’re all celebrating our successes and spending time with our family and friends today, let’s remember why we collectively did what we did. It wasn’t to replace a few seats on a dais.
It was bigger than that.
It was to fundamentally change the mindset, and the way of doing business in our community, that previously excluded the very people who make up our community.
As the saying goes:
We still have a lot to accomplish in 2025 and beyond.
You’ve seen what can be done. The beach parking garage was unfunded. The historical sites were returned to the Clerk. Call-in comments are back. Social media comments are back. Wetland buffers are (hopefully) on their way back. Development proposals are now being assessed based on infrastructure, costs and surrounding neighborhoods and not just based on the name on the application.
Now we need to push forward to accomplish our underlying promise to bring this government, your government, back to you, the people of Manatee County. This new Board of County Commissioners will no longer respond with “that’s how it’s always been done”. We have a clean slate and we can collectively work to achieve “that’s how it’s SUPPOSED to be done”.
I have high hopes for this Board. I have spent a lot of time preparing my thoughts on changes and improvements to our meetings, our agendas and our way of engaging the community. If I have the support, you will see changes to how your voice is heard, how advisory boards are utilized and how your Commissioners engage with you.
I am thankful for each of you and for the opportunity you have given me to represent you and Manatee County for another four years.
I look forward to continuing what we started as we head into 2025!
While I may need to (hopefully) rebrand this Substack once I actually get a second on this board, I will be back on here writing my thoughts and relaying information on agenda items in a few weeks. In the interim, there are a few ways to stay engaged:
You can always email all the Commissioners your thoughts or concerns. A list of email addresses as well as an “Email All Commissioner” button can be found HERE.
You can follow and engage with me on virtually all social platforms. I’ve even been dabbling in TikTok. All the links are on a LinkTree page HERE.
You can attend my next Library Series Town Hall on Wednesday, December 18. The monthly schedule for the first half of 2025 will be coming out before the end of December.
However you choose to engage your representatives, make sure you’re getting your voice heard. Unlike in the past, this Board is here to listen!
Happy Thanksgiving Manatee County!
Thank you George! We are collectively SO grateful for 4 (out of the 7) members of this BOCC!
Wishing you and your family a Blessed Thanksgiving and going forward to 2025 !! May God guide and give you His wisdom and understanding in every issue you will be dealing with on the County Commission Board.