Seven of the eight candidates for the vacant Manatee County Commission District 1 seat outlined their views on traffic, growth and jobs at a recent forum sponsored by the Tiger Bay Club of Manatee County. The seat has been open since the death of Carol Ann Felts in February.
The candidates are Republicans Elizabeth Arnold, John Dunn, Michael L. Harrison, Adam Johnson, Mark Stanoch and Leland M. Taylor; Democrat Sari Lindroos-Valimaki; and write-in candidate Jack D. May Jr., who did not appear and whose campaign was unfunded at the time of the forum.
Johnson drew national attention for carrying then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. President Donald Trump later pardoned Johnson, along with about 1,500 others charged with or convicted of taking part in the attack.
A husband of 15 years and father of five teenage sons, Johnson grew up in Manatee County and graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in psychology. An author, podcaster and political analyst, he said he is shifting his focus from national politics to local issues.
“We really do believe that everything starts in our backyards,” he said.
One of his main concerns is traffic. He said the county should re-examine how traffic studies are conducted to ensure that all sources of traffic are considered when new developments are approved. He also called for stronger home rule.
“We need our rights back as a county,” he said.
Dunn, a Manatee County native, Christian and former U.S. Air Force medic, said he would focus on protecting residents’ rights and managing crises, promising to be honest and transparent and to say “no” when necessary.
“I know what it is to put others first,” he said, adding that he understands the struggles county residents face. Dunn also signed a “not for sale” pledge, refusing campaign contributions from special interests.
Harrison, a farrier who called himself a “true Cracker,” said he is running “to protect what we have left” and to bring Christianity to the board by encouraging mutual respect. He said he would look out for lifelong residents, arguing that while newcomers enjoy the roads and sidewalks of new developments, longtime residents are underserved.
Lindroos-Valimaki, the only Democrat, said she ran against George Kruse in 2024 and lost but drew 73,000 votes. A Substack writer originally from Finland, she said she holds an MBA and has 40 years in cybersecurity and engineering, experience she said taught her to fix and prevent problems — something she would bring to the board.
She said she was prompted to run after being evacuated from her home in 2021, when 215 million gallons of contaminated water were released into Tampa Bay from Piney Point, a former phosphate plant. She said she opposes Mosaic’s phosphate mining operations.
Stanoch, an 18-year resident, said he has a 40-year background in technology, founded two startups, served as a principal at IBM and worked at Dell managing its relationship with Microsoft. Noting that the county has a $1.45 billion budget, 2,300 employees and 470,000 residents, he said his experience in fiscal responsibility, long-range planning and problem-solving would serve it well.
A former chairman of the Manatee County DOGE committee, Stanoch said he would improve quality of life and expand economic opportunity while preserving natural resources. He advocates “thoughtful growth,” saying the county has been overdeveloped for too long.
Arnold, a Manatee County resident for 30 years, said she spent about a decade attending county commission and planning commission meetings, some alongside Felts. That involvement, she said, helped stop subdivisions and save a canopy road. Among her qualifications, she said, is her work as director of treasury operations for a Fortune 500 company she did not name.
Taylor, a Palmetto attorney and Manatee County native, said he is running to preserve the environment and quality of life for future generations, and that he prioritizes public safety.
“My roots are deep. This place matters deeply to me,” he said.
Asked how to balance economic development with preserving the county’s character and quality of life, the candidates offered a range of approaches.
Dunn said the county is locked into a growth-dependent fiscal model that delivers short-term gains but long-term pain for taxpayers, and that growth should be paused while lasting solutions are found. At commission meetings, he said, it often seems officials have made up their minds before the public speaks.
Harrison said some parts of the district lack a sense of community, with newer residents unaware of local history — particularly its agricultural roots. Rural areas pay the same taxes, he said, but receive fewer amenities than new developments.
“We have to keep preserving some farms,” he said, adding that the county charter should require it.
Lindroos-Valimaki said food security and farmland must be protected. “Once the land is gone, it’s gone,” she said.
Stanoch said the county’s economy rests on tourism, agriculture and construction, and that its employment base should be diversified to include fields such as medical research, high technology, and banking and finance.
Taylor said the county must attract new types of economic development, and he recommended monthly town hall meetings in various parts of the district to encourage dialogue. Johnson said any town halls should be scheduled when working people can attend.
Arnold, who said she owns property in Parrish and Myakka, said commissioners should focus on what residents want in their communities, including farms, ranches and small businesses. She said there are five storage facilities within a five-minute walk of her Parrish home.
“That is not what people want,” she said.
Asked to name the county’s biggest problem, the candidates gave brief answers. Johnson cited a lack of funding for EMS and sheriff’s stations. Arnold said residents need to be heard. Dunn said the commission lacks representation against special interests. Lindroos-Valimaki said the rewriting of the county’s comprehensive plan could open the door to data centers. Stanoch said the county is not taking economic development seriously. Taylor said the county must plan to care for seniors.
Asked how they would manage the county budget, the candidates pointed to their experience.
Harrison said he has run his own farrier business for more than 30 years and has pastored a church. “You can’t spend money you don’t have,” he said, adding that he pays for things “one hoof at a time.”
Lindroos-Valimaki said Finns are frugal by nature. “I don’t like to spend my money or anyone else’s,” she said.
Stanoch said he has bought and sold businesses, created hundreds of jobs, made payroll and managed multimillion-dollar projects at IBM.
Taylor said he grew up on a conservative budget and pledged to “conserve your dollars.”
Johnson said he has managed a drugstore, worked as a self-employed carpenter and a worship pastor, and started a charity.
Arnold said that as director of treasury operations for a Fortune 500 company for 22 years, she cut the budget 10% a year for two to three years without layoffs. “We just got more efficient,” she said, adding that the county could do the same.
Dunn said that as a U.S. Air Force sergeant and medic, he managed multimillion-dollar medical and ambulance programs under the Department of Defense, which he said takes a hard line on fraud and waste.
The candidates also addressed their campaign contributions.
Lindroos-Valimaki said she has not knowingly accepted money from developers and that many of her donations are small. Stanoch said he took a contribution from Jones Potato Farm but largely self-funded his campaign with $20,000 of his own money. Taylor said he accepted a contribution from the president of the Florida Bar, a friend from law school. Johnson said 98% of his financing comes from outside Manatee County because of his national profile.
Arnold said she funded her campaign with $12,000 of her own money, returned a check from a political action committee and accepted one $50 contribution from out of state. Dunn said all his contributions were local donations or his own funds, and that he would not accept PAC or special-interest money. Harrison said he is largely self-funding but has a few outside donors, including a doctor in District 2 and two customers who gave $50 each.
Asked how they would respond if a statewide property tax relief bill cut county funding by $85 million, the candidates split on solutions.
Stanoch said the answer is to expand economic development and build businesses that generate new revenue. Taylor said public safety would be the priority if revenue falls. Johnson said the county should put people first and cut “passion” and “vanity” projects, such as wrapping utility boxes in photographs of local scenes.
Arnold said funding must be protected for EMS, the sheriff’s office and roads, and that projects such as replacing median oak trees with high-maintenance palms should stop. Dunn said EMS would remain a priority and that the county should explore public-private partnerships, impact fees and long-term commitments from developers to offset the loss. Harrison cited a state audit that he said found $112 million in “wasted” county spending and proposed that nonprofits seeking county money be required to show their executives earn no more than the average pay for their fields. Lindroos-Valimaki said the county should form partnerships with overseas companies through Port Manatee.
On the county’s persistent traffic problems, Johnson said the county should pursue state and federal grants. Taylor said the half-cent sales tax that expires in 2031 will need to be reauthorized by voters. Arnold said the county has “a lot of overdevelopment,” with 65,000 homes in the pipeline, and suggested pausing new projects. Dunn said the county should not allow growth beyond the Future Development Area Boundary.
Harrison said bypass roads are needed, likening the problem to a heart condition.
“You have to fix this clogged artery now,” he said.
Lindroos-Valimaki said traffic signals should be synchronized and some streets made one-way at certain times, and that the county needs more public transportation. Stanoch said roads alone cannot solve the problem, but that adding jobs within the county would reduce commuting.