Candidate Profile: City of Palmetto Ward 1: Charles Smith

Name: Charles Smith

Age: 46

Residence: Palmetto

Occupation: Marketing consultant at the Manatee Harvesting Company

Annual pay: Declined to say

Education: Graduate of Palmetto High; Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from University of Central Florida; Certified Criminal Investigator; ordained deacon

Charles Smith can’t stay away from running for office for too long.

The contender for the City of Palmetto Ward 1 seat was first elected to office when he was 26 years old. He served as Palmetto city commissioner for three terms, and resigned briefly to unsuccessfully run for a state house seat. Two years ago, he also mounted an unsuccessful campaign for an at-large seat in Palmetto but lost.

This year, he’s in the race again, in a bid to unseat incumbent Mary Lancaster.

“I’m running this term because I truly believe that there is a need for new blood on the city commission,” he said. “They need people with vision.”

The city also needs more transparency, he said. The city commission faces complex issues with its Community Redevelopment Agency’s spending, as well as unsolved crime in Ward 1. He said he is also concerned about the “high exodus” of people moving out of Palmetto into the rest of Manatee County.

“We need more transparency and accountability,” he said. “For me, my main responsibility is that all departments are held accountable to taxpayers, to get the best bang for their buck.”

Smith was born in New York and moved to Manatee County 30 years ago. He has four brothers and one sister, and many aunts, uncles and first cousins.

A campaign finance report for Smith is available here.