County Commission Candidate Profile District 6 – At Large: Carol Whitmore

Candidate: Carol Whitmore

Party Affiliation: Republican

“My interests are to help the less fortunate and represent all citizens no matter what party affiliation. If I can do this and still stay faithful to my party, I will have accomplished my goal.”

Occupation:  Carol is currently serving as at-large county commissioner, district 6.

“I am running again because I love public service. Being a County Commissioner has allowed me to work on issues that are county wide and reach all our citizens. As Mayor, my accomplishments were narrowed to my city,” she said.

“I love my job. I do not just sit at the dais and collect a paycheck. I work on issues that affect this county. I am in the office every day and work on behalf of the citizens. As a representative of the entire county, I must be out in the public to listen and learn,” she said.

Annual income: $75,000

Biography: Commissioner Whitmore is originally from  Dearborn Heights, Michigan and moved to Manatee County in 1969. Commissioner Whitmore grew up on Anna Maria Island. She is married to Dr. Andre Renard. They have one daughter, Janae Rudacille.

Carol became a nurse in 1977 and was employed at Manatee Memorial Hostipal in Critical Care. In 1991, she worked at Woods of Manatee as Admissions Coordinator before becoming employed at her husband's office.

Education: Carol attended Manatee High School and then went to Manatee Votec, where she received her LPN Certification 1977. She then attended Manatee Community College where she received her Associate of Science Degree 1980, Registered Nurse Certification 1982,  and certified HealthCare Risk Manager 1988-2007.

Experience: Carol served as Holmes Beach City Commissioner 1991-1998, Mayor of Holmes Beach 1998-2006, and At-Large Manatee County Commissioner 2006-present

As Mayor she was instrumental in getting the Island Trolley to Anna Maria Island.

“My goal is to listen for any ideas to decrease our unemployment and get our small businesses moving. I want to push the development of the EZ zone at the Port with potential port related businesses. I want to be the voice for the less fortunate in our county with my work with One Stop Homeless Coalition,” she said.

Carol said that she was the one who pushed for Indigent Care payments to all hospitals. The program provides special funding to hospitals that treat significant populations of indigent patients through the Disproportionate Share Hospital and seeks to continue to encourage hospitals to provide health services for these individuals.

There are DSH programs for both Medicare and Medicaid, as well as a program for pharmacies, known as the 340B program.

She is currently working with the Homeless Coalition to start up a medical unit and has become very involved in working with EMS and Animal Services.

“I bring professionalism to the dais. I will not publicly embarrass anyone that speaks to the Commission,” she said. “If I do not agree, I speak privately and not on camera. I have given up my job as a Registered Nurse since being elected because I feel the At-Large Commissioner should be employed full-time to the citizens of the county.”

Community Involvement: Carol has served as a board member for Manatee Heart Association, Manatee Opportunity Council, United Way and Health Information Exchange. She was the past President and Board Member to Aids Council of Manatee. She is active in the Republican Clubs of Manatee County, Food Bank, Homeless Coalition and Animal Services.

Monetary Contributions: Carol has raised far more funds than her opponent with about a quarter of her donations coming from the development industry. Click for a full list of contributions and expenditures.

Quote she lives by: “Public service is a privilege and should not be taken lightly.”