From our congressional race to county commission and school board, local candidates continue to file to run for office. Here’s an update.
Congress
Sydney Gruters, the wife of Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters, announced this week that she would join the crowded field vying for Vern Buchanan’s D16 Congressional seat. Gruters recently served as Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the New College Foundation.
Gruters previously served as District Director for Congressman Greg Steube following his election in 2018. Gruters was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017 as State Director for Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. The president has already endorsed her candidacy.
Eddie Speir is also running for the Republican nomination. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Computer Information Systems, Speir launched his first computer consulting firm in 1994. Five years later, he founded Mortgage Cadence, a highly successful financial software company.
Mortgage Cadence was acquired by Accenture in 2010, and Speir subsequently moved to Manatee County. In 2013, Speir founded Inspiration Academy, a private Christian school in Bradenton. He currently serves as superintendent, and his wife, Claire, serves as president. Speir previously ran against Buchanan in 2024, earning an impressive 39% of the vote in the Republican primary.
County Commission
Leland Taylor has announced his intent to enter the crowded race for the Manatee County Commission District 1 Republican nomination. A native of Ellenton and current resident of Palmetto, Taylor is a Manatee County native and a graduate of Palmetto High School, Florida State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science, and Florida Coastal School of Law.
"Running for County Commission is a full-circle moment for me," said Taylor in a press release announcing his candidacy. "I’m eager to focus my efforts on protecting what makes Manatee County special and ensuring it remains a great place for future generations. I cannot be bought and will relentlessly pursue the best interest of this county."
Liz Arnold, Andrew Cottrell, Michael Harrison, Eugene Hendry, Adam Johnson, and Mark Stanoch are already vying for the Republican nomination in the District 1 race. Sari Lindroos-Valmaki remains the lone Democrat running for the seat.
In the likewise crowded District 2 race, another Democrat has entered the field. Jose Claudio Morales has filed to run. As of press time, there was no information available about Morales on the Supervisor of Elections site, and no campaign website or social media could be found. Former District 2 Commissioner Charles Smith is seeking the nomination, as are two Republicans and two NPA candidates.
Read more about the other candidates in those races here.
School Board
Former Manatee County School District teacher and communications director Margi Nanney has entered the crowded Manatee County School Board District 2 seat. Nanney is a 40-year resident of Manatee County who describes herself as a "conservative, entrepreneur, Christian mother and grandmother."
"We are at a crossroads in public education facing many challenges and opportunities," Nanney said in a press release announcing her candidacy. "If elected, I will commit to work tirelessly to see that each taxpayer dollar directly impacts student success, increases literacy, and improves test scores at all levels. I believe that by identifying pathways to success at an early age, we can build solid educational foundations. Having served the district in many roles, my historic knowledge and community leadership will be valuable to parents, students, teachers, and staff. I know I can make a positive difference."
School board seats are non-partisan and appear on the primary ballot. If no candidate gets a simple majority of the vote, the top two candidates move on to a runoff in the general election. Incumbent Cindy Spray is running for reelection, while James Golden, Sharon Jefferson, and JT White have already entered the race. Read more about the other candidates running for the school board here.
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Charles
— U.S. congress election — time to look at the opposition parties here for rational choices - both of these noted, Speir and Gruters, are part of the takeover of New College and the attempt to takeover the local campus of USF. Neither would represent the communities if elected, being devoted to Project 2025 and to the elimination of home rule of our communities. Even worse, Gruters is the spouse of the maga base leader who profits from being the one who receives all dark money for it and protects these donors from public records that would reveal their support of Trump and all the corruption flowing from it. Joe Gruters takes his profit and distributes the dark money as needed among the maga monsters under complete cover. Don't be fooled into selling ourselves out — support and elect a candidate who will work for us, not either of these.
Sunday, April 5 Report this