Commissioner Tal Siddique to Serve as BOCC Chairman in 2026

BRADENTON — In a split vote during Tuesday's meeting, Commissioner Tal Siddique received the BOCC appointment to lead Manatee County Commission meetings as Board Chairman for 2026.

Near the close of each year, Manatee County Commissioners select new board officers via a nomination and appointment process. Annual appointees are chosen to serve as Commission Chair, First Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair, and Third Vice-Chair. Commissioners also appoint members to serve as Chairman on the Manatee County Port Authority and the Tourist Development Council (TDC).

During this year's nomination process, commissioners found themselves with a split board when tasked with selecting next year’s leadership.

Commissioner Mike Rahn opened nominations for board chair by nominating current Chairman George Kruse for a second term. Kruse was unanimously appointed as chairman in 2025 after receiving the only nomination for the role.

Commissioner Carol Felts, who said she believed the board was due for change, suggested Commissioner Bob McCann was well-suited for the role.

Commissioner Jason Bearden nominated Commissioner Tal Siddique—another first-year commissioner, like McCann. The nomination of Siddique led Kruse to withdraw his name from consideration for reappointment.

Ahead of the vote, Siddique called his receiving a nomination “unexpected” and thanked the board for considering him for the role. “To me, the job of the chair is about running an efficient meeting and representing the will of the board where we possibly can—D.C., Tallahassee, at various conferences, or even in our own community—it’s a tough job, but I’m up to the task.”

Representing Manatee County’s District 3, at just 31 years old, Commissioner Siddique is the youngest serving commissioner.

Kruse and Rahn threw their support behind Siddique’s nomination, citing the work ethic they said the young commissioner had shown during his first year in office. 

“Commissioner Siddique has shown up, he’s done the work, and that’s why I support him for Chair,” said Kruse. “I believe he has shown that he is willing to put in the effort.” 

Commissioner Carol Felts remained uncertain that Siddique was the best choice for the leadership role, reiterating her preference for McCann. Felts said she believed McCann’s age and maturity would be an asset as board chair.

Despite nominating Siddique for the position, Bearden’s support for Siddique appeared to shift early into board deliberations. Bearden argued that McCann’s voting record showed him to be the better choice for the role over Siddique, and that he believed voters would agree.

“It’s nothing against you, Commissioner Siddique, I just think that Commissioner McCann is the pick that the people want to be chair, ” Bearden said, before casting his vote for McCann and not his nomination.

Put to a vote, however, Siddique carried the nomination 4-3, with Commissioners Kruse, Rahn, and Ballard voting with Siddique in favor of his appointment. Commissioners McCann, Bearden, and Felts put their votes behind McCann.

Additional officer appointments played out similarly on Tuesday, with the appointment of Kruse as BOCC Second Vice Chair also ending in a 4-3 vote, with the same split.

Commissioner Rahn’s reappointment to serve another year as Chairman of the Manatee Port Authority was approved 5-2, with Commissioners Bearden and McCann voting ‘nay.’

New officers' terms will begin at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2026. The appointments are as follows:

Board of County Commissioners

Chairman: Commissioner Tal Siddique

Second Vice Chairman: Commissioner George Kruse

Third Vice Chairman: Commissioner Carol Felts

Manatee County Port Authority

Chairman: Commissioner Mike Rahn 

First Vice Chairman: Commissioner Carol Felts                                           

Second Vice Chairman: Commissioner Jason Bearden

Third Vice Chairman: Commissioner George Kruse

Tourist Development Council (TDC)

Chairman: Commissioner Amanda Ballard 

Alternate Chair: Commissioner Carol Felts

Click the video below to replay the county commission’s 2026 officer nominations, board deliberations, and final votes.