Elections: A Time for Hope

Elections can bring out the worst in people. Tensions rise, friendships become strained and political campaigns bombard us with messages designed to divide rather than inform. Just read some of the comments about candidates and issues, and you will see how uncivil our political discourse has become.

But I see elections differently. Elections bring hope. Hope that we can replace elected officials who have forgotten whom they serve. Hope that we can elect people who put the public interest ahead of political parties, wealthy donors, and powerful special interests.

And this election gives us plenty of reasons to hope for change.

Follow the Money

By now, we have all been subjected to an overwhelming amount of political advertising. Text messages, campaign mailers, social media, television commercials — the barrage seems endless.

Much of this political spending follows the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision and subsequent rulings that opened the door to unlimited independent expenditures by corporations, wealthy individuals, and political committees. On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court went further in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, striking down federal limits on expenditures that political party committees make in coordination with their candidates. Super PACs, unlike party committees, are still generally prohibited from coordinating their independent expenditures with candidates. Direct contributions to candidates remain subject to limits.

The Court recognized political spending as a form of protected speech. But when wealthy donors can spend millions to influence an election, whose voices are really being heard?

Super PACs have become powerful political tools. In my opinion, many function as little more than political operations designed to influence elections while allowing candidates and their financial supporters to distance themselves from the messages being delivered.

Both political parties benefit from this system. Neither has clean hands.

Consider the enormous sums Elon Musk and other billionaires have contributed to political campaigns and organizations. These are not ordinary political donations. We are talking about tens and hundreds of millions of dollars intended to influence who governs our country.

Closer to home, developers and their political allies have poured money into political committees supporting candidates, including Byron Donalds in his campaign for governor.

Why are developers so interested in who becomes governor?

I believe the answer is obvious. Development interests want state leadership that will continue reducing local government's ability to regulate growth and protect our communities. Florida's recent political history gives them plenty of reason to expect favorable treatment.

As voters, we need to see the forest through the trees.

How Political Campaigns Manipulate Voters

Political campaigns have become remarkably sophisticated at identifying what motivates voters.

They conduct polls, identify emotional issues, and develop messaging designed to trigger a response. Immigration, guns, abortion, and other hot-button subjects become political weapons, often distracting voters from the issues affecting their everyday lives.

Today, campaigns and political organizations have access to enormous amounts of information about us. They can combine consumer transactions, social media activity, voter registration records, and voting history into detailed voter profiles.

This practice, often called microtargeting, allows campaigns to send different messages to different voters, appealing to their fears, frustrations, or personal interests.

The goal is not necessarily to educate us. It is to influence how we vote.

Florida's controversy over the use of money connected to the Hope Florida Foundation provides a troubling example of how political power and public resources can become intertwined.

The controversy involved $10 million that ultimately went to political organizations opposing the 2024 recreational marijuana amendment. A leaked grand jury report raised serious questions about how those funds were handled, but did not result in criminal charges. On October 7, 2026, a Florida appellate court ordered the report expunged, finding that the grand jury had exceeded its authority. That ruling does not eliminate the legitimate public questions about the flow of the money.

I find the underlying circumstances deeply disturbing.

Money connected to a settlement involving a state Medicaid contractor was diverted into a political battle over an issue Governor Ron DeSantis opposed. Our current Attorney General James Uthmeier, who was involved in the administration's opposition campaign, is now asking voters to elect him.

Imagine if a business executive arranged for money from a company settlement to be routed toward a personal political objective. Would shareholders or the public simply accept it?

Regardless of whether prosecutors can establish criminal wrongdoing, voters have every right to question the ethics and judgment of the officials involved.

And voters have the power to demand accountability.

The Cost of Republican Leadership in Florida

I am a Republican. I served 22 years as a Republican Manatee County commissioner, and I have not abandoned the principles that led me into public service.

But I have never believed that loyalty to a political party should come before loyalty to the people we represent.

When my fellow Republicans fail that test, I have no obligation to support them.

For years, Republican leadership in Tallahassee has steadily weakened local government's ability to manage growth.

Governor Rick Scott dismantled Florida's Department of Community Affairs and substantially changed the state's growth management system. The old system was far from perfect, but it recognized a fundamental principle: development should be accompanied by the roads, utilities, schools, and infrastructure necessary to support it.

Since then, the  legislature has continued shifting authority away from local communities and toward Tallahassee.

Senate Bill 180 is another example. Although presented as legislation addressing recovery from natural disasters, its restrictions on certain local land-use and development regulations have created serious obstacles for communities trying to respond to growth.

Manatee County residents know what happens when development outpaces infrastructure.

We see it in our traffic, flooding, environmental degradation, loss of wetlands, and declining quality of life.

These are not simply growing pains. They are the consequences of political decisions.

And for too long, Republican lawmakers have sided with development interests rather than the communities dealing with the consequences.

David Jolly brings us hope that we can break this cycle and return local control to local governments. Republican campaign mailers promise to control growth, but I believe the record in Tallahassee tells a different story. If it takes a moderate Democrat like Jolly to restore the Republican principle that the best government is the one closest to the people—not Tallahassee—then he has my vote.

If you are tired of overdevelopment, why continue electing the people who have made it harder for your local government to control it?

That is not an attack on Republican voters. It is a challenge to all voters, including Republicans, to look at the results instead of the party label.

National Leadership Has Consequences Too

The same principle applies in Washington.

Americans are struggling with the cost of living. Families and businesses are forced to reconsider budgets as economic uncertainty, energy costs, and international instability affect everyday decisions.

President Donald Trump promised peace, economic prosperity, and an America that would be respected throughout the world.

Instead, his administration's confrontation and military conflict with Iran have brought enormous risks, human suffering, and economic uncertainty.

I question the justification for military action and the judgment of a president who appears far more comfortable exercising power than accepting its limitations.

Wars have consequences far beyond the battlefield. They affect energy markets, transportation, food prices, international relationships, and American families.

And Congress has a constitutional responsibility to serve as a check on presidential power.

In my opinion, Republicans in Congress have largely abandoned that responsibility when it comes to Donald Trump.

Their unwillingness to challenge him has made our country less secure and our government less accountable.

Republicans once spoke proudly about limited government, fiscal responsibility, and constitutional checks and balances. Those principles should not disappear simply because the president belongs to our party.

We need representatives willing to exercise independent judgment, not merely repeat whatever the president says.

Fortunately, voters in our area have an opportunity to choose something different.

Kelly Kirschner — Congressional District 16

Kelly Kirschner, a Democrat running against Trump-endorsed Republican Sydney Gruters, offers voters in Congressional District 16 an alternative.

Kirschner brings experience in public service and local government, along with a perspective I believe is more moderate and practical than the political rhetoric dominating Washington.

He understands that governing requires listening, compromise, and a willingness to work with people who disagree.

That is something we desperately need in Congress.

If Republicans lose control of Congress, representatives who can work across party lines will become even more important. But regardless of which party controls Congress, the need for independent leadership remains.

I want someone representing our district who will stand up for the Constitution, exercise judgment, and put the interests of constituents before loyalty to Donald Trump.

Kelly Kirschner has my vote and my unequivocal endorsement.

I encourage Republicans, Democrats, and independent voters to consider him based on his qualifications and what he can bring to our country, not simply the letter beside his name on the ballot.

Charles Smith — Manatee County Commission District 2

Closer to home, two former county commissioners are seeking to return to public service.

In District 2, Democrat Charles Smith is challenging Republican incumbent Amanda Ballard.

I have known Charles for years. He understands county government and the responsibilities that come with representing the public. He would bring experience and an ability to hit the ground running.

Ballard, in my opinion, has been a serious disappointment.

Her role in weakening Manatee County's wetland protection policies is particularly troubling.

After extensive public testimony from scientists, environmental advocates, and concerned residents, Ballard supported changes that reduced protections for wetlands. The county's reliance on a consultant associated with developer Carlos Beruff made the process even more concerning.

Wetlands are not obstacles to development. They protect water quality, reduce flooding, provide wildlife habitat, and help preserve the natural systems that make our community special.

Ballard also supported efforts to impose additional conditions on funding for local nonprofit organizations, an approach I believe threatened organizations providing important community services.

County commissioners should protect public resources and make decisions based on what benefits the community, not accommodate powerful development interests.

Charles Smith understands the importance of local government and public accountability.

If I lived in District 2, Charles Smith would have my vote.

Reggie Bellamy — Manatee County Commission District 6

Reggie Bellamy is running for the countywide District 6 seat against Republican Tara Poulton.

Reggie is simply a good person.

His family has five generations of roots in Manatee County, and he understands the people, neighborhoods, and history of our community.

He has served on the County Commission before, giving him the experience to understand both the responsibilities of the office and the challenges facing our county.

I believe Reggie approaches public service with a genuine desire to help people rather than serve political interests.

If you have doubts about his qualifications or his commitment to our community, I encourage you to listen to his interview on The Bradenton Times podcast and decide for yourself.

We need commissioners who understand that representing the public means listening to everyone, not just those who contribute to political campaigns.

Reggie Bellamy has my vote and my endorsement for District 6.

Vote for the Person, Not the Party

Some Republicans may disagree with my endorsements. That is fine.

I have been a Republican for many years, and I understand the importance of having principles and political beliefs.

But those principles should guide our decisions, not prevent us from recognizing when someone from another political party is better qualified to serve.

Political parties are not entitled to our votes.

Candidates must earn them.

If we continue electing people simply because they have an R or a D beside their names, we should not be surprised when our government becomes more accountable to party leadership and wealthy donors than to the people.

We have the ability to change that.

Why Independent Local Journalism Matters

As publisher of The Bradenton Times, I am committed to providing our community with factual reporting, informed opinions, and information that helps readers make their own decisions.

Our team spends considerable time researching issues, reviewing public records, interviewing candidates, and examining elected officials' decisions.

Wealthy political action committees do not finance our work or dictate which candidates deserve favorable treatment.

Our goal is to provide information that serves the public interest.

We strive to get the facts right the first time, and when mistakes occur, we believe in correcting them openly and promptly.

Unlike political advertisements designed to influence a particular vote, our reporting is intended to help you understand the issues and reach your own conclusions.

That distinction matters.

Elections Are a Time for Hope

I am often told to keep these columns short. But the issues facing our community and country cannot always be explained in a few sentences.

The decisions we make in this election will affect our quality of life, our environment, our economy, and the future of our democracy.

We may not have the financial resources of wealthy political donors or the consultants who design campaigns to manipulate public opinion.

But those interests do not cast your ballot.

You do.

Elections are not just about deciding who wins. They are about deciding what kind of community, state, and country we want to leave to the next generation.

I hope voters will take the time to look beyond campaign mailers, political text messages, and party labels. Learn about the candidates. Read the reporting. Listen to our podcasts. Ask questions.

And vote for the person you believe will best serve the public.

That is why, despite everything happening in politics today, I still believe elections are a time for hope.

Joe McClash is the publisher of The Bradenton Times, a Marine Corps veteran, and a former Manatee County commissioner who served for 22 years as a Republican.

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