Jacob Ogles
Former Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker filed for a seat on the County Commission.
The long-time government leader, who retired earlier this year after holding his post for 12 years, said his long roots in the organization would serve the region well.
“I’ve been committed to reducing taxes, streamlining county services, protecting our precious environment, and improving the quality of life in Manatee County since I first moved to this special place with my family in 2007. I’ll bring these same priorities and principles to the commission,” Hunzeker said.
“I know Manatee County inside and out. I have the experience needed to keep our County on the right track.”
Hunzeker, a Lakewood Ranch Republican, will run in District 5, a seat that since 2012 has been held by Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh.
Baugh has not filed for reelection to date.
In a press release, Hunzeker stressed he’s a supporter of the Second Amendment, an important issue in deep-red Manatee County.
He also spoke about his own history leading day-to-day business in the county. His tenure included the peak of the Great Recession, when the annual budget for the county had to be slahed by $122 million, about 30 percent. That required trimming 300 staff positions.
But Hunzeker at the same time pushed job creation programs in the county, privatizing $100 million in new infrastructure construction.
Since Hunzeker’s departure, Manatee County hired Cheri Coryea as his successor in the administrator office. She served under Hunzeker as Deputy County Administrator since 2017, and previously served as Neighborhood Services director under Hunzeker.
