MANATEE COUNTY, FL (April 20, 2023) – The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted this morning to reinstate District Three Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge as commission chair. The change to the previous board structure came less than two days after a vote by the same board to install District Five Commissioner Vanessa Baugh as Commission Chair.
“At the last meeting, I made a vote which I have since—upon further reflection—come to believe was not in the best interest of the county,” said District Two Commissioner Amanda Ballard. “Today I would like to make a motion to appoint Kevin Van Ostenbridge as the chair of the County Commission.”
The motion was seconded by at-large Commissioner George Kruse. The vote was 4-2 in favor of the motion, with Commissioners James Satcher and Jason Bearden dissenting and Commissioner Baugh absent.
Commissioner Van Ostenbridge resumed the role of Commission Chair immediately, taking over the scheduled Land Use meeting.