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Manatee District 1 candidates Brown, Satcher want to bring a new voice to commission

Bradenton Herald - 10/1/2020

Oct. 1--MANATEE -- Candidates agree that a voter's decision in picking District 1's newest commissioner is about underrepresented voices.

After his victory in the Republican primary against incumbent Commissioner Priscilla Whisenant Trace, Satcher faces Democrat Dominique Brown, a local lawyer, on Election Day. Satcher is more interested in bringing conservative values to the Republican-heavy board, while Brown is focused on creating diversity.

District 1 includes parts of Parrish, Palmetto and East Bradenton.

Brown, an Air Force veteran who runs the Dream Law Firm in Bradenton, says she joined the race to create positive change on the Manatee Board of County Commissioners. Her campaign priorities include affordable housing requirements, improved infrastructure and better environmental protections.

"I chose to run for District 1 because I'm from here and when I when I returned home, I started talking to the people I knew and they said they felt like the government doesn't include everybody," Brown said in an interview with the Bradenton Herald. "They didn't feel like they had a voice."

"I feel like I can bring that inclusive and unity back to the government and give those people a voice," she added.

Brown would be only the second African-American woman to serve on the board, after the late Gwendolyn Brown, no relation.

Satcher, a conservative pastor who has vowed to end local sex trafficking, says he isn't taking his primary win for granted. If elected, he said he hopes to fully fund the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, fight to lower taxes and figure out how to fix traffic congestion.

"I try to get involved where I can be the most helpful and serve people most effectively," said Satcher, who first ran an unsuccessful campaign against Commissioner Carol Whitmore in 2018. "I want to get through government to be a voice for people who haven't necessarily been heard."

One of Satcher's biggest campaign ideas is to tap into the county's budget reserves to fund several initiatives. The No. 1 item on that list is boosting tourism and local business, he said in an interview with the Bradenton Herald.

"We have to be aggressive in helping our small businesses stay in business or get back in business and put our reserves to work to help this economy stay strong," he explained.

The county has already launched a similar program using federal CARES Act funding to provide COVID-19 relief funds for struggling individuals, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

The county's reserves should also be used to fund road projects and other infrastructure improvements, according to Satcher's plan.

"We are in a unique position with our reserves. We should be able to have a priority for a lot of projects," Satcher explained, noting that he would push for moving projects along and hiring local contractors to boost the economy.

Brown says fixing the district's traffic problems is her main concern, pointing to the county's development trends.

"The way it's done now is that the property is developed and then they go back and look at road improvements. That stuff should be done prior to the development, especially when you're approving 300 homes at a time," said Brown.

Transportation issues also make it harder for low-income residents to afford to live in District 1, according to Brown, who pointed out that Manatee County Area Transit has very few bus routes in that part of the county.

"You can't live in our district if you don't have a vehicle because our public transit is terrible," Brown said. "I have officers who are living with other officers because they can't afford their own home. I have nurses doing the same thing because they want to live out here."

"We have to make sure our teachers, EMS and firefighters are also able to live in the community that they serve," she continued.

Funding the Manatee County Sheriff's Office has been a major campaign point for Satcher, who has repeatedly promised to "defend the sheriff, not defund the sheriff."

"Counties find a way to fund their priorities and we have to make public safety a priority in District 1. Currently, we have the funds to fund the sheriff more than they have been doing in the past, but it hasn't been a priority," Satcher explained. "I'm looking forward to seeing that change."

Satcher has accused Brown of supporting a movement to defund the police, referring to her answer during a candidate debate in July.

"I didn't say that at all. If that's his narrative, I am the type of person who wants unity within our community. I'm tired of divisiveness," Brown told the Bradenton Herald.

As part of her response to the debate question, Brown said she "absolutely" supports defunding the police by reallocating funds that might be used for weapons or vehicles to instead allow the sheriff's office to respond to the scene with mental health or social services.

"Defunding the police doesn't necessarily mean taking away their budget. It may mean expanding their budget," Brown said at the time. "So yes, I do believe we should defund the local sheriff and I do believe that money should be earmarked for certain services that should be provided."

Brown is also calling for major changes to some of the board's policies, starting with how neighboring residents are notified of incoming development. The county's yellow public hearing signs should be replaced with larger signs and more outreach, she argued. Brown is also hoping to create a set time to accept public comment during meetings, which could lead to more civic engagement.

"Right now, the meetings are not very organized. People complain that they're there all day and taking time off from work," Brown said. "I want to change the way we operate with a dedicated time for citizens."

Satcher's campaign has raised more than $28,000, while Brown has raised more than $10,000, according to campaign finance records. Election Day is Nov. 3.

"Choosing me, we would see a lot of change and freshness, inclusivity and diversity within our Board of County Commissioners. I am a combat veteran. I am battle-tested and ready to fight our community," Brown said.

"If the voters choose me, I'm looking forward to putting them first, hearing their voice and going to work to keep Manatee County safe and prosperous," said Satcher. "I'm raising my family here and so it's important for all of us to keep Manatee strong for the future

To learn more about Brown's campaign, visit www.VoteDBrown.com. To learn more about Satcher's campaign, visit www.VoteJamesSatcher.com.

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