Thanks to a 4-3 vote, Tal Siddique will wield the gavel in 2026. He was swept into office last fall on a wave of voter discontent.
By Johannes Werner
Original Air Date: December 3, 2025
Host: The Manatee County Commission has a new chair. The vote was a tight one, and some of the rhetoric in the run-up of the vote Tuesday reflected the tidal change that brought in three grassroots-supported candidates a year ago. Meanwhile, SeaPort Manatee, which is We have the details.
Tal Siddique
Johannes Werner: Tal Siddique is the commissioner who will wield the gavel in 2026. But he was voted chair with just four of the seven votes. Siddique is one of the three newcomers swept into the commission last fall on a wave of discontent about developer influence on local politics.
Siddique’s win came as a result of the backing from George Kruse, the current chair who took himself out of the pool of candidates. Kruse argued the chairmanship is about showing up—at commission meetings as well as community events. Both of which Siddique has done, according to Kruse.
Bob McCann
But three commissioners suggested the chair should also represent recent voter sentiment. The three settled on Bob McCann. This grassroots candidate was not only voted into office against a much better funded Republican, but he has also been most consistent in scrutinizing new development. At one point, McCann used the “m” word—a moratorium on new construction.
Commissioner Carol Ann Felts explained why she supports McCann.
Carol Ann Felts
Carol Ann Felts: When in doubt, I feel comfortable deferring to our citizens and our taxpayers that pay every single one of our $111,000 for us to sit up here. I will tell you that half of us are here because we said we were going to represent the people, so it doesn’t matter if we think that we’re doing our job, whether on zoom or afar or showing up at ribbon cutting. The real people that we’re supposed to be representing up here are the ones that pay our salaries. I think it’s pretty evident that what our people want is a commissioner like Dr. McCann.
JW: Jason Bearden was even clearer: “If you want change on this board, vote for McCann,” he told his colleagues. But—with Kruse backing him—Siddique carried the day.
Amanda Ballard was elected vice chair. She was unopposed, but Bearden—creating a bit of confusion—wanted the record to say he voted “nay” on Ballard.
The Manatee legislative delegation launched a bill that would take SeaPort Manatee away from the county commission’s oversight. Commissioner Mike Rahn – the new chair – supports the move. Photo courtesy SeaPort Manatee
The vote for chair of the Port Authority, which oversees SeaPort Manatee, reflected the battle lines created by recent state efforts that seem designed to rein in a “rebel” Manatee County Commission. Glen Gibellina, a frequent public commenter at board meetings, set the tone before the vote. He said none of the commissioners who voted last month in favor of filing a bill in the state legislature that removes the port from the commission’s oversight should be elected chair.
But George Kruse, who is opposed to the creation of an autonomous port, pushed back and argued Mike Rahn would be the best candidate.
George Kruse
George Kruse: I have been chair of the port, and I’ll still say unequivocally that Mike Rahn has been the best chair we’ve had in my time here. Nobody has spent more time caring about that port as the chair that I’ve ever seen. He does an amazing job as is. Next year, as was pointed out by some for public comment, there’s a lot going on with that port. I get the concept of picking someone who is on the other side of it, but I don’t want—the port’s too valuable of an asset to intentionally build animosity and infighting relative to a local bill going through. We need someone who can work with the port—work with Carlos—but also work with our local delegation, who needs our support. Whether you support it or not when you voted for it, the bill’s filed now. We’re asking for their help to get appropriations and to move policy forward. They’re looking for our help to get their stuff through. Commissioner Rahn can do that. Commissioner Rahn already understands the port. Commissioner Rahn already has the relationships to help move that forward..
JW: Rahn was elected chair of the Port Authority in a 6-1 vote.
Also at the Tuesday meeting, the panel that advises Manatee County on affordable housing suggested a few tweaks to the rules for county incentives to developers. To qualify, projects should be allowed to be farther away than a quarter-mile from transit, and major employment and shopping centers. This, according to the chair of the affordable housing committee, would reflect more the fact that the county consists mainly of sprawling suburbs, rather than dense urban areas. The committee also argues that there should be no minimum size of lots to qualify for affordable housing incentives. That could allow tiny homes.
Reporting for WSLR News, Johannes Werner.
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