Republican Manatee County Commissioner endorses three Democrats

Bob McCann backs Kelly Kirschner for Congress, and Reggie Bellamy and Charles Smith for county commission.

By Johannes Werner

Original Air Date: October 20, 2026

Host: Kelly Kirschner, the Democrat running for the District 16 U.S. House seat, added another Republican elected official to his list of endorsers. 

Bob McCann | screenshot Manatee County Commission

Johannes Werner: In a press release, Manatee County Commissioner Bob McCann – who is a physician – cited his concerns about healthcare.

“Our region needs a principled leader in Washington who will safeguard essential healthcare, protect Medicare and Veterans’ healthcare, and hold insurance companies accountable when they inflate costs on working families.”

McCann referred to Kirschner’s tenure as Sarasota City Commissioner and as vice president of Eckerd College and co-founder of Unidos Now, a non-profit that supports immigrant children getting into higher education.

Bob McCann:  Kelly Kirschner brings a wealth of executive and community experience. As a former mayor of Sarasota and a tireless advocate for environmental sustainability and workforce education, Kelly understands how to balance economic growth, protect our water quality. Kelly has spent his life taking on the establishment and winning for those who have long been ignored. He has a true servant’s heart.

JW: In an op-ed published by the Bradenton Times, McCann said that while he “always stayed true to his core conservative principles”, he believes that Manatee County has come to the point where doing the right thing matters more than party loyalty.

BMC:  It is about restoring integrity, transparency, and a spirit of service. For too long, our communities have seen decisions shaped by special interests, out-of-control development, and partisan noise. As a physician and a public servant, my commitment has always been to protect the health, well-being, and quality of life of this community.

JW: McCann also wants Democrats Reggie Bellamy and Charles Smith to join him on the Manatee County Commission dais. He endorsed them over Republicans Tara Poulton and incumbent Republican Amanda Ballard.

McCann was elected two years ago after running a grassroots campaign, defeating a much better-funded Ron DeSantis appointee in the Republican primaries. He has consistently voted to slow down development and scrutinized county spending.

In his endorsement of Kirschner, McCann joins fellow Republican Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse. Also on Kirschner’s side is Dan Miller, the Republican Congressman who represented Manatee County during five terms, as are Longboat Key Town Commissioner B.J. Bishop; Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth; Jim Brady, a former finance director for Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and current St. Petersburg resident; Merrie Lynn Parker, a local conservationist and retired school administrator; and former Manatee High football coach Joe Kinnan.

Kirschner campaign poster announcing the endorsement event.

McCann made the announcement Saturday during a by-invitation-only event at Trinity MCC, an LGBTQ-friendly church in Manatee County. He appeared side by side with Kirschner, Smith and Bellamy.

Kirschner’s opponent Sydney Gruters boasts the endorsements of Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, U.S. Senator Rick Scott, and the sheriffs of all six counties District 16 spans.

In a Facebook post, Kirschner also announced the endorsement of Unidos US Action PAC, the political arm of UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights and advocacy organization that seeks an end of mass deportation policies.

In other Kirschner news, the Cook Political Report put the District 16 race into the “in play” column, from “solid Republican” to “Republican leaning”.

For WSLR News, I’m Johannes Werner.

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