Manatee County Municipal Election Ballot Features Bradenton and Palmetto City Races
Voters in Manatee County will have the opportunity to cast ballots in several municipal elections this year, with seats on the Bradenton and Palmetto city councils on the ballot. Municipal elections are nonpartisan, meaning candidates do not run with political party affiliations listed on the ballot.
In the City of Bradenton, three ward seats are up for election. In Ward 2, incumbent Marianne Barnebey is seeking another term and is unopposed.
Marianne Barnebey is the incumbent Bradenton City Council member representing Ward 2. A Bradenton native, she graduated from Manatee High School, Manatee Junior College, and High Point University, where she earned a degree in nonprofit agency administration. Before serving on the City Council, Barnebey worked with youth organizations, the Girl Scouts, and in public relations and childbirth education. During her time in office, she has focused on responsible growth, transportation, public safety, fiscal responsibility, and preserving Bradenton’s quality of life while remaining active in numerous community organizations.
Ward 3 features a contested race between incumbent Kemp Schuessler and challenger Thomas Schwarz.
Kemp Schuessler is the incumbent Bradenton City Council member representing Ward 3. A Bradenton resident and business leader with more than 30 years of experience in financial services, real estate, insurance, and mortgage finance, Schuessler has served on the council with a focus on neighborhood preservation, infrastructure improvements, fiscal accountability, public safety, and managed growth. His campaign emphasizes transparent government, reliable city services, and protecting residents' quality of life.
Thomas Schwarz is a Bradenton resident who has lived in the city for more than 20 years and is making his first run for public office as a candidate for Bradenton City Council Ward 3. A community advocate and supporter of local small businesses, arts, and culture, Schwarz says he has volunteered more than 500 hours throughout Manatee County. His campaign focuses on government transparency, infrastructure improvements, responsible growth, environmental stewardship, housing stability, and increasing community engagement in local government.
In Ward 4, incumbent Lisa Gonzalez Moore faces challenger Keith Green.
Lisa Gonzalez Moore is the incumbent Bradenton City Council member representing Ward 4. An attorney specializing in real estate and business law, she has lived in Manatee County for more than two decades and has served on the City Council since 2022. During her first term, Moore has focused on infrastructure improvements, responsible growth, fiscal stewardship, economic redevelopment, and long-range planning while emphasizing community engagement and transparent local government.
Keith Green is a candidate for Bradenton City Council Ward 4 with a background in property management and community service. He has served for four years on the Bradenton City Planning Commission and on several local advisory boards, where he has worked on issues related to growth, land use, and neighborhood development. Green's campaign focuses on infrastructure improvements, public-private partnerships, support for first responders, government transparency, and responsible fiscal management.
In the City of Palmetto, three ward seats are also on the ballot. Ward 1 incumbent Harold Smith is running unopposed.
Harold Smith is the incumbent Palmetto City Commission member representing Ward 1. A lifelong Manatee County resident and graduate of Palmetto High School, Smith is the owner of Smitty’s Bail Bonds. He also serves on the board of Manatee Harvesting Company, Inc., is a Silver Lifetime Member of the NAACP, and is a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Smith was first elected to the Palmetto City Commission in 2014 and is seeking another term representing Ward 1.
Ward 2 voters will choose between incumbent Sunshine Joiner and challenger Sheldon Jones.
Sunshine Joiner is the incumbent Palmetto City Commission member representing Ward 2. A Florida native who has spent most of her life in Palmetto, Joiner is a graduate of Bradenton Christian School, earned an associate degree from State College of Florida, and received a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Lee University. Her professional background includes work as an EMT, in customer service, corporate accounting, and as a self-employed singer. She has also participated in humanitarian, mission, and military support projects, and says her priorities include serving Palmetto residents while protecting the community’s natural resources.
Sheldon Jones is a candidate for Palmetto City Commission Ward 2 and previously served on the Palmetto City Commission as an at-large commissioner. A fourth-generation Manatee County resident and U.S. Army veteran, Jones served from 1986 to 1993, attaining the rank of sergeant. He has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 20 years, serves as a union representative, and has coordinated the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. His campaign emphasizes infrastructure improvements, government transparency, economic development, and preserving Palmetto’s historic neighborhoods and waterways.
In Ward 3, Rachel Kendzior is the sole candidate seeking the seat.
Rachel Kendzior is a candidate for Palmetto City Commission Ward 3. A Palmetto resident, Kendzior has served on the City of Palmetto's Charter Review Committee, which is responsible for reviewing the city's governing charter and recommending updates. She is also vice president of Palmetto Downtown Main Street, a nonprofit organization that supports downtown revitalization and economic development, and serves on the board of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. (Photo unavailable)
The municipal elections will determine representation on the Bradenton and Palmetto city councils, with voters selecting candidates to help guide decisions on local services, development, infrastructure, public safety, and future growth. Residents of each city are encouraged to review their ward races and verify their voter information before Election Day.