Four Manatee County Commissioners Sworn In Tuesday

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Four county commissioners were sworn into office at the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.

Three of the commissioners — George Kruse, Kevin Van Ostenbridge and James Satcher — are new to the role, while Vanessa Baugh enters a third term in office. All four were elected to office in the Nov. 3 general election.

Satcher, who leads a nonprofit with more than two decades of ministry that has provided aid to orphans, single mothers and the homeless, represents District 1. Van Ostenbridge, elected to the District 3 seat, manages Boyd Realty’s Anna Maria Island office and owns Be Easy Tours. Kruse, elected to an at-large countywide seat, works in commercial real estate and affordable housing.

Baugh occupies the District 5 seat. She served as commission chair in 2016, as well as the chair of the Port Authority from 2017 to 2019. She also owns Vanessa Fine Jewelry in Lakewood Ranch.

Commissioners Reggie Bellamy (District 2), Misty Servia (District 4) and Carol Whitmore (at large) at have two years remaining on their four-year terms that began in 2018.