Last year Manatee County voters elected three new county commissioners and reelected an anti-establishment incumbent, – each of whom ran on the simple platform of not being funded and influenced by land development interests.

It was a stunning victory for the Manatee citizens who had long complained about the pace of development and the apparent acquiescence of their county commissioners toward it.

The political machine – and in particular the development lobby in Tallahassee – was said to be incandescent at the loss of rubber stamping from a county commission they had viewed as their personal property for decades.

But the people had spoken – and in America to the victors go the spoils, right?

And particularly in a state run by a populist, freedom-avowing governor like Ron DeS

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