The two candidates vying for the District 5 county commission seat in Manatee County, while both Republicans, have distinctly different views when it comes to two hot button topics in the eyes of area voters: development and traffic.

  • Incumbent Vanessa Baugh in favor of more development
  • Challenger Kathleen Grant concerned with lack of infrastructure
  • District 5 seat represents most of Lakewood Ranch

Either incumbent Vanessa Baugh or newcomer Kathleen Grant will win the District 5 seat, which represents most of Lakewood Ranch.

According to Baugh, Lakewood Ranch has 33,000 acres of land that will be developed, should she be re-elected. She says it's important for residents to embrace that development, but Grant, in contrast, says the commission needs to take a step back.

"We get all this additional development, but 'whoops!' We don’t have the schools or the roadways," said Grant. "The whole infrastructure which means for water and everything else."

In addition, new developments continuing to pop up across Lakewood Ranch will naturally mean more traffic. A half-cent infrastructure sales tax, which Baugh says the community needs to keep up with commuter demands, will be on the primary ballot.

"We have a large population that's been here for many years, and we all use the roads -- it’s not just new growth coming in using these roads," said Baugh. "So we have to find a way to pay to improve and take care of the roads that are existing."

Grant said she’s concerned where the money will go.

"It gives them a sense of spending a revenue source, which their hands are tied and it must be spent on infrastructure. That’s what they’ve always complained about," said Grant. "Their hands are tied on many other revenue sources that they can only spend in those areas, like the tourist development tax or impact fees."

Since both candidates are Republicans, registered voters from any party are allowed to cast their vote for the candidates -- and potentially the future of growth management in Lakewood Ranch -- in the August 30 Florida Primary.