For more than 100 years, the League has promoted good governance. The LWVMC Board believes the four Manatee County Commissioners that, on a November 19 meeting introduced major issues not on the agenda, then passed major changes without prior input by the other commissioners or the public, were not practicing good governance. To read our position, and the LWVMC letter to the commissioners, Click Here
On January 6.there is a Special BCC Meeting to Vote to Terminate the County Administrator’s Contract. (1:30 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center). Please consider attending.
Here is the link to county commissioner contact information. We encourage you to get informed, then voice your opinion. Click Here
November 27, 2020
Dear Commissioner,
The League of Women Voters has actively worked supporting good governance for the last 100 years. We oppose the actions taken by the four county commissioners at the November 19, 2020, meeting where they: 1) improperly brought up and voted on, with no public notice or notice to their fellow commissioners, significant changes to county operations; 2) came with and passed a resolution allowing the commission, by majority vote, to ignore procedures designed to allow public notice and input and 3) voted to initiate the termination of Cheri Coryea, without notice, without cause and without any forethought of the community repercussions.
We hear that those who voted to terminate the administrator want to run our county like a business and take the county in a new direction. However, county government has a different structure and purpose than that of a business. As a business, making a profit is the primary goal. In contrast, a county government operates any services, not for profit, but for the well-being of its citizens. The similarity? Both businesses and government retain high performance employees. What they normally do not do is fire without prior warning, using a weak excuse.
A recent decision to remove our county administrator during an already precarious time in the life of our community, the disruption of Covid19, is destabilizing and serves to create increased uncertainty. Loss of Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea would be a great loss to our county, considering her excellent work and high ratings by her supervisors and praise from those who worked with her. As an employee for over 30 years, she served in a number of positions, doing well for the county, its communities and its citizens, always improving what she found. She has been called the best county manager in the state.
The strength of a community like Manatee County lies in our ability to balance the many interests of numerous entities, including government, businesses, organizations and citizens. We urge you to return to the procedures that have created a government allowing for proper research, planning and notice. We also urge you to reverse the rash decision to terminate Cheri Coryea and instead take the time to reassess, in collaboration with the many entities of this community, and develop a long term strategy that will help all Manatee County and its residents continue to thrive.
Alice Newlon, President of LWV of Manatee County
