We are calling on the Chairman of the Manatee County Commission, Kevin Van Ostenbridge, to step down as chair and resign from office. An explosive report published by The Bradenton Times states that the Chairman “violated established rules and regulations” by using the county credit card to buy personal data on his 19,000 constituents for political gain at taxpayer expense. 

The improperly acquired information contained “more than 200 fields of personal and voter demographic information on the individuals” including

• religious views
• political ideology
• home address and GPS coordinates
• whether the resident is a "persuadable’ voter”
• birth dates
• voter registration number
• cellular and home telephone numbers
• voter history
• ethnicity
• number of children
• home market value
• occupation
• net worth

The violation of the commission’s rules and procedures by Van Ostenbridge was reviewed by an independent, outside law firm. According to the audit and IG report, as well as the independent counsel’s report, it appears Chairman Van Ostenbridge was the sole perpetrator of this taxpayer-funded heist and breach of residents’ personal privacy.

In the report, Van Ostenbridge doubled down that the purchase of his constituents' voter data was appropriate and was for a public purpose. After our press release was issued it was reported Commissioner Van Ostenbridge repaid taxpayers. 

Join our petition and contact your Manatee County Commissioners to tell them no one is above the law and request they remove Van Ostenbridge as Chair.

Helpful Links:

• Our Press Release
• Information on filing an ethics complaint if you were a resident of his district in 2021 on Anna Maria Island, in the City of Bradenton, Terra Ceia, or Snead Island.
• Click Here to review the bombshell report by the Bradenton Times.
• Click here to review Audit Report.
• Kevin Van Ostenbridge responds to public outcry.