Bradenton appoints Kemp Schuessler to Ward 3 and narrowly approves state cooperation resolution amid home‑rule concerns

The Bradenton City Council filled the Ward 3 vacancy July 23 and approved a resolution to cooperate with a state government review effort after a contested debate.

After deliberation over six applicants, the council moved and carried a motion to appoint Kemp Schuessler to the Ward 3 seat by a 3–1 vote. Multiple councilmembers praised the applicant pool and discussed improvements to the interim‑appointment process for future vacancies.

Later in new business, City Administrator Rob Perry introduced a late resolution (Resolution 25‑74) directing staff to cooperate with the state’s Department of Government Efficiency review team (referred to in the meeting as the ‘‘DOGE’’ program). Perry said the state had requested spreadsheets and line‑item financial data going back to 2020–21 and that local governments across Florida had been asked to provide similar documentation; he framed the resolution as formalizing the city’s willingness to cooperate and to designate a city point of contact.

Council debate was robust. Councilmember Moore and others supported cooperation for accountability and to avoid adverse state enforcement actions; Councilmember (name recorded as opposing in the meeting) voiced home‑rule concerns about a state body recommending eliminations of locally adopted programs. After public comment and debate, the council adopted the resolution 3–1. Staff said it will provide requested materials to the state and act as the point of contact for further inquiries.

The council simultaneously acknowledged the tension between cooperating with state oversight and protecting local policy discretion. Several councilmembers requested copies of the documents sent to the state and asked staff to continue to protect decisions that the council makes under home‑rule authority.