Current Officials Brown and Coachman Take the Lead in Bradenton City Council Elections: SOE

Key Information

• Location: Bradenton, FL
• Election Results:
• Mayor: Gene Brown (59.08%) vs. Bill Sanders (40.92%)
• Ward 5: Pamela Coachman (67.05%) vs. Iris Thomas Garcia (32.95%)
• Current positions:
• Gene Brown: Mayor since January 2021
• Bill Sanders: Former Ward 4 councilor (2018-2022)
• Controversies:
• Sanders faced allegations of creating a hostile work environment
• Settlement of a defamation lawsuit with Bemis Smith for $175,000

BRADENTON, FL — On Election Day, two incumbents outperformed their challengers in the Bradenton City Council races, as reflected in unofficial tallies from the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office.

In the mayoral contest, Gene Brown secured 59.08 percent of the votes, while Bill Sanders garnered 40.92 percent. Brown, who has been serving as mayor since January 2021, is also the vice president and chief of operations at Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory.

Bill Sanders, who previously occupied the Ward 4 seat from 2018 to 2022, lost to Lisa Gonzalez Moore in the 2022 election. His candidacy drew significant attention due to a summer 2022 investigation commissioned by a law firm, which found allegations against him of fostering a hostile work environment for city employees to be substantiated, as reported by Patch.

A portion of the investigator’s findings stated, “While he is not a city employee subject to dismissal, if he were a city employee, there is no doubt his employment would be terminated for his egregious, repeated violations of this policy.” Moreover, Sanders faced legal challenges when he settled a defamation lawsuit with former councilor Bemis Smith, agreeing to pay $175,000 over claims made in the lead-up to the 2018 election.

In the Ward 5 race, newcomer Pamela Coachman won decisively, receiving 67.05 percent of the vote compared to Iris Thomas Garcia, who accounted for 32.95 percent.