Updated: October 28, 2026
Overview
Kelly Kirschner is a reformer focused on lowering costs, challenging corruption, and protecting local control. As former Mayor of Sarasota, he has a record of taking on powerful developers and winning. Sydney Gruters is the ultimate insider, with close ties to major developers and investments in data centers and companies tied to China. She’s running only to benefit herself.
Summary
Starting as soon as possible and running through Election Day, likely general election voters, women under 50, and persuadable Republicans need to see on premium CTV, and voters in Manatee County need to see on YouTube that Sydney Gruters’ insider relationships make it clear she’ll be part of the problem in Washington, not fix it:
- Sydney Gruters and her husband have invested in multiple AI and data center corporations, and her campaign has taken thousands from a private equity fund owner heavily invested in hyperscale and AI technology and from utilities already seeking rate increases.
- Gruters’ campaign took thousands from the CEO of a company partially owned by the Chinese government, which has been accused of importing cheap and harmful Chinese chemicals, undercutting American companies.
- As the politically appointed Executive Director and Vice President for Advancement of the New College Foundation, Gruters took over $500,000 from Manatee County developers.
If resources exist to support multiple tracks
- Manatee County voters should see on the go that Gruters has close ties to developers and utilities, and her election would lead to more overdevelopment and higher utility costs.
Additional Resources
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