Meet the Supervisor of Elections

Mike_Bennett_Head_Shot

 

HONORABLE MICHAEL "MIKE" BENNETT

 

 

About the Supervisor

Elected Service:

  • Elected to Manatee County Supervisor of Elections in November 2012.  Re-elected November 2016.
  • Elected to State Senate November 2002 and subsequently re-elected in November 2004, Representing District 21, consisting of Manatee and Lee Counties and parts of Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto Counties.  Left the Florida Senate in November 2012 due to term limits.
  • Chaired Senate Community Affairs committee.  Served on Budget, Banking & Insurance, Criminal Justice, and Military Affairs, Space, & Domestic Security committees.
  • Florida House of Representatives, 2000-2002
  • Senate Appointments:  Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council (Vice Chair 2011, Chair 2012).  Government Efficiency Task Force

Business Experience:

  • Associate Professor, College of Business, Iowa State University:  1976 - 1977
  • Associate Professor, College of Business, Drake University:  1977 - 1979
  • National Sales Manager for Fawn Engineering, Des Moines, IA. Supervised 50+ distributors and 300 salespeople:  1979 - 1983
  • Founder, Aladdin Ward Electric, Bradenton, FL. Started in 1985, and built up to a successful and profitable business, ultimately employing 175 people. Sold in 1998.
  • Business Development Consultant, Bright Future Electric, Sarasota, FL:  2009 to present

Community Involvement:

  Current:

  • The Greater Sarasota Sertoma Club (past president)
  • Gulf Coast Builders Exchange Board Member
  • Sarasota Teen Court Board Member
  • SANCA Foundation Board Member
  • Florida Maritime Museum Board Member

   Past:

  • Mote Marine Advisory Council
  • Southeastern Guide Dogs Board Member
  • University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee Community Leadership Council
  • Florida Biofuels Association, Inc. Board Member
  • Member Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida
  • Florida Public Service Commission, Nominating Council, 2004, 2005-2006
  • Florida Defense Support Task Force
  • CHPA Board Member (Community Health Purchasing Alliance)

Education:

  • B.A., Drake University – 1975
  • M.B.A., Drake University – 1976

Personal:

Resident of Manatee County since 1986 - Born in Brainerd, Minnesota

Married to Diane “Dee” Bennett since 1966

Served in the U.S. Navy, 1963-1967