VOTE ELIZABETH ARNOLD FOR DISTRICT 1 COUNTY COMMISSIONER
IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ON AUGUST 18, 2026!
Elizabeth “Liz” Arnold isn’t just stepping into this role as county commissioner. She’s already been doing the work.
While others talk, Liz shows up. At the podium, in the room, standing with the people who are tired of being ignored.
When Zipperer Road, one of our historic canopy roads, was about to be sacrificed, Liz stood with the citizens who refused to let it happen. And they won. Because when people actually stand up, things can change.
When dust from massive development sites started choking neighborhoods, Liz didn’t look the other way, or merely complain to her neighbors. She pushed to get the ordinances rewritten, because families shouldn’t have to live in a construction zone just so someone else can profit.
When Mosaic sought to extend the time to continue its mining operations by another 14 years, using millions of gallons of our precious water and leaving behind so much waste, Liz was one of the few people at that podium standing up to say no.
When it came to our wetlands, Liz was out front fighting to protect them.
Not trimming them back.
Not negotiating them away.
Not quietly signing off on their destruction behind the scenes.
Protected. Period.
Because once they’re gone, they’re gone.
And there are lines that don’t get moved. No crossing the FDAB. Not now, not later, not under any circumstances.
No cruise ports off Terra Ceia Bay. Not disguised as “economic development,” not at the expense of our waters, our estuaries, or our way of life.
And here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud: Our infrastructure is already failing.
The roads are behind.
The systems are strained.
And the people living here are paying the price for decisions they didn’t make.
Liz Arnold believes this stops now.
No more ignoring reality.
No more pretending we can outbuild the consequences.
No more sacrificing this county piece by piece and calling it progress.
If the infrastructure isn’t there, it doesn’t happen.
Period.
Liz Arnold will be a voice for the citizens of District 1 - not a voice for insiders, not a rubber stamp for moneyed interests, but someone who listens to her constituents, shows up, and speaks when it matters. Because the people who live here, who drive these roads, and who bear the real cost of these decisions deserve to be heard first, not last.
Liz didn’t just know Commissioner Carol Ann Felts. She stood beside her, learned from her, and fought alongside her.
When Carol passed, this community didn’t just lose a commissioner. It lost someone who actually said no.
Liz Arnold is running to bring that back.
This isn’t about politics or culture war issues. It’s about drawing a line for Manatee County citizens, and finally having someone who won’t move it.
Vote Elizabeth “Liz” Arnold for Manatee County Commissioner, District 1.
Your Voice in Manatee County!
Liz's Platform:
Protect What We Have
Liz Arnold is conservative in the very best sense of the word. She understands the value of conserving our natural wealth of Old Florida and its rural lands. East County and our rural areas deserve protection, not unchecked sprawl. Our wetlands, trees, and rural lands are not empty space — they protect us from flooding, preserve our water, and define our way of life. Liz supports policies that keep rural areas rural and prevent incompatible development. She will fight to stop overdevelopment in sensitive areas, as well as protect canopy roads and natural lands.
Protect the Myakka River
The Myakka River is one of our most important natural resources — and it is under increasing pressure from nearby development. Liz will work to protect the watershed, limit harmful impacts, and preserve this river for future generations.
Address Flooding & Water Supply
Flooding during storms is getting worse, and our water resources are under pressure from overdevelopment. Paving over wetlands and natural drainage areas is not sustainable. Liz will advocate for responsible land use that protects our water and reduces flooding risks.
Fix Infrastructure Before Growth
We cannot keep approving development without the roads, drainage, and emergency services to support it. Liz will push for a true “infrastructure first” approach — no more approvals that leave residents stuck in traffic or flooding in their homes.
Full Collection of Impact Fees
Development is supposed to pay for itself. But that cannot happen if we do not collect the appropriate amount of impact fees from the developers. Impact fees pay for our roads and other essential infrastructure that make Manatee County a wonderful place to live, work and play. Liz will fight to make sure we have the funds to keep it that way.
Advocating for Responsible Land Use
Responsible land use has a number of meanings, but one of them is that we do not crowd roads that are not ready for additional traffic. We need lots of things here in Manatee County, but unsafe roads is not one of them. Liz will fight to make sure that we have the infrastructure we need to support our growth and development.
Public Safety Improvement
Public safety must come first. As Manatee County grows, EMS response times are being stretched — and that puts lives at risk. We cannot allow growth to outpace our ability to keep people safe. Liz will work to improve EMS by supporting more staffing, smarter station placement, and making sure first responders have what they need.
Better Pay for EMS
Our first responders are essential for the protection of our safety. They deserve better pay and support from the County. Liz will fight to make sure that our EMS personnel have better pay, to make sure that they are well taken care of here in Manatee County and feel that it is worth being here.
Improving Response Times
One of the most troubling aspects regarding our EMS situation is the potentially slow response times. Liz will sit down with our first responders to listen and explore practical solutions that will improve response times, and work to get them implemented.
Stop Wasteful Spending
We have seen some wasteful projects appear in our county. Expensive vehicle wraps, for example, or poorly designed building plans. That has to come to an end. We have to do better, and Liz will work with our county staff to make sure that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely, and not lavishly.
Find More Efficiencies
One of the Florida DOGE complaints was that the size of Manatee County government grew disproportionately in recent years. While some growth in staff was necessary, we have to do better at making sure that we are being as efficient as we can with the people that we have. Liz will work with the administration to see where things can be improved, and see where we can do more with what we have.
Reduce Taxes Where Possible
Reserves are set at a certain level for a reason. While it's important to save for lean times, we shouldn't be so flush with reserves that we are taking money away from our residents at times when they need it most. Liz will fight to make sure that you get to keep as much money as you can in your pocket, not the County's.
Educating Citizens About Processes
Carol used to always say that an educated citizen was the best citizen. In order for relations between citizens and their government to improve, it's essential to make sure that citizens understand the processes involved with getting ordinances passed. Once people understand the processes, people can use shared vocabulary and tactics to achieve goals instead of talking past each other. Liz will carry on Carol's efforts to make sure that District 1 citizens are aware of what is happening and understand how to advocate for their own interests.
Engaging Citizens With Respect
Too many residents feel unheard. Liz has been in the back of those BOCC meetings — waiting, watching, and speaking up. Too often, citizens have been addressed with less than ideal decorum and respect. And often times their concerns are not really addressed. Liz will work to ensure transparency and make sure residents’ voices matter. She will be responsive and will not talk down to anyone, especially from the dais.
Donate to Help Liz Reach Our Neighbors!
Elizabeth “Liz” Arnold is a longtime Manatee County resident and community advocate who has spent years attending and speaking at County Commission meetings on issues affecting rural communities, responsible growth, and government accountability. Like many residents, Liz has spent a lot of time sitting in the back of the Board of County Commissioners meeting room waiting for her turn to speak, wondering if the concerns of everyday citizens were truly being heard.
Liz and her husband will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this June. They have two children, a son and a daughter, and two grandchildren. They live a rural lifestyle that includes a few cows, chickens, cats, and a deep appreciation for the land and community that make Manatee County special.
Professionally, Liz spent more than two decades with Florida Power Corporation, where she rose through the ranks to become a Director, managing major financial operations that moved millions of dollars daily. Earlier in her career she worked with the City of St. Petersburg, helping implement one of the first automated refuse collection systems in the country and conducting operational reviews to improve efficiency in city departments.
Liz believes strong financial management, responsible planning, and listening to residents are essential to protecting the future of Manatee County and returning the county to the citizens it serves.
Liz has spent years going before the Board of County Commissioners advocating in the citizens' best interests, trying to preserve rural lands and our canopy roads. Here are some samples of her advocacy.
Speaking Up for Citizens
Fighting for Rural Preservation
Defending Zipperer Road's Canopy Trees
Fighting Mosaic's 14-Year Extension
Liz is honored to receive endorsement from Dr. Bob McCann, our District 5 Commissioner!
