New commissioner wants to help Manatee be prepared for inevitable growth

New Manatee County Commissioner Raymond Turner was asked to take part Aug. 7 in a photo commemorating the opening of the 44th Avenue Bridge that spans the Braden River.

As Turner walked forward to join other commissioners for the photo, he smiled and noted that he didn't have anything to do with the planning and construction of the bridge.

But he is ready to have an impact on the county's future.

Turner, 59, replaced Vanessa Baugh, who represented District 5 on the Manatee County Commission for almost 11 years. Baugh announced that she was resigning her post in June due to "family concerns." Turner was sworn into his new job on Aug. 1.

He has a year remaining in Baugh's term, and then he said he will commit himself to running in 2024 for District 5 commissioner.

Turner, who resigned his position on the Manatee County Planning Commission to accept his new job, wouldn't argue with his characterization as being pro growth, but he said that is just part of his story.

"Pro growth doesn't mean we are not cognizant of the environment," he said.

Photo by Jay Heater

He hopes his constituents understand there is a place for both as the county moves forward with a long range plan.

"We need the infrastructure to accommodate the exploding growth," he said. "We need to be forward thinking. We can't avoid that we are one of the fastest growing counties in the country.

"This is not 'If you build it, they will come.' They are coming — for tax reasons, for weather, for lifestyle. It is not the developers creating the growth."

He said not preparing for people would be a major mistake.

"If you think traffic is bad now, think what it will be (if infrastructure is not addressed)," he said.

One thing he would like to address, perhaps in public meetings, would be to educate residents on the regulations Manatee County commissioners must follow before they plan or approve development.

"We have to follow state and federal regulations that are very rigid," he said. "If people understood the mechanisms involved, they would also understand the layers of scrutiny above the county level."

He said while some residents oppose the approval of development projects, they have to acknowledge that commissioners look for opportunities to protect environmentally significant land.

"At my last Planning Commission meeting, we designated 27,000 acres in Manatee County for recreation."

Turner grew up in Australia and spent his teenage years in both Canada and England. He was an athlete, participating in rugby, and track and field. He won the British Nationals in the high jump at 17, going over the bar at 6-foot-7.

He said his competitive nature has served him well in business and will serve him well in the political arena.

Love brought him to Florida in 1995 as he moved from Toronto to be with his future wife, Debbie. They were married in 1996.

They moved to the Lakewood Ranch area in 2003 with their two children, Savannah and Mitchell, and now live in Greyhawk Landing. 

The couple own the Turner Real Estate Network of Sarasota. Raymond Turner said his wife handles the business, which gives him the time to pursue other interests.

Photo by Jay Heater

"I got to the stage of my life where I needed to step up," he said. "I wanted to be more involved with the community."

That led to a job with the Planning Commission in September, 2022, and now as a commissioner.

"We've been here 20 years, and this community has served our family well," he said. "In terms of lifestyle and education, we have been living the American dream. I wanted to give back."

An immigrant, he became a U.S. citizen in 2012.

"I see myself as an American," he said.

He understands that some citizens will be highly critical of any moves to accommodate growth.

"The general majority isn't served by ignoring it," he said. "And I know that in any leadership position, it is impossible to get 100% buy-in. I am used to that in the roles I've played in the past. Absolutely, I don't take it personally."

He said he knows, with the Sunshine laws, that it can be difficult to get to know his fellow commissioners, but he said he will learn as much as he can through the "quick introduction" he gets during the commission meetings.