News & Updates
Mike Rahn Elected Manatee County Port Authority Chairman
Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn has been elected chairman of the Manatee County Port Authority.
“It is a privilege to chair SeaPort Manatee’s governing board as we continue to advance key infrastructure enhancements and hurricane recovery efforts while setting the course for even greater realization of the port’s role as a leading contributor to our region’s economy,” said Rahn, whose election was confirmed in December.
SeaPort Manatee, which handled a record volume of more than 11.8 million tons of cargo in its fiscal year ending September 30, has just added two more mobile harbor cranes while, according to a recent report, raising its annual economic impact figure to nearly $7.3 billion. Meanwhile, $9.5 million in emergency funding announced October 14 by Gov. Ron DeSantis is helping the seaport swiftly recover from more than $200 million in damages caused by the October 9 landfall of Hurricane Milton.
Manatee County commissioners also elected to serve one-year seaport board officer terms, effective Jan. 1, 2025, are Dr. Bob McCann, first vice chairman; Amanda Ballard, second vice chairman; and Tal Siddique, third vice chairman. SeaPort Manatee’s seven-member governing board is completed by Carol Ann Felts, George Kruse and Jason Bearden.
The Manatee County Port Authority board consists of the seven members of the elected Manatee County Commission, but with distinctively separate officers and financial accountability. The authority sets policy and oversees major expenditures for SeaPort Manatee. Members of the port authority board serve staggered four-year terms, with annual election of officers.