Lakewood Ranch resident Tara Poulton is running as a Republican for Manatee County Commission District 6 (At Large) in the Nov. 3 general election.

She faces Democrat Reggie Bellamy.

Poulton won a Republican primary on Aug. 18, finishing first with 38.27% of the vote, according to WWSB/MySuncoast. She received 16,328 votes out of 42,661 cast in the primary.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Residence: Lakewood Ranch (Greenbrook neighborhood), according to her campaign website. She lives there with her husband Bill, their daughter Mary Anne and three stepchildren.
  • Education: Master of public administration, Florida State University; bachelor's degree in communication, University of South Florida (2000)
  • Recognition: Nominated for the Community Champion Award from the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance in 2024, according to her campaign website

Experience and public service

Poulton serves as district chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-16), a position she has held since 2023, according to BallotReady. In that role, she said on her campaign website, she helped recover more than $13 million in federal benefits owed to constituents in 2025. She said she also helped secure nearly $3 million in federal appropriations for projects including Valor Commons, a new veterans park.

Before joining Buchanan's office, Poulton served as vice president of public policy and workforce partnerships at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, according to her campaign website. She also worked as a director at the DeSoto County Commission from 2018 to 2021 and as senior government affairs regional manager at the Southwest Florida Water Management District from 2013 to 2018, according to BallotReady.

On the issues

Fiscal policy and affordability: Poulton said on her campaign website that she pledges to confront the affordability crisis through fiscal discipline and responsible growth. She said she will hold the line on government spending and ensure county decisions do not add to financial pressure on families.

Environment and energy: Poulton said she does not support moving forward with the proposed Manatee County cruise terminal because of concerns about its potential impact on the area's ecosystem. She said she supports state Sen. Jim Boyd's and state Rep. Will Robinson's efforts to protect the coastline, strengthen environmental safeguards and preserve local waters and fisheries.

Voters across Manatee County are eligible to cast ballots in the District 6 at-large race.