Join Marine Resources Council Executive Director Dr. Laura Wilson to learn how Low Impact Development (LID) can protect Florida’s waterways and strengthen community resilience. Stormwater runoff—carrying nutrients and pollutants from roads, rooftops, and lawns—remains one of the greatest threats to our surface waters. LID offers practical, science‑based strategies that work with nature rather than against it and practical experience-based strategies to effect change at the local government level.



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The League of Women Voters of Manatee County’s Education Issues Action Team will feature Dr. Laurie Breslin, the Manatee School District Superintendent. She has served in various district positions and is relatively new to her role as Superintendent. Hopefully members will use this opportunity to meet her and ask questions about our school district and its schools. Join us!

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Advocacy Wins: Floridians Stopped a Wave of

Anti-Reproductive Rights Bills

By Nancy Hughes

Members of the Florida legislature introduced a number of bills this year that would inhibit reproductive rights in this state. Due to the relentless pushback by League members and others, all of the legislation failed. They were bills that

• would have allowed private citizens to sue anyone who provides or mails abortion pills into the state;
• would have required anti-abortion propaganda in schools;
• would have allowed a partner, abuser, or even a rapist of a pregnant patient to sue for the loss or termination of the pregnancy; and that
• would have stripped minors of birth control, STI treatment, and mental health resources.


The legislature will come back into session in April to hammer out a budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. The Florida House has proposed a $113.6 billion budget, which is $1.4 billion lower than the Senate’s $115 billion proposal.


Both the House and Senate leadership are proposing the budget include nearly $30 million for so-called “crisis pregnancy centers.” These faux medical clinics have a history of misleading patients and receiving lax state oversight. State Rep. Kelly Skidmore introduced a bill that would have redirected these state dollars to “evidence-based healthcare programs that provide a full range of reproductive care, including prenatal, postnatal, and family planning services.” Neither the House or Senate acted on the legislation.

This year’s victories show that advocacy works—and with continued pressure, Florida can redirect funding toward real, evidence-based reproductive care that truly serves families.

At the March LWVM Meet & Greet I was asked to write about SAVING one of the most pristine estuaries of Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. You ask, “how do you manage to save something that is already a Preserve,” or better yet, “why does a Preserve need to be saved”?



The saga begins with news in the Bradenton Times (BT) that a beautiful little spot named Rattlesnake Key, which sits out on the top of Tampa Bay leading out to the Gulf of Mexico, has been purchased by a “private” owner with the promise that “they” would make this area a “preserve” into perpetuity.  It is an area Manatee County and the state of Florida had a chance to purchase a couple of years ago, but the sale fell through.

Not only did the neighbors of Terra Ceia Island but the wider community of Tampa Bay had their “radars” go up and say “who” and “why” has this “entity” purchased this land? A land that is so “vital” to the health of Tampa Bay.

Reality hit with the next piece of news coming out of BT. The ulterior motive is that this “entity,” SS Slip Knot Marine, had their sights on yet another piece of land on Terra Ceia Island adjacent to the “Preserve,” the one that needs to be “saved.” This entity “proposed” a MEGA CRUISE PORT on the south end of the Skyway! Now a five-alarm fire was going off in our little neighborhood that resounded all over Tampa Bay.  Neighbors began organizing, writing letters to elected officials, finding out when the next Manatee “planning” meeting was, and calling our state senators and representatives. Local organizations also stepped in to help our grassroots neighborhood group with their expertise, knowledge, and years of being good stewards of Tampa Bay. To name a few of these groups – Suncoast Water Keepers, Tampa Bay Water Keepers, Save the Manatee, many local fishing guide captains and local businesses. On February 14, we held a “Save the Bay” Rally at the neighborhood Sea Breeze park. The event was well attended. We had speakers, neighbors and the concerned public come out to do their part in Saving the Bay!

With constant pressure from all points in Tampa Bay on March 13, 2026, our Governor decided that “Tampa Bay is not in need of another deep-water Port.”  Nothing said by this governor about this land being SACRED, not even a peep about the VITALITY of this area, with its large sea grass meadows and thick mangrove forest canopy. No mention that our governor just saved the largest ESTUARY in Tampa Bay from a Mega Cruise Port. A port that would not only disrupt but destroy the breeding grounds for fish and protected Manatees. You may say, the Governor did not want to “grandstand.”  I say this news should have been SHOUTED off the top of the Skyway Bridge!

We, as citizens of Tampa Bay, cannot let up on the protection and preservation of our “Florida” environment! We need to keep up the good fight, we need to be the “Voice” for our Tampa Bay, for all our Florida lands and waterways, we need to keep up the fight for our planet – it is all we have!

I hope to meet you one day, as we paddle, fish and swim in our most amazing bay – a bay that has just been saved from development and destruction. See you out on the Skyway to view one of the many amazing sunsets, and keep in mind with the last green flash of the sunset, “We” did this and it could not have been done without YOU!

The League of Women Voters of Manatee County held its March 20, 2026 Meet & Greet with thirty members and guests in attendance. Hosted in Merrie Lynn Parker’s spacious, rustic home, the woodsy setting offered the perfect welcome to spring. Attendees mingled indoors and out on the deck, enjoying good food, good company, and the peaceful natural surroundings. The evening’s speakers added to the upbeat atmosphere as they shared recent accomplishments and upcoming opportunities for engagement.

President Ruth Harenchar opened the program with a warm welcome that set the tone for an engaging night. Participants introduced themselves and shared something that had recently brought them joy—ranging from a spectacular symphony performance, to memorable travels, to the arrival of new family members.

The evening continued with an interview of Alice Newlon, prior LWVMC President, conducted by Emma Parker, Merrie Lynn’s granddaughter. Alice offered insights into the League’s advocacy positions and achievements over the years. Her reflections were a powerful reminder of why the League’s work continues to matter.

The program also featured updates from four of our Action Teams—Voter Services, Education, Natural Resources, and Membership—sparking thoughtful and sometimes lively conversations. Highlights included:


• Voter Services gearing up for the upcoming elections, planning visits to senior communities, and preparing voter guides and candidate forums. Thank you, Terri Kondos.
• Education sharing how their Board of Education meeting notes continue to inform the community and influence School Board members. Bravo, and thank you, Merrie Lynn Parker.
• Natural Resources celebrating a recent advocacy win: passage of a bill barring the type of dredging needed to construct the proposed mega cruise port in the Terra Ceia Preserve area. Thank you, Randy Miller.
• Membership announcing the Florida LWV’s new statewide membership campaign and toolkit, and encouraging us to invite prospective members to Zoom meetings, coffees, and future Meet & Greets. Thank you, Felecia Jett and Lyle Landon.

A special thank‑you goes to Merrie Lynn Parker for opening her home, and to everyone who contributed the abundant and delicious food and drinks—including homemade chili (both meat and vegetarian), cornbread, baked cheesy grits, and a pound cake with strawberries and whipped cream.

We look forward to our next Meet & Greet and to seeing you again soon at the many LWVMC events!