Gary McManus
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Gary McManus (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Florida House of Representatives to represent District 15. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
McManus completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Gary McManus was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He earned a high school diploma from John T. Hoggard High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 1987. His career experience includes working as an account executive. He has been affiliated with Toastmasters International, The Knights of Columbus, Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, and the Duval County Democratic Party.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Florida House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Florida House of Representatives District 15
Incumbent Dean Black defeated Gary McManus in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 15 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dean Black (R) | 64.8 | 75,184 |
 | Gary McManus (D)  | 35.2 | 40,762 | |
| Total votes: 115,946 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Gary McManus advanced from the Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 15.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Dean Black advanced from the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 15.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for McManus in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gary McManus completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by McManus' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I strive to be a Christian gentleman. In that capacity, I take my role as husband and father very seriously. I have 3 kids of my own and 2 stepchildren (a strange term, as they are grown). I have a grandson, a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law. I also have a dog named Indy (he was born on Independence Day). I dearly love my growing and diverse family.
I spent my career in Executive sales for companies like AT&T, GE, Merck, and IBM. I have called on many different industries, including government, education, healthcare, banking, and insurance, to name a few. My job was to understand their business, their challenges and develop solutions. In information technology, these solutions were often complex, requiring me to build teams of experts solve these problems. I have negotiated multi-million dollar deals, overcoming obstacles and arriving at agreements with clients who often had competing agendas with my own. I believe this experience will be helpful in the legislature.
My decision making is based upon reason and the best available information. I am a principled person and that means that if my principles conflict with the party line, I will follow my principles. Luckily, that hasn’t been a big problem since I became a Democrat in 2015. In fact, I became a Democrat when I came to the conclusion that the Democratic Party was the party that most exemplified my Christian principles.- 1.) Make every voice heard and every vote count - Democracy is under attack in our country. The Republican party has become extreme, and their ideas are not mainstream. In order win elections, they have increasingly relied on voter suppression, gerrymandering, and spreading baseless claims of voter fraud. I want to push back against that.
- 2.) Restoring the Dream – I decided to enter politics because I am concerned that my generation will be the first to leave the next generation a country in worse shape than they received it. I want my kids to be able to own a home, get an education, and have healthcare. The middle class is being squeezed out of existence. I want to help to restore opportunity and the ability for upward mobility and wealth creation to all Americans.
- 3.) Healthcare and Education as a Right – How free is any American when they are one major health crisis away from total financial ruin? How free are they when they can’t leave a lousy job because they have to keep the lousy insurance? Medical bills should not be the #1 cause of bankruptcy. An educated society is essential for a thriving Democracy. Public schools benefit society as a whole and everyone should pay to support them.
I think restoring the middle class strengthens our country as a whole. It even benefits the wealthy in the long term. A rising tide lifts all ships.
Democracy must be protected and defended. What good are any of our rights in an authoritarian society? There are people in this country who would burn our democracy to the ground in order to rule from the ashes.
Democracy must be protected and defended. What good are any of our rights in an authoritarian society? There are people in this country who would burn our democracy to the ground in order to rule from the ashes.
As a Christian, following the example of Jesus is part of your life. Beyond that, I was very blessed to have very great and devoted parents. They are both very principled and very outspoken - a trait they passed on to all of their 6 kids. My Dad was a union man who had the courage to go on strike with a family of 8. He taught me how to be a man. he taught me to protect and provide for my family even at great personal cost. He also taught me to camp and fish, which gave me a great appreciation for the natural world. Even with 6 kids, I never felt that I lacked either of my parent's attention. that is quite a feat. My Mom gave me her religious sensibilities. She also volunteered to collect for the March of Dimes and a host of other charities, which meant that I had to go door to door and make the pitch. That's almost certainly how I gravitated toward sales. I still try to follow their example and live up to their expectations every day. They remain one of my greatest blessings.
The Righteous Mind
by Jonathan Haidt
by Jonathan Haidt
I like politicians who have a strong philosophical or ideological sense about them. I may not know their opinions on every conceivable topic but, if I know how they think and they are consistent, I can predict that.
Obviously, integrity, transparency, and work ethic are essential.
Obviously, integrity, transparency, and work ethic are essential.
By trade, I am a communicator, a problem solver, a negotiator and a closer. I am pragmatic and results oriented. I have no intention of dying of old age in office. In 6 years, I plan to be traveling with my wife and fishing with my grandkids. I want to accomplish the most good I can while I’m in office.
I believe strongly in “management by walking around”. It’s key to be available to constituents, to keep the pulse of the district, and advocate for them in Tallahassee. It’s all about them (Republicans, Democrats, and others) , not me. The core responsibility is constituent service, which is very much like client service in sales. Beyond that, following the law, a willingness to collaborate, and conducting one's self with dignity and integrity are key.
To have strengthened our democracy, helped to restore the dream of upward social mobility, and end the divisiveness in our political discourse.
July 16, 1969. The tiny, black and white TV in our living room remained on for every second of the moon landing. I was only 5 and I didn’t fully appreciate what was happening at the time. I just knew it was BIG. It must have made an impression because I never miss a launch if I can avoid it. Having access to Cape Canaveral is one of my favorite things about this area.
That’s hard to say. I was shoveling snow, mowing yards and delivering newspaper since I was 11. My first paycheck was from a shoe store where we actually measured people’s feet and fit them for shoes. I remember praying for sunshine on Easter so kids would scuff their shoes or we would have nothing but returns on Easter Monday. That was where I learned to sell. I worked there through high school.
Although the Bible is the most important book to me, I'd rather not give you the beauty pageant answer. My favorite novel is Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. It is a book of high ideals and the difficulty maintaining them in a sometimes cynical world. There's real beauty in the way Don Quixote sees nobility in Sancho Panza and Dulcinea - beauty they don't see themselves until Don Quixote's conviction convinces them of their worth. It is romantic, fantastic, and deeply layered. I enjoyed the play also.
Thanks for that question– now it’s stuck there again. “Baby Shark” has been an ear worm ever since my grandson introduced me to the demonic little ditty. “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison is one of my favorite songs. "Bellavia" by Chuck Mangione gets me every time.
I went through a divorce when my kids were in middle school and high school. They lived with me and I had a very demanding career that involved travel. I have strong sympathy for single parents because you give your all and still feel like you are coming up short. Scripture has all sorts of references to vines being pruned and gold that’s tested in fire. In a strange way, I came through it stronger and with a deeper relationship with my kids than I otherwise would have. I feel so blessed to have my wife and stepchildren. It an embarrassment of riches.
Mutual respect and accountability.
Extremist policies that divide rather than unite Floridians. We must always value liberty over conformity.
It’s a mixed bag. Experience can help but it can also create blind spots. Anyone can learn the civics part of the job. It’s harder to teach an adult integrity and sound reasoning. The current legislature has set the bar pretty low on both scores.
Absolutely. As the minority party, it will be essential. It takes years to put together multi-million dollar projects and sometimes that means working closely with adversaries to move projects forward. You have to be creative to find common ground. I can do that.
John McCain - not because I agreed with him very much and would never have put Sarah Palin a heartbeat from the Presidency, but he had many admirable qualities. I admired his courage, his willingness to reach across the aisle, and the strength he showed to do the right thing even when his party pressured him otherwise.
Not having served in the military, part of the reason I decided to enter politics was to do my part for the country. If I had the opportunity to contribute at a greater level, I would take it out of a sense of duty. I’m still planning on limiting my time of service so I can enjoy my family in retirement. I'm not interested in making this a second career.
I am working with an educator who is a Republican. He and many other teachers are upset by CS/HB 1445, which was sponsored by my opponent. It was a union-busting bill limiting teacher’s ability to collectively bargain. Despite intensive lobbying and the fact that over 99% of constituent feedback opposed it, the measure passed with my opponent’s vote. Constituents were ignored and my opponent’s typical party-line vote was cast. That is NOT constituent service. That’s repaying your campaign donors.
Better not. Here's my favorite "G" rated joke - What do you call a pirate with both eyes, both hands, and both legs? A beginner.
I think that a balance needs to be struck. A Governor needs to have the power to respond quickly, but limits need to be set to prevent abuse, particularly when an autocratic governor would use emergency powers to restrict citizen's right to protest. A time limit should be set so that a governor can act quickly, but then must justify their actions to the legislature. They cannot continue indefinitely. For example, a week in the case of a natural disaster. It would also depend on the type of emergency. For responding to violent protests, the time limit may be zero to ensure that the response is non-partisan before a counterattack ensues.
Freedom of speech in government - to allow the uncensored consideration of all relevant information regarding legislation. For example, disallowing any reference to climate change in legislation is not acceptable. The same applies to any relevant scientific data. Censorship makes bad policy.
Center for Freethought Equality
Florida Central Labor Council
Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee
Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining
Criminal Justice Subcommittee
Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee
Water Quality, Supply & Treatment Subcommittee
Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee
Both are essential.
I think that allowing citizens to directly affect policy change by voting on proposals to change state laws and state constitutions is an effective countermeasure to efforts that would clip the wings of our democracy. We need more democracy and liberty, not less. If I made any change, it would be to ensure that ballot initiatives that pass are put into effect. The DeSantis administration disregarded the express will of the people using gimmicks to prevent felons who paid their debt to society regain their voting rights. That shows a complete disregard for democracy.
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Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Florida House of Representatives District 15 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 9, 2024
Current members of the Florida House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Daniel Perez
Majority Leader:Tyler Sirois
Minority Leader:Fentrice Driskell
Representatives
District 1
Michelle Salzman (R)
District 2
Alex Andrade (R)
District 3
Nathan Boyles (R)
District 4
District 5
Shane Abbott (R)
District 6
Philip Griffitts (R)
District 7
Jason Shoaf (R)
District 8
Gallop Franklin (D)
District 9
Allison Tant (D)
District 10
Chuck Brannan (R)
District 11
Sam Garrison (R)
District 12
Wyman Duggan (R)
District 13
Angela Nixon (D)
District 14
Kimberly Daniels (D)
District 15
Dean Black (R)
District 16
Kiyan Michael (R)
District 17
Jessica Baker (R)
District 18
Kim Kendall (R)
District 19
Sam Greco (R)
District 20
Judson Sapp (R)
District 21
Yvonne Hinson (D)
District 22
Chad Johnson (R)
District 23
J.J. Grow (R)
District 24
Ryan Chamberlin (R)
District 25
Taylor Yarkosky (R)
District 26
Nan Cobb (R)
District 27
Richard Gentry (R)
District 28
Bill Partington (R)
District 29
Webster Barnaby (R)
District 30
Chase Tramont (R)
District 31
Tyler Sirois (R)
District 32
Brian Hodgers (R)
District 33
Monique Miller (R)
District 34
Robert Brackett (R)
District 35
Erika Booth (R)
District 36
Rachel Plakon (R)
District 37
Susan Plasencia (R)
District 38
David Smith (R)
District 39
Doug Bankson (R)
District 40
RaShon Young (D)
District 41
Bruce Antone (D)
District 42
Anna Eskamani (D)
District 43
Johanna López (D)
District 44
Jennifer Harris (D)
District 45
Leonard Spencer (D)
District 46
Jose Alvarez (D)
District 47
Paula Stark (R)
District 48
Jon Albert (R)
District 49
District 50
Jennifer Canady (R)
District 51
Josie Tomkow (R)
District 52
John Temple (R)
District 53
Jeff Holcomb (R)
District 54
Randy Maggard (R)
District 55
Kevin Steele (R)
District 56
Brad Yeager (R)
District 57
Adam Anderson (R)
District 58
District 59
Berny Jacques (R)
District 60
Lindsay Cross (D)
District 61
Linda Chaney (R)
District 62
Michele Rayner (D)
District 63
Dianne Hart (D)
District 64
Susan Valdes (R)
District 65
District 66
Traci Koster (R)
District 67
District 68
Lawrence McClure (R)
District 69
Danny Alvarez (R)
District 70
Michael Owen (R)
District 71
Will Robinson (R)
District 72
Bill Conerly (R)
District 73
Fiona McFarland (R)
District 74
James Buchanan (R)
District 75
Danny Nix (R)
District 76
Vanessa Oliver (R)
District 77
Tiffany Esposito (R)
District 78
District 79
District 80
Adam Botana (R)
District 81
Yvette Benarroch (R)
District 82
Lauren Melo (R)
District 83
Kaylee Tuck (R)
District 84
Dana Trabulsy (R)
District 85
Toby Overdorf (R)
District 86
John Snyder (R)
District 87
Vacant
District 88
Jervonte Edmonds (D)
District 89
Debra Tendrich (D)
District 90
Vacant
District 91
District 92
Kelly Skidmore (D)
District 93
Anne Gerwig (R)
District 94
Meg Weinberger (R)
District 95
District 96
Dan Daley (D)
District 97
Lisa Dunkley (D)
District 98
Mitch Rosenwald (D)
District 99
Daryl Campbell (D)
District 100
Chip LaMarca (R)
District 101
Hillary Cassel (R)
District 102
Michael Gottlieb (D)
District 103
Robin Bartleman (D)
District 104
District 105
Marie Woodson (D)
District 106
Fabián Basabe (R)
District 107
Wallace Aristide (D)
District 108
Dotie Joseph (D)
District 109
Ashley Gantt (D)
District 110
Tom Fabricio (R)
District 111
David Borrero (R)
District 112
Alex Rizo (R)
District 113
Vicki Lopez (R)
District 114
District 115
Omar Blanco (R)
District 116
Daniel Perez (R)
District 117
Kevin Chambliss (D)
District 118
Mike Redondo (R)
District 119
District 120
Jim Mooney (R)
Republican Party (86)
Democratic Party (32)
Vacancies (2)
