Residents gathered in Palmetto on Saturday to see what Manatee County commissioner candidates have to offer for the upcoming election.

A forum was held at the Palmetto Youth Center for District 2 candidates to debate. Incumbent Michael Gallen, Corie Holmes and Charles Smith are all running for the seat. Smith was unable to attend.

District 2 is considered the urban core of the county, encompassing predominantly minority neighborhoods in East Palmetto, East Bradenton, Palm View and Ellenton.

Commissioner Gallen says he is running to continue the work that he has started.

“We have had a tremendous success in job creation in Manatee County," said Gallen. "Tremendous success in District 2 with infrastructure improvements, we are providing services to our youth, and lowering crime.”

Holmes says he wants to be proactive and bring the community together.

“In the first 30 days I am going to have a plan to energize the community," said Holmes. "We are going to have a town hall meeting in the east side of the county and in the north side of the county. We are going to hear the issues, we are going to form community groups.”

Commissioner Gallen is worried that the poor are not receiving adequate health care and he wants a chance to fix that.

“We have an indigent care crises going on that I want to tackle,” said Gallen.

Holmes wants to tackle crime.

“First off, I am going to address the crime issue," Holmes said. "I am going to bring this community together. This community is so fragmented right now that we are not able to focus on any issue.”

Both individuals are from Manatee County. Michael Gallen has held the seat for four years. The primary is August 26.