ANNA MARIA – City Commission applicants Gary McMullen and Kathleen Morgan participated in a candidate forum at city hall on Jan. 11.
McMullen and Morgan hope to be appointed to fill the two vacant seats on the Anna Maria Commission.
With Mayor Dan Murphy serving as moderator and city commissioners Jon Crane, Charlie Salem and Mark Short in attendance, McMullen and Morgan answered all 30 questions provided in advance and an additional audience question posed during the forum. The candidates took turns answering five questions at a time and alternating who answered first.
The two candidates hold similar views on most of the issues. Both displayed a strong knowledge of the issues and neither has ever served before as an elected government official.
The candidates
McMullen spent much of his life living in Anna Maria at least part-time and has lived in Anna Maria full-time for about 15 years.
Morgan bought her first Anna Maria Island home in 2000. She and her husband, David Johnson, bought their current home in Anna Maria in 2006.
McMullen retired after a career with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles that included office management.
Morgan works part-time as a legal assistant for her husband’s Sarasota-based law firm. She also holds a real estate broker’s license. For 24 years, she owned and operated a retail/wholesale business in New York.
As for why he wants to serve, McMullen said, “I want to improve the quality of life for the residents and make this a better place to live.”
Morgan said, “I would like to serve as a commissioner to help make positive changes and reinforce current policies that reflect our city’s heritage. Anna Maria is a beautiful place to live and I am committed to improving it.”
Regarding the skill sets they’d bring to the commission, Morgan said, “I have an ability to bring people together in a cooperative fashion. I am a person that people respect and trust. I’m an effective communicator, a good follower and a good leader when needed. If appointed, I will work collaboratively with others.”
McMullen cited his historical perspective, managerial experience and the knowledge of government operations he acquired while working in and with governments at the city, county, state and federal levels.
“I know how government operations work,” he said.
Regarding community service, McMullen said he currently serves as the vice-chair of the city’s Historic Preservation Board and was one of Anna Maria’s first code enforcement and parking officers. Morgan serves as president of the Anna Maria Island Garden Club and as a board member and secretary for The Center of Anna Maria Island’s board of directors.
Neither candidate owns a business or vacation rental property in Anna Maria.
The issues
McMullen said that “Keeping our residential base” is the most important issue facing the city in 2024.
Morgan agreed that residents are the most important component of the community and she supports Commissioner Charlie Salem’s desire to conduct a feasibility study to help determine what more can be done to incentivize permanent residents.
Morgan views the ongoing OPPAGA consolidation study and the potential consolidation of the three Island cities as the biggest challenge facing the city in 2024.
“I am only for consolidation of services,” she said. “I am also concerned that we only get charged for our portion of the service and not an equal share of the total charge.”
Regarding consolidation, McMullen said, “I’m against it. We would have negligible savings if we consolidated services and I’m not for consolidating the cities.”
McMullen and Morgan both oppose the proposed county parking garage in Holmes Beach.
McMullen is also concerned about pedestrian and bicyclist safety, particularly on Pine Avenue.
“I see people walking on the streets, I see bicycles on the streets and people coming out between the cars. I don’t believe it’s safe,” he said.
McMullen and Morgan both support the still pending Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project that includes Magnolia and Spring avenues. McMullen supports eliminating the parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue and installing sidewalks and bike lanes along both sides of the street. Morgan supports eliminating the parallel parking spaces along one side of Pine Avenue and replacing them with a multi-use path.
McMullen said the opening of the Mote Marine Science Education and Outreach Center on the City Pier was the commission’s most significant accomplishment in 2023.
Morgan cited the opening of the Mote facility, planning for the Pine Avenue project and the city-sponsored events and celebrations that take place at City Pier Park and said, “Perhaps the best thing was reaching a cooperative yet united front against those who desire to consolidate the Island’s three governments and build a parking garage.”
If appointed, McMullen said his top three priorities would be making Pine Avenue safer, retaining full-time residents and expanding the Gulf Islands Ferry operations to better serve Island employees, including a Holmes Beach ferry stop if possible.
Morgan cited vacation rental regulation, street paving, stormwater/drainage improvements and the Pine Avenue safety improvements as ongoing top priorities and she’d also like to see more sidewalks and bike paths installed throughout the city.
If he could initiate one city project, McMullen would extend to Pine Avenue the multi-use trail along Gulf Drive that currently ends at Willow Avenue. Morgan again mentioned installing more sidewalks.
Both candidates support strong enforcement of the city’s vacation rental and noise ordinances.
Both candidates support maintaining the city’s 2.05 millage rate for the collection of property taxes and McMullen would like to see the millage rate reduced as property values and property taxes continue to increase.
Both candidates support allowing leashed dogs in City Pier Park, but not during city-sponsored special events.
The appointments
On Jan. 25, the three sitting commissioners will rank the two candidates in order of their personal preference. A commissioner’s first choice will receive a ranking of 1 and his second choice will receive a ranking of 2. The candidate with the lowest total score will be appointed to serve the longer term that expires in 2025. The candidate with the second-lowest score will be appointed to serve the term that expires in December. A candidate that receives at least two zero rankings will no longer be considered a candidate.
