ANNA MARIA – Former city commissioner and mayoral candidate Brian Seymour has withdrawn his application seeking appointment to the Anna Maria City Commission.
Seymour’s withdrawal leaves John Lynch as the lone remaining commission applicant seeking appointment to the city commission on Jan. 9.
Dated Jan. 4 and addressed to Mayor Mark Short, Seymour’s withdrawal letter says, “I am writing to inform you that I would like to remove myself from consideration for the open city commission seat. After much thought over the last few weeks, I have concluded that I can better serve the community as I have been for the past several years, as a regular attendee of city commission meetings and participating when public comment warrants.”
Seymour and Lynch submitted applications seeking appointment to serve the remaining year of former Commissioner Jon Crane’s two-year term. Citing hurricane damage to his Anna Maria home and a desire to live off-Island, Crane resigned in November, creating the commission vacancy.
As a precursor to the commission appointment expected to be made on Thursday, Jan. 9, Lynch and Seymour were slated to participate in a candidate forum at city hall on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m.
After receiving Seymour’s withdrawal letter, Short said Tuesday’s forum would still take place, with Lynch still being given the opportunity to answer written questions previously submitted by the public.
According to his commission application, Lynch is a retired consultant and supply chain executive who also served for 10 years as a high school football coach. His application states he resides in Anna Maria 10 months a year and is a registered Anna Maria voter. He’s involved with the Habitat for Humanity organization and serves as president and secretary of the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation.
During Thursday’s meeting, the four sitting commissioners – Chris Arendt, Kathleen Morgan-Johnson, Gary McMullen and Charlie Salem – could either appoint Lynch to fill the vacant commission seat or delay the appointment and seek additional applicants.
WITHDRAWAL LETTER
In his withdrawal letter, Seymour stated his decision to withdraw was prompted primarily by his desire to avoid situations where he would have to recuse himself from discussing and voting on matters pertaining to the city’s top two project priorities: rebuilding the hurricane-damaged City Pier and completing the Reimagining Pine Avenue sidewalk installation and safety improvement project.
Seymour owns and operates two businesses along Pine Avenue: the Anna Maria General Store and Pine Avenue Bait and Tackle. He and his business partners also operate the City Pier Grill in pier space leased from the city. The City Pier Grill remains closed until the portion of the walkway obliterated by Hurricane Milton is replaced and any additional hurricane-related pier repairs are complete.
Salem owns commercial property along Pine Avenue and Seymour’s letter notes Salem, the new commission chair, recuses himself from Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions and votes.
“The city already has one commissioner who recuses him on Pine Avenue votes and I fear having two commissioners recusing themselves will not serve in the city’s best interests,” Seymour wrote.
“In addition, as one of two tenants on the City Pier, I would probably have to recuse myself from any votes on that project as well. I think all five commissioners should have a vote on the various stages of the pier rebuild. I believe my input and help from a citizen/tenant standpoint would be more valuable to the city than being on the dais and not being able to vote. I appreciate your understanding and hope that the other candidate is successful in their bid to join the city commission,” Seymour wrote.
Seymour’s letter concludes with well wishes for Short in his new role as Anna Maria mayor: “I look forward to seeing your growth and future achievements as mayor and the growth of our wonderful city I know we both love so much. I stand by and am available any time you may need assistance.”
