ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The qualifying period for city commission and mayoral candidates on Anna Maria Island ended on Aug. 29 at noon and there will be only one contested city commission race in the upcoming fall election cycle.
Holmes Beach
The only contested race will occur in Holmes Beach, with four candidates seeking three commission seats. The Holmes Beach race features incumbent commissioners Steve Oelfke, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek and non-incumbent challenger Jessica Patel, who currently serves as vice president of the Anna Maria Elementary PTO.
With four candidates seeking three commission seats, those seats will be awarded to the top three vote getters in the upcoming non-partisan city election, with one candidate left without a seat to fill.
For those not registered to vote, the deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 6. The deadline to request a Vote by Mail ballot is Thursday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
Anna Maria
In Anna Maria, incumbent commissioners John Lynch, Kathy Morgan and Charlie Salem will claim additional two-year terms without their names appearing on the ballot and without any votes being cast.
“If races have no opposition, we would not have to conduct an election. Each candidate would be considered elected,” Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office Assistant Sharon Stief said of the uncontested races.
Bradenton Beach
With no votes cast, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Commissioners Debbie Scaccianoce will claim additional two-year terms with no votes cast; and Commissioner Ralph Cole will claim an additional one-year term due to the previous reconfiguration of city’s geographical-based commission wards.
Longtime commissioner Jan Vosburgh is not seeking reelection and her soon-to-be-vacant seat will be filled by commission appointment after the November election cycle.
For more information about Manatee County elections, visit the Supervisor of Elections Office website.
