ANNA MARIA – Kathleen Morgan and Gary McMullen are the newest members of the city commission.
On Jan. 25, commissioners Mark Short, Jon Crane and Charlie Salem appointed Morgan and McMullen to fill the city commission seats previously vacated by Robert Kingan and Deanie Sebring.
Gary McMullen was appointed to complete the commission term that expires in November. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When making the appointments, the three sitting commissioners individually ranked the two candidates according to their personal preferences. Short, Crane and Salem each listed Morgan as their top choice and McMullen as their second choice, with Crane participating by phone.
The rankings were based in part on the 31 questions Morgan and McMullen answered during a candidate forum held at city hall on Jan. 11.
After the rankings were announced, Morgan was given the option to serve the remainder of the two-year term vacated by Kingan that expires after the November 2025 elections, or the remainder of the two-year term vacated by Sebring that expires later this year, after the November 2024 elections.
While completing the remaining months of Sebring’s vacated term, McMullen can seek election to a full two-year term in November if he so desires.
After the appointments were made, City Clerk LeAnne Addy administered the oath of office to the two new commissioners.
Kathleen Morgan took the oath of office administered by City Clerk LeAnne Addy. – Joe Hendricks | SunGary McMullen was sworn into office by City Clerk LeAnne Addy. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“It feels good to have a full commission again,” Short said as the new commissioners took their seats on the commission dais and participated in the remainder of the meeting.
The reconfigured commission will meet next on Thursday, Feb. 8.
In early December, candidate Sharon Wisniewski withdrew her application. In late December, three additional candidates – John Kolojeski, Pat Olesen and Susan Stephen – said they withdrew their applications to avoid being potentially subjected to the State of Florida’s expanded Form 6 financial disclosure requirements that now apply to elected city officials.
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.
Gary McMullen believes the retention of permanent residents is the most important issue facing the city in 2024. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
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.
Kathleen Morgan sees the OPPAGA consolidation study as the biggest issue facing the city in 2024. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
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.
ANNA MARIA – Seeking to fill two vacant city commission seats, Gary McMullen and Kathleen Morgan are scheduled to participate in a candidate forum on Thursday, Jan. 11 at Anna Maria City Hall.
The forum will begin after the conclusion of the regular city commission meeting that starts at 6 p.m.
In what was once a six-applicant field, McMullen and Morgan are the only remaining candidates seeking to fill the commission seats vacated by Deanie Sebring and Robert Kingan.
In late December, commission applicants John Kolojeski, Pat Olesen and Susan Stephen withdrew their applications, citing the state of Florida’s Form 6 financial disclosure requirements that as of Jan. 1 apply to elected city officials.
On his application form, McMullen noted he currently serves as the vice-chair of the city’s Historic Preservation Board.
The one-page application form asks applicants to list two or three reasons why they wish to be considered for appointment to the city commission.
In response, McMullen wrote, “Longtime resident (over 70 years) and as such have a unique perspective of the history of the city and Island. I have been in government management for over 30 years and am a Management Fellows graduate from Florida State. I have knowledge of city operations as one of the first code and parking enforcement officers for the city. One of my goals is to retain and increase our resident base.”
On her application, Morgan wrote, “I believe in supporting the community I live in. I am the president of the AMI Garden Club with 120 members. I serve as secretary of the community center board. I believe my values support AMI city values and I want to keep improving where I live.”
During Thursday’s forum, McMullen and Morgan will have the opportunity to answer some or all of the 30 questions previously submitted in writing by the public and the media. The sitting commissioners and mayor also could submit written questions.
The list includes questions about why the candidates want to serve, what volunteer or service work they’ve done to benefit the Island community, how many commission meetings they’ve attended in the past year, what they see as the biggest challenge facing the city in the year to come, their thoughts on the Reimagining Pine Avenue project, their thoughts on maintaining or eliminating the existing parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue, their thoughts on the OPPAGA consolidation study and the possible consolidation of the three Island cities and more.
During past commission discussions, there was talk of also allowing forum attendees to pose follow-up questions to both candidates pertaining specifically to questions already included on the compiled list of questions.
On Thursday, Jan. 25, commissioners Jon Crane, Charlie Salem and Mark Short will be asked to individually rank the candidates according to their personal preferences and the two candidates will then be appointed accordingly.
The appointee who fills Kingan’s vacated seat inherits the remainder of a two-year commission term that expires in December 2025. The appointee who fills Sebring’s vacated seat inherits the remainder of a two-year term that expires in December 2024. Anna Maria City Commissioners earn $400 per month for their service.
Applicant withdrawals
The Form 6 financial disclosure requirements that have long applied to elected state and county officials now require elected city officials and future city candidates to disclose their net worth, income sources and earnings, tangible assets valued at more than $1,000, debts and amounts owed, and more.
On Dec. 29, Stephen sent Mayor Dan Murphy an email notifying him of her withdrawal as a candidate.
“I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the position of city commissioner. Unfortunately, the new laws will impede my desire to run,” she stated in her email.
“In my opinion, public release of my personal financial information is ripe for abuse. If I only was disclosing to the powers that be, it might be a different story. I must wholeheartedly agree with John Kolojeski and Pat Olesen that it’s an invasion of my personal information and subjects me to abuse of said information. It’s my desire to serve the community while choosing not to be part of this government overreach. Thank you and I am very disappointed that I have to do this,” she wrote.
In his Dec. 28 withdrawal email to the mayor, Kolojeski wrote, “The residents of Anna Maria did not need to know the value of an elected official’s oriental rug or art collection; such public information would most interest a thief. Form 6 requirements I personally find onerous and irrelevant to the conflict issues of far greater importance.”
Olesen notified the mayor of her withdrawal on Dec. 22 and later told The Sun she withdrew because of the Form 6 financial disclosure requirements.
In early December, Sharon Wisniewski withdrew her application and recently told The Sun the new financial disclosure requirements did not factor into that decision.
