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Island candidates qualify for fall election cycle

Island candidates qualify for fall election cycle

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

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.

Four qualify in Anna Maria election

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria’s two-week period to qualify for the city election ended at noon Friday and four candidates will run in the city elections this fall.

Carol Carter, Doug Copeland, Laurie Jo Higgins and Dale Woodland will compete for three commission seats in the election that will conclude Tuesday, Nov. 7. Vote by mail ballots will go out in early October.

Carter is seeking her third term in office. The ongoing battle with state legislators regarding local vacation rental regulations remains a priority.

Carol Carter
Carter

“I’m running for reelection to continue to support our residents and our way of life,” Carter said. “Through our recent efforts, we made a mark in the state in establishing that residents have rights too. We’ve gained some ground, but I must keep working on behalf of our residents and their quality of life.”

Copeland is seeking his third, full two-year term in office. He began his commission service in 2013 when he served the final five months of John Quam’s term after Quam resigned.

Doug Copeland
Copeland

“I want to see City Pier Park finished, the pier at least under construction and the Bert Harris claims resolved,” Copeland said. He added that he and the commission have unfinished business.

Higgins, a first-time candidate, is looking for change.

“Many people out here, including myself, feel like they haven’t been heard by our current commission,” she said. “I’m not in favor of many of the

Laurie Jo Higgins
Higgins

decisions that have been put forth and before any more are made I want to be a part of it. Instead of complaining, I’d like to be an active part of the solution.”

Woodland is seeking his eighth term in office.

Dale Woodland
Woodland

“I love this job. I love the people and the community. They seem happy with me, and being a public servant is the best job I’ve ever had. I don’t have an agenda. I’m going to continue to do the things I’ve been doing and I don’t see the need to change any strategy,” he said.

Tuesday, Oct. 10 is the last day to register to vote in the fall elections.