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Bradenton Beach voters eliminate term limits

Bradenton Beach voters eliminate term limits

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Bradenton Beach voters have eliminated the term limits that previously applied to the city’s mayor and city commissioners.

Bradenton Beach’s registered voters supported three other amendments to the city charter and rejected one proposed amendment.

Election results

U.S. Senator – Marco Rubio

U.S. House District 16 – Vern Buchanan

Florida Governor – Ron DeSantis

Attorney General – Ashley Moody

Chief Financial Officer – Jimmy Patronis

Commissioner of Agriculture – Wilton Simpson

State House District 70 – Mike Beltran

State House District 72 – Tommy Gregory

Manatee County Commissioner District 2 – Amanda Ballard

Manatee County Commissioner District 4 – Michael Rahn

Manatee County Commissioner At-Large – Jason Bearden

According to the unofficial election results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office website Tuesday evening, 213 voters (51.08%) supported eliminating term limits and 204 voters (49.92 %) opposed doing so.

The term limits previously set forth in the city charter limited elected officials to serving three consecutive two-year terms in the same elected office.

Eliminating term limits allows incumbent Ward 2 City Commissioner Marilyn Maro, who ran unopposed in the election, to serve a fourth consecutive term in office. Had voters retained term limits, Maro would not have been allowed to serve another consecutive term and would have term-limited out of office.

Bradenton Beach voters eliminate term limits
The election results allow incumbent Commissioner Marilyn Maro (shown here with her husband Ed) to serve another term in office. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Running unopposed, and not impacted by the term limit vote, Ward 4 Commissioner Ralph Cole also earned another two-year term in office.

Bradenton Beach voters eliminate term limits
Running unopposed, incumbent Commissioner Ralph Cole earned another term in office. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Eliminating term limits would have also resulted in Mayor John Chappie and Ward 1 Commissioner Jake Spooner term-limiting out of office in November 2023 after the completion of their current terms.

Bradenton Beach was the only city on Anna Maria Island that had term limits.

Maro and Cole will be sworn in to their next terms on Monday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m.

Additional charter questions

Bradenton Beach voters supported charter amendment question 2, which read as follows: “The current city charter requires a ward commissioner to reside in the ward they represent. Should the city amend its charter to establish a procedure to temporarily fill the ward seat for one term with an at-large commissioner if no ward resident is available or willing to run for office?”

According to the unofficial election results, 226 voters ( 54.46%) supported charter amendment 2 and 189 voters (45.54 %) opposed it.

The election results now allow the commission to fill a short-term vacancy with an appointee that lives anywhere in the city.

Voters rejected ballot question 3, which read as follows: “The current city charter requires the city to provide a special election to fill a vacancy that results in more than six months from a resignation required by Section 99.012, Florida Statutes. Should the charter be amended to allow for all vacancies to be appointed by the city commission?”

According to the unofficial election results, 253 voters (61.26%) opposed this proposed charter amendment and 160 voters (38.74%) supported it.

Retaining this charter provision means the city must continue to hold a special election to fill any commission seat being vacated for more than six months.

By a one-vote margin, Bradenton Beach voters supported charter amendment question 1, which read as follows: “Currently the city charter vests authority in three arbitrators to hold forfeiture of office proceedings against an elected official with costs to be borne by the city. Should the city revise its charter to eliminate the three arbitrator-panel procedure and replace it with the former forfeiture provision utilizing the city commission to conduct the proceedings?”

According to the unofficial election results, 206 voters (50.12%) voters supported this charter amendment and 205 voters (49.88 %) opposed it.

The results mean the city commission can now initiate forfeiture of office proceedings against a sitting commission member without using outside arbitrators. Removing an elected official from office still requires the majority support of the city’s registered voters.

Logistical in nature, charter amendment 5 pertained to commission actions that require a city ordinance. The ballot question read as follows: “Currently the city charter sets forth actions requiring an ordinance. Should the city amend the charter to remove employee personnel benefits and procedures from this section and require actions of the city regarding employee personnel benefits and procedures to be adopted in a public meeting through a resolution of the commission?”

According to the unofficial election results, 237 voters (59.10%) voters this charter amendment and 164 voters (40.9%) opposed it. Approval of this amendment streamlines the manner in which city employee benefits and employee procedures are addressed by the commission.

The charter amendments were proposed earlier this summer by the city commission-appointed charter review committee that was guided in its review process by City Attorney Ricinda Perry. The city commission then unanimously supported placing the five committee-recommended charter amendment questions on the ballot.

Anna Maria

Running unopposed, incumbent Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and incumbent city commissioners Deanie Sebring and Mark Short earned additional two-year terms in office. The trio will be sworn in during the commission’s organization meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Holmes Beach

Running unopposed, first-time candidates Dan Diggins and Greg Kerchner won seats on the Holmes Beach City Commission. Incumbent Commissioner Kim Rash did not seek reelection and incumbent Commissioner Jayne Christenson withdrew from the race after she qualified to seek reelection. Diggins and Kerchner are to be sworn in Wednesday morning, Nov. 9.

  Term limits on Bradenton Beach ballot, again

Term limits on Bradenton Beach ballot, again

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – With mail voting now underway, Bradenton Beach voters have begun deciding the fate of five proposed amendments to the city charter.

The five charter amendment questions that appear on the Bradenton Beach ballot were proposed and supported by the majority of the city commission-appointed charter review committee and supported unanimously by the city commission.

The decisions made by Bradenton Beach voters regarding term limits and the filling of commission vacancies will impact the configuration of the Bradenton Beach City Commission for years to come.

The general election concludes with in-person voting on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Forfeiture of office

Ballot question 1 pertains to the forfeiture of office provisions that apply to the city’s elected officials and reads as follows: “Currently the city charter vests authority in three arbitrators to hold forfeiture of office proceedings against an elected official with costs to be borne by the city. Should the city revise its charter to eliminate the three arbitrator-panel procedure and replace it with the former forfeiture provision utilizing the city commission to conduct the proceedings?”

Voter approval of this proposed amendment would eliminate the current charter requirement that requires a three-person arbitration panel in order to initiate the process of removing an elected mayor or commissioner from office before their term expires. Approval of this proposed amendment would allow the city commission to initiate forfeiture of office proceedings on its own.

Commission vacancies

Ballot question 2 pertains to the filling of commission vacancies and reads as follows: “The current city charter requires a ward commissioner to reside in the ward they represent. Should the city amend its charter to establish a procedure to temporarily fill the ward seat for one term with an at-large commissioner if no ward resident is available or willing to run for office?”

Approval of this proposed amendment would allow the commission to fill a vacant commission seat with a qualified candidate who resides in any area of Bradenton Beach. The charter currently requires the appointee to live in the specific commission ward for which the commission vacancy exists.

This proposed amendment could come into play if incumbent Commissioner Marilyn Maro’s commission seat is to be vacated in November because city voters again vote to retain term limits. This matter is addressed in ballot question 4.

Ballot question 3 pertains to the length of a commission vacancy that can be filled by commission appointment rather than a special election.

Ballot question 3 reads as follows: “The current city charter requires the city to provide a special election to fill a vacancy that results in more than six months from a resignation required by Section 99.012, Florida Statues. Should the charter be amended to allow for all vacancies to be appointed by the city commission?”

Voter approval of this proposed charter amendment would eliminate the current charter provision that requires a special election to fill any commission seat to be vacated for more than six months. This would allow the city commission to fill all vacant commission seats by appointment rather than allowing the city’s registered voters to make that decision in a special election.

Term limits

Ballot question 4 may be the most significant charter amendment question to be decided by Bradenton Beach voters. It pertains to the qualifications and terms of elected office and reads as follows: “Should the city amend its charter to remove term limits and maintain two-year terms for all elected positions with an effective date of June 16, 2022, in order to allow currently seated elected officials the ability to run for office, if otherwise termed out?”

Although she’s currently running unopposed as the Ward 2 commissioner, Maro is scheduled to term limit out of office in November after serving three consecutive two-year terms in office. Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Jake Spooner are currently scheduled to term limit out of office in November 2023. Incumbent Ward 4 commissioner Ralph Cole is also running unopposed this year and at some point, in or after 2024, he too would term limit out of office if term limits are retained.

Voter approval of the proposed term limit amendment would allow Maro to serve another two-year term and would allow Chappie and Spooner to seek reelection in 2023 if they so desire. If city voters reject this proposed charter amendment, Maro would leave office in November and that vacant seat would be filled by commission appointment or a special election, depending on the outcome of ballot question 2.

In recent years, Bradenton Beach voters have twice, by close margins, supported the retention of the city’s term limits.

Employee benefits

Ballot question 5 is logistical in nature and pertains to commission actions that require a city ordinance. Ballot question 5 reads as follows: “Currently the city charter sets forth actions requiring an ordinance. Should the city amend the charter to remove employee personnel benefits and procedures from this section and require actions of the city regarding employee personnel benefits and procedures to be adopted in a public meeting through a resolution of the commission?”

Voter approval of this proposed amendment would have minimal impact on city residents and city operations and would simply streamline the manner in which employee benefits and employee procedures are addressed.

Vote by mail

Hurricane Ian slightly delayed the mailing of the vote-by-mail ballots sent to county voters who previously requested them, according to Sharon Stief, chief deputy for the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.

“Vote by Mail ballots for the Nov. 8 general election were mailed out on Monday, Oct. 3. We had originally planned to mail them on Friday, Sept. 30. We had no hurricane impacts regarding our early voting and/or polling locations,” Stief told The Sun.

According to Stief, 356 vote-by-mail ballots were mailed to Anna Maria voters, 297 ballots were mailed to Bradenton Beach voters and 1,147 ballots were mailed to Holmes Beach voters.

Proposed charter amendments won’t eliminate supra-majority votes

Proposed charter amendments won’t eliminate supra-majority votes

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Registered voters will see five charter amendment questions on their city ballots this fall.

Two proposed charter amendments pertain to filling vacant commission seats and one pertains to eliminating term limits for elected officials.

Similar to a state or federal constitution, the city charter sets forth how the city is governed and structured. The Bradenton Beach charter also includes language that restricts building heights and requires voter approval to vacate city rights of ways. The city charter can only be amended with the majority support of the city’s registered voters.

On June 2, the city commission adopted on first reading a city ordinance containing five of the six charter amendment ballot questions previously recommended by the commission-appointed charter review committee and drafted by City Attorney Ricinda Perry.

The commission rejected Perry’s final effort to include a sixth ballot question that could have potentially weakened the existing four-fifths supra-majority vote required for certain city commission actions.

The five commission-supported charter amendment ballot questions are slated for final adoption on Thursday, June 16. The adopted ballot questions will then be submitted to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections for inclusion on the fall ballot.

Vacancies and term limits

Working somewhat in unison, proposed charter amendments 2 and 3 address filling vacant city commission seats, while proposed charter amendment 4 addresses term limits.

If approved by city voters, proposed charter amendment 2 would allow the commission to appoint someone from outside of a specific commission ward to serve on the commission if no resident of that ward is willing to run or be appointed to that seat.

Proposed charter amendment 3 would allow the commission to appoint someone to fill a commission vacancy of more than six months created by a sitting commission member’s mid-term resignation. The charter currently requires a special election to fill such a vacancy of more than six months.

In 2021, city voters narrowly voted in favor of retaining the existing term-limits set forth in the charter. Proposed charter amendment 4 seeks to eliminate the term limits that result in an elected official term-limiting out of office after serving three consecutive two-year terms.

During Thursday’s meeting, Perry explained how voter approval of proposed charter amendment 4 would allow incumbent commissioner Marilyn Maro to serve another term even though her term expires in November.

Proposed charter amendments won’t eliminate supra-majority votes
Commissioner Marilyn Maro’s term is scheduled to expire in November. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Perry said Maro can run for the Ward 2 seat, and if she wins that race, and city voters eliminate term limits, she can then serve another term. If Maro runs and wins but voters retain term limits, that seat would be filled by person receiving the second highest number of votes.

If no other candidate runs against Maro, the two-year vacancy would be filled by commission appointment. If city voters adopt charter amendment 2, the commission could appoint someone from outside of Ward 2 to serve that full two-year term if no one from that ward applies to fill the vacancy.

After Thursday’s meeting, Maro said she had not yet decided if she’s running again. Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Jake Spooner’s terms expire in November 2023.

Supra-majority retained

The commission directed Perry to draft an ordinance containing five of the six charter amendment questions recommended by the charter review committee on May 19, rejecting a sixth proposed ballot question pertaining to supra-majority votes.

The charter currently says an affirmative supra-majority vote of at least four of the five commission members shall be required to approve any comprehensive plan amendment (including map or text amendments), rezoning, special exception, variance or the vacation of any city right of way.

During Thursday’s meeting, Perry proposed new charter language that said, “The commission shall clarify and define supra-majority in the city of Bradenton Beach Land Development Code, as well as establish the number of elected officials required for a supra-majority vote.”

Perry said she included the supra-majority question in the first reading of the ordinance because it could be removed during first reading but could not be added to the ordinance if not publicly noticed as such.

Perry suggested retaining the fourth-fifths supra-majority commission vote – and subsequent city voter approval – to vacate any city-owned right of ways, while allowing the commission to decide if a supra-majority or simple majority vote is required for other actions that currently require the supra-majority support of the commission.

Perry questioned what would happen if one commission member had to recuse themselves from such a vote. The commission agreed that the applicant would then need the approval of all four remaining commission members.

Commissioner Ralph Cole said amending the charter as the charter review committee and Perry proposed could result in three or fewer votes being needed to approve a comprehensive plan amendment that would allow a stand-alone parking garage.

Chappie said he likes the higher four-fifths standard for certain commission actions, even though it makes the approval process tougher for developers.

During public input, city resident and Planning and Zoning Board member John Burns asked why the supra-majority question was included in the ordinance after the commission rejected it on May 19. Burns said he likes the higher threshold for certain commission actions and he wants it to be harder, not easier, for the commission to govern when addressing issues of this nature.

Proposed charter amendments

The charter amendment questions will appear on the bal­lot seeking from the city’s registered voters a “yes” vote for approval or a “no” vote for rejection.

The ballot questions are:

  1. FORFEITURE OF OFFICE

Currently the city charter vests au­thority in three arbitrators to hold for­feiture of office proceedings against an elected official with costs to be borne by the city. Should the city revise its charter to eliminate the three arbitra­tor-panel procedure and replace it with the former forfeiture provision utiliz­ing the city commission to conduct the proceedings?

  1. TEMPORARY AT-LARGE FILLING OF VACANCIES

The current city charter requires a ward commissioner to reside in the ward they represent. Should the city amend its char­ter to establish a procedure to temporarily fill the ward seat for one term with an at-large commissioner if no ward resident is available or willing to run for office?

  1. FILLING OF VACANCIES BY APPOINTMENT

The current city charter requires the city to provide a special election to fill a vacancy that results in more than six months from a resignation required by Section 99.012, Florida Statues. Should the charter be amended to allow for all vacancies to be appointed by the city commission?

  1. QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE

Should the city amend its charter to remove term limits and maintain two-year terms for all elected positions with an effec­tive date of June 16, 2022, in order to allow currently seated elected officials the ability to run for office, if otherwise termed out?

  1. ACTIONS REQUIRING AN ORDINANCE

Currently the city charter sets forth actions requiring an ordinance. Should the city amend the charter to remove employee personnel benefits and pro­cedures from this section and require actions of the city regarding employee personnel benefits and procedures to be adopted in a public meeting through a resolution of the commission?

New charter review committee forms

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The City Commission has appointed a new charter review committee and term limits for elected officials could be one topic for discussion.

Commissioners approved the committee appointments recommended by City Attorney Ricinda Perry and Mayor John Chappie on April 7. The committee consists of former Planning and Zoning Board chairman Dan DeBaun, Jim Hassett, Anne Leister, Tom Little and former city commissioner Ed Straight. Former charter review committee member Debra Cox will serve as the alternate member. The members are all Bradenton Beach residents.

The appointments and charter review process were formalized by the commission’s adoption of city resolution 22-953.

The committee will review and recommend potential amendments to the city charter. The city charter can only be amended by a majority vote of the city’s registered voters.

The Bradenton Beach charter sets forth how the city is governed – a “weak mayor” form of government – and establishes the roles and duties of the city’s elected officials. It also establishes the four existing city commission wards and the term limits that restrict a city commission member to serving three consecutive two-year terms. The charter also contains the building height restrictions that prohibit the construction of high-rise buildings.

According to state law, a city charter must be reviewed at least once every five years. The Bradenton Beach charter was last reviewed four years ago, in 2018. Perry told the commission that conducting the charter review now rather than next year would allow any proposed charter amendment questions to be placed before voters during the upcoming 2022 general elections rather than during a non-general election in 2023.

“We would prefer our charter amendments to go out when there’s a larger voter turnout. It produces a better result for the community,” Perry said.

Perry said the committee will begin meeting later this month and any charter amendments recommended by the committee and supported by the city commission must be submitted to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office in June.

Term limits and ward sequence

Perry recommended the charter review committee discuss the potential elimination of the city’s existing term limits. She noted Bradenton Beach is the only city on Anna Maria Island with term limits.

During the 2021 elections, 177 Bradenton Beach voters (51.75%) opposed eliminating the existing term limits and 165 voters (48.25%) supported eliminating term limits. That charter amendment question was placed on the ballot by the city commission, as allowed by state law, without the appointment of a charter review committee.

If the existing term limits are not eliminated, Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Jake Spooner will term limit out of office in November 2023.

Perry also recommended that the committee consider re-numbering two of the four existing commission wards so the wards are in proper sequential order. Due to the previous voter-approved elimination of the commission wards and the subsequent voter-approved reinstatement of the commission wards – further complicated by resulting re-election eligibility impacts for some commissioners – the wards are currently sequenced from north to south as Ward 4, Ward 3, Ward 1 and Ward 2. Perry recommends the ward numbers be sequenced 4, 3, 2 and 1 from north to south.

A copy of the city charter updated in November 2021 can be found online.

Bradenton Beach mayors race

Chappie re-elected mayor, term limits remain in place

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – Voters have re-elected John Chappie as the city’s mayor. Chappie will serve a third consecutive term as mayor and his sixth overall.

Running unopposed, incumbent city commissioners Jake Spooner and Jan Vosburgh also claimed additional two-year terms in office.

Chappie, Spooner and Vosburgh will be sworn into their next terms in office on Monday, Nov. 15.

Bradenton Beach voters also voted in favor of maintaining the existing term-limits for the mayor and city commissioners that limit an elected official to serving three consecutive two-year terms in that particular office.

According to the unofficial election results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website as of 8 p.m. this evening, Chappie received 241 votes (69.45%) and Galuszka received 106 votes (30.55%). According to these results, a total of 347 votes were cast in the mayor’s race.

When asked about the election results soon after they were known, Chappie said, “I thank the voters for all their support over the years. It’s an honor. I’m happy and I’m humbled. I love serving and that’s what I’ve done pretty much all of my adult life, trying to make Bradenton Beach an even better community than it is; and this is paradise. We’ve got a lot of great city projects going on right now, including the undergrounding of utility lines, our stormwater and drainage improvements, and the dock expansion project. And the city’s getting a lot of financial support for these projects from the county and the state.

“I had an extremely good opponent. He’s fair and level-headed and ran a really good campaign. He’s a good guy. I give him credit for wanting to be involved in the community and I hope he continues that,” Chappie said.

Bradenton Beach mayors race
First-time candidate David Galuszka fell short in his initial bid for the mayor’s seat – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When asked about the results, Galuszka said, “The results are disappointing, of course, but the support I received from the community was above and beyond my expectations. We both ran a good campaign and in the end people did speak on the issues I presented. I’m hoping my opponent will take that into account. I would like to stay involved in local politics and this has given me the drive to stay involved. The people spoke to me and our voices were heard as a result of this election.”

When asked about potentially running again in 2023, Galuszka said, “I definitely will consider running again in 2023.”

According to City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the voters’ decision to maintain the existing term limits means Chappie cannot run for mayor again in 2023, Spooner cannot run for a commission seat in 2023 and Commissioner Marilyn Maro cannot seek an additional term when her current term expires in 2022.

Anna Maria race

 

Running unopposed, Anna Maria commissioners Carol Carter and Jon Crane claimed additional two-year terms in office The remaining vacant commission seat will be filled by commission appointment later this month.

Term limits

The term limit-related charter amendment question appeared on the ballot as follows: “The current city charter provides that no person may hold the same elected office for more than three consecutive terms or portions thereof, with each term lasting two years. Should the city amend its charter removing term limits, while maintaining the requirement that each term shall last for two years?”

According to the unofficial results as of 8 p.m. this evening, 177 votes (51.91%) were cast in opposition to eliminating term limits and 164 votes (48.09%) were cast in support of eliminating the term limits.

All the unofficial Manatee County election results can be viewed at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website.

Bradenton Beach commission proposes eliminating term limits

Bradenton Beach commission proposes eliminating term limits

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – In the upcoming fall elections, Bradenton Beach voters will again be asked if they want to eliminate the term limits currently imposed on the city’s elected mayor and city commissioners.

The City Commission on Thursday unanimously supported on first reading an ordinance that provides ballot language for the possible elimination of term limits. The ordinance will be provided to the Supervisor of Elections Office after being adopted on second and final reading on Thursday, June 3.

Bradenton Beach commission proposes eliminating term limits
This ballot language is expected to appear on the 2021 ballot for Bradenton Beach voters. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

The ballot language, drafted by City Attorney Ricinda Perry, says: “The current city charter provides that no person may hold the same elected office for more than three consecutive terms, or portions thereof, with each term lasting two years. Should the city amend its charter removing term limits, while maintaining the requirement that each term shall last for two years?”

Voters will be asked to vote yes or no on that question.

Bradenton Beach is the only city on Anna Maria Island that imposes term limits on its elected officials.

Due to a previously adopted charter amendment regarding commission candidate residency requirements, there was some confusion in 2016 as to whether the city’s term limits had inadvertently been eliminated by the voter-adopted residency amendment. Clarification was then sought from city voters during the 2016 elections and Bradenton Beach voters determined they wanted the existing term limits to remain in effect.

Those election results resulted in commissioners Ed Straight and Jan Vosburgh term-limiting out of office. In 2019, Vosburgh was elected to serve another two-year term and she plans to seek reelection in the fall. Mayor John Chappie’s term also expires in November and he’s expected to seek another term.

During Thursday’s meeting, Chappie said he’s remained silent on term limits, but he has and does fully support eliminating them – in part because there are now fewer full-time residents and fewer potentially interested commission candidates in the city.

Vosburgh said she fully supports eliminating term limits, too. She cited the knowledge experienced commissioners bring to the commission and the learning curve new commissioners must navigate.

Bradenton Beach commission proposes eliminating term limits
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh term-limited out of office and was later elected to serve again. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Commissioner Jake Spooner is serving his third term in office, a term that expires in November. Spooner has run unopposed in all three of his commission races and has not announced whether he will seek reelection, although he has informally expressed interest in serving another term.

Perry also has informally expressed her opinion that Spooner can seek another term because some of his time in office has been served as an at-large commissioner and some has been served as the Ward 1 commissioner. This is due to city voters eliminating and later restoring the city’s four geographically determined commission wards. Perry has not yet provided a formal legal opinion on this matter, nor has the commission directed her to do so.