Anna Maria Commissioner Jo Ann Mattick will return to the commission for her third term following the Nov. 2 general election. No candidates qualified to oppose her.
Mattick was a newcomer to politics when she was elected to a commission seat in 2006. She had run unsuccessfully for a commission seat in the 2005 election. Mattick was re-elected in 2008.
A retired medical records supervisor from a Cincinnati hospital, Mattick and four of her seven children moved to Anna Maria in 2001.

“We had bought property in 1998 and decided it was time to get out of the cold,” she said.

The commissioner formerly owned Tropical Treats on Gulf Drive, and she understands both the residents’ and business owners’ views for the city’s business corridor.

Heading into her third term, Mattick said the main issue for the coming year is to solve the parking problem on Pine Avenue. It’s going to take compromise from everyone involved, including the commission, she believes.

“And I’m willing to compromise,” she said.

Although Mattick said it’s never been documented that a serious traffic safety issue exists on Pine Avenue, she agrees that backing out of a parking space onto Pine Avenue is a safety issue.

Any parking plan has to resolve that problem for the safety of residents and visitors, including pedestrians, cyclists and others who use the sidewalks.

It’s a situation that needs commission compromise and resolution now, she said.

Hopefully, a Pine Avenue parking plan will resolve several of the lawsuits against the city, and halt further legal action, Mattick indicated.

She encouraged residents to read the newspaper and attend commission and planning and zoning board meetings to get the facts on an issue before making a rash decision or judgment.

At the same time, the city has to get the right information about issues to the public.

“We need to do a better job of educating the public about what our comp plan and land-development regulations say and mean, about commission decisions and about upcoming proposals,” she said.

Mattick agreed the city needs to have land-development regulations consistent with the comprehensive plan, and some interpretations of the LDRs need to be explained or re-written in clearer language.

But the commission has made progress on many issues the past two years, including stormwater drainage, lower taxes, maintaining tight budgets and increasing the city’s reserve fund.

Commissioners need to move forward and look at the bright side, she said.

As commission liaison to the City Pier Centennial Committee, Mattick is excited about the May 13-14, 2011, pier centennial celebration.

“This is going to be a great time for the city. I’m very happy with what’s planned. I think it’s going to be great for the residents and businesses,” she said.

Businesses and residents working together can only be good for the city, she said.

While Mattick supports a viable business district for the city, she said the comprehensive plan considers Anna Maria primarily a “residential community.”

The commission has to balance the needs and wishes of the residents, while maintaining a “viable, mixed-use business district,” she said, quoting the comprehensive plan.

Her main goals for the next two years are to resolve Pine Avenue parking and have residents and businesses work together, not against each other. The city’s small business district is a vital element of Anna Maria’s ambiance and needs to be maintained for the benefit of residents and visitors.

At the same time, the rights of residents and property owners have to come first in any consideration, she said.

“I just think we’re going to move forward and have a great year,” Mattick predicted.

Anna Maria Commissioner Chuck Webb is unopposed in the Nov. 2 election and will automatically be returned to office. It will be Webb’s second consecutive term as commissioner and third since 2002.

He served as commissioner from 2002-04, but did not seek re-election due to increasing responsibilities with his law practice.

Webb was born in Orlando and is a retired lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army Reserve. An attorney, he has a law practice on Anna Maria Island that specializes in land-use issues.

He and wife Laura and their two children have lived in Anna Maria since 1998.

Webb has several issues he wants the commission to address in the next two years, not the least of which is reconciling the city’s land-development regulations with the comprehensive plan.

“We have seen how unclear or vague language can lead to conflicts,” he said. “I’ve been saying this since I was elected in 2008, that we need to clarify the LDRs.”

Webb also wants the commission to reach a compromise agreement on Pine Avenue parking.
“The situation has gone on too long. Not everyone is going to get all that they want in any parking plan. We are going to have to compromise.”

Webb also wants more “green space” and “open space” for the Pine Avenue corridor. He’s argued that position at many commission parking sessions and is hopeful commissioners will compromise on that issue when it adopts a parking plan.

With his legal background and experience working with county governments, Webb said he is always on the lookout to protect the city from expensive litigation.

He believes the comp plan determined that the city is primarily a residential community with a viable “mixed-use” business district.

But many people have differing interpretations of what constitutes a “viable” business district, just as some people disagree with the city’s policy on calculating density in the retail-office-residential district.

That policy needs to be clarified by the commission and in simple language for the public to understand, Webb said.

He believes that the comp plan and regulations for the mixed-use district are controlling growth, but without consistency between the comp plan and LDRs the city could still face a developer who might purchase four or five contiguous lots, then submit a site-plan for a condominium or hotel.

Webb does not want to see any more large-scale development projects in the city such as the never-completed Villa Rosa residential project on South Bay Boulevard.

The city is maintaining small-scale growth, he observed, and he does not want to see Pine Avenue overcome with strip malls and parking lots.

And Webb is hopeful there won’t be any more high-rise homes on Pine Avenue. He noted that instead of building two-story over parking single-family homes, developers of recent ROR projects have built structures just two stories in height, below the maximum allowed by law.

Aside from parking and clarifying LDR language for consistency, Webb said the city is in a very good position.

Taxes have not been raised, the city has a master stormwater drainage plan and funding for its construction, and the reserve fund is just under $1 million.

“Believe me, we are in a much better situation than other cities and areas where I’ve worked,” he said.

Ed Straight pondered a bid for Bradenton Beach City Commission for a day.

And then soon learned, when he filed his qualification papers for the office, that the bid was won — without any voting on Nov. 2. Straight, a longtime resident of Bradenton Beach, is unopposed for the Ward 2 city commission seat, which Bob Connors decided to give up.

It was Connors who asked his next-door neighbor to seek the office and Connors who picked up a candidate packet for Straight.

“Bob said he wasn’t going to run again,” Straight, 71, said one recent morning at his Avenue B home. “He asked me on a Tuesday morning. I said, ‘I have to think about it.’ I did. The next day I knew.”

Straight decided to enter the race. He qualified and found there would be no race.

“That’s good,” said Straight, who was born in St. Petersburg, where he worked on an ambulance crew before moving to Bradenton Beach in 1973. “I really didn’t have time to get into a big campaign.”

Straight, though he is retired from a career in public safety, is a busy guy. He is a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reserve officer, a post he’ll be giving up before he takes his commission oath. Also, with wife Gail, he runs Wildlife Inc., an education and rehab clinic, from their one-story home. The rehab work began with the couple’s rescue of a duck in 1986 and now involves thousands of emergency calls a year.

Straight said he’ll rely more on volunteers in the rehab clinic when he begins the routine of attending city meetings and takes on other commission responsibilities.

“We have quite a few volunteers,” said Straight, seated during the interview between two incubators containing about two dozen rescued baby squirrels. A rescued cat named Frankie wandered about.

Years ago, Straight considered running for elected office but he was committed to his work with the Manatee County Public Safety Department, where he ran emergency medical services for two decades.

“I started to run for city council in 1985,” Straight remembered, but the unofficial word from the county was that there might be a conflict of interest so he dropped out of the running.

Now, said Straight, he’s again ready to get involved in civic affairs.

In the next month, he plans to meet with city department heads and talk with the commissioners he’ll be joining at the dais.

“I’ve been going to the meetings,” Straight said. “But before I take office, I want to sit down and talk with each commissioner.… I need to get a feel for the main issues, get acquainted with it all.… I don’t want to micro-manage, but I want to get a good idea of what’s going on.”

Straight said his tenure with the county, where he managed a multi-million dollar budget, helped prepare him for elected office.

“My general philosophy is to be careful with the money and to do quality things,” he said. “I’ve made tough decisions, especially in financial areas.”

Straight’s work in animal rehab also has prepared him for the office, only the constituents he presently responds to promptly, compassionately and considerately can’t vote.

Biography:
RESIDENCY: 2207 Ave. B, Bradenton Beach.
OCCUPATION: Retired, Manatee County Public Safety, 29 years.
OFFICE SOUGHT: Bradenton Beach commissioner, Ward 2.
FAMILY: Wife Gail, two children, grandson.
INTERESTS: Wildlife, law enforcement, fossil hunting.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Manatee County Public Safety, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reserves, wildlife rehabilitation, Keep Manatee Beautiful board of directors.
CAMPAIGN MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS (as of Sept. 15):  $50.
QUOTE TO LIVE BY: “As we are liberated from our fears, our presence automatically liberates others.” — Nelson Mandela
CAMPAIGN MOTTO:  NA

Questions:
Straight unchallenged for commissioner
An Islander Q&A with Ed Straight, who is uncontested in his November bid for city commission in Bradenton Beach.

The Islander: Why did you decide to run for office in November?
Ed Straight: To be more involved in local affairs.

The Islander: What are your qualifications for this office?
ES: I have been in a leadership role in most things that I have been involved in.

The Islander: What are the three top goals/positions in your platform?
ES: Good decision-making. Fiscal responsibility. Communication with those I represent.

The Islander: What is your understanding of Florida’s Sunshine/Public Records laws?
ES: All meetings, decisions and records by government are open to the public.

The Islander: From time to time there is talk of consolidating local governments and/or local services. How do you feel about consolidation?
ES: I don’t think the support is there for consolidating among either the public or the officials.

The Islander: Characterize the direction of the locality. Right track? Off track? Wrong track? Explain.
ES: Right track. We have a community to be proud of.

The Islander: Why should voters cast their ballot for you over your opponent?
ES: NA.

The Islander: What is the most significant issue facing the electorate at this time? How will you handle that issue?
ES: I am still becoming acquainted with the issues at this time.

The Islander: Local governments are beginning a new fiscal year. What is your view of the local budget/tax situation? And how do you approach government finances?
ES: I am aware that all government budgets are at a critical level at this time. There has to be a balance between revenue and the services that are needed or wanted by the taxpayers.

The Islander: Is there a promise you want to make to voters?
ES: I will make decisions for the benefit of those I represent after reviewing all the factors involved.

It was the morning after a Green Bay Packers loss to the Chicago Bears. So there was just reason for Bob Bartelt’s football analogies as he talked Sept. 28 about his appointment to mayor several months ago and his uncontested bid for election to the office in November.

“Did you watch the game?” Bartelt, who was born and raised in Wisconsin, asked before recapping the last minutes of the Packers’ loss.

Being a mayor is sort of like playing quarterback, said Bartelt, 64, who gave up his Ward 4 city commission seat to take charge at city hall when Michael Pierce resigned in early June. The QB leads the play, but needs strong blockers and skilled receivers to reach the goal line.

“I try to understand every position,” Bartelt said. “I’m very big on training and cross-training. It’s helpful for me to understand your job and for you to know my job.… When we can work in harmony, we can be effective.”

In his months as mayor, Bartelt said he’s learned some lessons.

First, he said, “it’s an awful lot easier pulling a rope than trying to push one.”

Second, serving as a small-city mayor “involves a hell of a lot more hours and brings a whole new world of responsibilities.”

The new responsibilities come during a significant year for Bartelt that has included the loss of a family member and, later this month, a marriage to Bradenton Beach resident Kim DuPont.
The couple may take a short honeymoon later this year.

“Kim and I consider ourselves so fortunate to live in this paradise,” Bartelt said. “It’s gorgeous here. So it’s like we’re on vacation every day.”

Although many days Bartelt is dealing with city business. “It’s every weekday,” he said. “It’s four hours, six hours a day, a minimum of four hours, at least to get up to speed on things.”

The mayor is a retired fire lieutenant who worked 33 years with the Milwaukee Fire Department, but, he said, he could never completely retire. “I took a few cruises. About the third day I’m looking for the captain to see if there’s something I can do. I can’t sit around.”

Bartelt is conflicted about a lack of opponent in November.

“With the upcoming wedding and everything, it gives me a big sigh of relief that I don’t have to do a major campaign,” he said.

However, campaigning and winning an election has its rewards. “When I ran for commission, I felt I earned the seat.”

Still, Bartelt said he’s proven himself capable of quarterbacking: “Coming in as I did, you get slammed. There’s a tremendous amount of information to learn. But I am a lot more intimate with city business. I know what’s going on.”

Bartelt’s goals are to follow the city’s vision statement, encourage more citizen involvement and run an efficient government.

“Hunkering down fiscally” is a top priority, he said. “I don’t have a lot of faith in the world or national economies. I don’t think we’ve seen the bottom on the housing market.

Another priority in the coming years will be mitigating potential storm hazards, including repairs to a damaged city seawall and a serious discussion about hardening city hall.

“In October, we’re going to be examining the perimeter of the city and making notes of all the weaknesses, and start prioritizing projects,” Bartelt said.

Key to success on these goals and priorities are team work and team loyalty, Bartelt said.

As for the mayor’s NFL team loyalties, he said he’s “a fan of the bays,” referring to both Green Bay and Tampa Bay.

Biography:
RESIDENCY: 11 years in Bradenton Beach, 10 years as full-time resident; born, raised and careered in Milwaukee.
OCCUPATION: Retired fire lieutenant, Milwaukee Fire Department; retired emergency medical services instructor, Milwaukee Area Technical College.
OFFICE SOUGHT: Bradenton Beach mayor.
FAMILY: Three Children, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren. Engaged to Kim DuPont, with a wedding Oct. 23.
INTERESTS: Family, politics, boating, cooking, playing piano, traveling, accepting new challenges.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: former member ScenicWAVES, former 4th Ward city commissioner, finance officer for USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 81 and Division 8.
CAMPAIGN MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS (as of Sept. 15):  $96.
QUOTE TO LIVE BY: “If God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it!”
CAMPAIGN MOTTO:  “A Balanced Approach!”

Questions:
BB mayor unchallenged in November
An Islander Q&A with Bob Bartelt, who is uncontested in his November bid to remain mayor in Bradenton Beach.

The Islander: Why did you decide to run for office in November?
Bob Bartelt: Because I am the incumbent. I was appointed June 3 of this year and felt qualified to run, based on prior experience as a commissioner.

The Islander: What are your qualifications for this office?
BB: Six years on Scenic Highway, WAVES, 1 1/2 years as commissioner. I have the interest and time to dedicate to the position that it needs.

The Islander: What are the three top goals/positions in your platform?
BB: Maintain our city’s vision statement. Run the city as efficiently as possible. Get people involved, get them motivated and keep them interested.

The Islander: What is your understanding of Florida’s Sunshine/Public Records laws?
BB: No discussions with any commissioner or board member that that you serve with on a board, on any subject or topic that you may be voting on.

The Islander: From time to time there is talk of consolidating local governments and/or local services. How do you feel about consolidation?
BB: A great fiscal idea, but I don’t believe it will ever happen. I believe the three cities’ visions and characters are too diverse for this to happen. Perhaps we could consolidate some services.

The Islander: Characterize the direction of the locality. Right track? Off track? Wrong track? Explain.
BB: I believe we are on the right track that Bradenton Beach has chosen for itself. We are pursuing our vision statement and are developing a balanced community, where both residents and business can grow and thrive, and tourists and guests love to visit.

The Islander: Why should voters cast their ballot for you over your opponent?
BB: I feel I represent a common-sense, well-balanced approach to government. I lead by consensus.

The Islander: What is the most significant issue facing the electorate at this time? How will you handle that issue?
BB: The uncertainty of the national and world economy. Housing foreclosures are at record paces. We need to stay fiscally lean and fit and run our city as efficiently as possible, but still take care of business — providing great city services, making improvements and being responsive to the community’s needs.

The Islander: Local governments are beginning a new fiscal year. What is your view of the local budget/tax situation? And how do you approach government finances?
BB: Cut out unnecessary and duplication of services. Get staff to work in harmony, as efficiently as possible. Review policies from time to time. Look for a best-practices approach.

The Islander: Is there a promise you want to make to voters?
BB: That I will serve as I have, to the best of my ability, and continue to maintain the charm and vision of our city.

Holmes Beach Mayor Rich Bohnenberger is glad he’s uncontested in the Nov. 2 election.

It is making his day-to-day job much easier.

“I can focus all energies on particular issues,” Bohnenberger said. “This time it’s on the budget and outlining our plans for the future. And I won’t have to be concerned about running for office.”

Bohnenberger, 70, has lived in Holmes Beach 20 years. He was elected to the city commission in 1993 and resigned in 1994 to run for mayor. He was mayor from 1994-96 and returned to the commission from 1999-2006.

He has served as mayor since 2006, and November begins his fourth term as mayor.

Bohnenberger said there are a lot of projects he hopes the will accomplish, including upgrading the infrastructure of storm-water management systems. “By doing that it improves our quality of life,” he said.

The city’s public works building will be demolished and rebuilt.

The walking trails, sidewalks and parks systems also will be expanded before Bohnenberger possibly runs for re-election again in 2012. “In particular, there will be a series of walkways and trails from just south of Reigons linear park, behind Regions Bank,” Bohnenberger said.

Bohnenberger said he would like to serve as mayor for a fifth term.

“Basically, I like what I do and I’ve been encouraged by many citizens to stay here and offer my services again,” he said. Apparently, citizens are satisfied, he said, “because I have no challenger.”

Bohnenberger said his experience and formal training, which includes the Florida Certified Public Management Training Program and various Florida League of Cities programs, are his strengths and help to make him an effective mayor.

“And I have a good rapport with our staff,” he said. “We have excellent employees.”

Until the next election in which he might compete, Bohnenberger will enjoy the extra time that comes with being uncontested.

Biography:
RESIDENCY: 20 years, Holmes Beach.
OCCUPATION: Retired.
OFFICE SOUGHT: Holmes Beach mayor.
FAMILY: Wife Phyllis, four children, 10 grandchildren.
INTERESTS: Fishing, travel, nature.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Anna Maria Island Kiwanis Club.
CAMPAIGN MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS (as of Sept. 15): None.
QUOTE TO LIVE BY: “He who governs least governs best.” — Thomas Jefferson
CAMPAIGN MOTTO: None.

Questions:
Bohnenberger to serve another term
An Islander Q&A with Holmes Beach Mayor Rich Bohnenberger, who is unopposed in his bid to serve another two-year term.

The Islander: Why did you decide to run for office in November?
Rich Bohnenberger: I love what I do and was encouraged by many to offer my services.

The Islander: What are your qualifications for this office?
RB: Broad-based experience and formal training, including the Florida Certified Public Management program, as well as the Florida League of Cities training for municipal elected officials at levels I and II.

The Islander: What are the three top goals/positions in your platform?
RB: One, to continue to work on improving our stormwater management system, to comply with federal regulations and improve our quality of life.
Two, to upgrade our city infrastructure, walking trails, sidewalks and our park system.
Three, to implement measures to improve our community rating regarding lower flood-insurance premiums. 

The Islander: What is your understanding of Florida’s Sunshine/Public Records laws?
RB: Excellent.

The Islander: From time to time there is talk of consolidating local governments and/or local services. How do you feel about consolidation?
RB: No, consolidation would be an added expense to the Holmes Beach taxpayers.

The Islander: Characterize the direction of the locality. Right track? Off track? Wrong track? Explain.
RB: Holmes Beach is on the right track. We have effective long-term planning, a professional management team and a city commission that has the best interest of our city at heart.

The Islander: Why should voters cast their ballot for you over your opponent?
RB: NA.

The Islander: What is the most significant issue facing the electorate at this time? How will you handle that issue?
RB: The most serious issues always come in the form of unfunded mandates from the state Legislature or the U.S. Congress. It is important that local government officials stay informed and let their concerns be known to members of our state and federal elected officials. In these economic times, it is extremely important to stop the state and the federal government for spending our local tax dollars.

The Islander: Local governments are beginning a new fiscal year. What is your view of the local budget/tax situation? And how do you approach government finances?
RB: For the first time in the history of the city of Holmes Beach our citizens have enjoyed three years back to back with no tax increase. This was accomplished without reducing services or drawing down our emergency reserves. We have a prudent management team and loyal employees that will forgo salary increases this year. We also have many citizens that donate their time and money to improve our city with service on committees and volunteer to maintain park areas and traffic medians.

The Islander: Is there a promise you want to make to voters?
RB: Cost-effective services while protecting and improving our quality of life.