Bradenton Beach voters faced a series of proposed changes to the city charter on the Nov. 2 ballot and gave a nod to them all.

A commission-appointed charter review committee recommended the changes to the document earlier this year and the commission OKd the changes for voter consideration in August.

Each proposed amendment — there were eight — was abbreviated on the ballot to contain a title, question and explanation. And each was approved.

For the most part, the amendments clarified existing provisions in the charter.

The amendments will take effect Jan. 1.

The votes at a glance:

• 396-73. Amendment 1: Amending the duties of the mayor to require an annual state of the city report.

• 281-161. Amendment 2: Amending the provision on forfeiture of office.

The charter is silent on whether a legal proceeding should be initiated or concluded before a forfeiture of office hearing takes place. Voters were asked to change the charter to allow for a forfeiture of office hearing notwithstanding any legal proceedings.

• 370-101. Amendment 3: Amending vacancy requirements.

The charter does not require that a nominee for a public office vacancy live in the ward where the vacancy occurred. Voters were asked to change the charter to require a nominee for a vacancy to live in the ward where the vacancy occurred.

• 361-117. Amendment 4: Amending term-limits provision.

Voters were asked to amend the charter to state that no person may hold the same elected or appointed office for more than three full consecutive terns. The charter already limits people to three terms, but it is unclear whether that includes partial terms.

• 341-115. Amendment 5: Amending the provision on ordinances.

The charter requires the commission to adopt an ordinance to lease, acquire, dispose of or change the use of any city property.

Voters were asked to change that section to refer to “real” property.

• 271-170. Amendment 6: Amending the provision on a voter-initiated repeal of an ordinance.

Voters were asked to remove the current provision that a vote on a repeal must occur within 120 days of the filing of referendum papers, but retain the requirement to place the referendum on a general or special election ballot.

• 314-147. Amendment 7: Amending the provision on maximum building height.

The question was not meant to change the allowable height — 29 feet — but to clarify that the provision includes commercial as well as residential buildings.

• 363-92. Amendment 8: Authorizing the city to make technical changes to the charter.

The last ballot question related to the charter asked voters to authorize city officials to correct capitalization, spelling and other such errors in the document.

To pass, a charter amendment needed a “yes” from a majority of voters.

Bradenton Beach citizens didn’t return or check out any books at Tingley Memorial Library Nov. 2. Instead, they went to Tingley to retain Jan Vosburgh on the Bradenton Beach City Commission.

Vosburgh defeated Michael Harrington in the race for the city’s Ward 4 commission seat, which until June was held by Bob Bartelt, now the city’s mayor. Based on unofficial returns, Vosburgh received 273 votes to Harrington’s 182 in the contest for the two-year term.

When election judges unlocked the door to Tingley, the city’s only polling place, about a dozen people waited to vote.

Vosburgh was among the early voters. She then moved to the 100 block of Gulf Drive North and joined supporters waving signs.

She said, with hesitation, that friends assured her that she would be the day’s winner. “You never know,” she added.

Vosburgh, a former member of the city’s charter review commission, was appointed to fill Bartelt’s seat in June. Within weeks she was in the Nov. 2 race for the seat, facing Michael Harrington, a member of the city’s mooring/anchorage committee.

Vosburgh, a 12th Street South resident who owns an accommodations business on the Island, campaigned with the motto, “Taking action, getting results.”

She emphasized her fiscal conservatism and business acumen as she sought citizen support for her candidacy throughout the city.

“I have an extensive business background,” said Vosburgh. “I have excellent people and management skills. I enjoy problem solving — through listening, utilizing my organizational skills and implementing a plan to resolve.”

In her former home state of Utah, Vosburgh ran a successful furniture store and served as vice president of the Utah Chamber of Commerce — work that helped her earn a Utah Citizen of the Year Award.

Harrington, a resident of Church Avenue, is a retired law enforcement officer and facilities manager.

Like Vosburgh, throughout his campaign Harrington stressed business experience. He also showcased his fiscal restraint with a lower-key campaign in which he refused to accept campaign contributions. His most recent finance report shows $700 in contributions — his own — to Vosburgh’s $2,103.

Harrington campaigned with a promise to be a dedicated representative. He told The Islander, in a candidate Q&A, that citizens should vote for him because “I have the experience for just this type of position and feel that experience is very important in dealing with the issues.”

Harrington, on election day, said he ran the campaign he wanted to run.

“It’s been a fun trip,” he said, adding that he planned to wait out the day — and the results — at home.

Bartelt was unopposed in his race for mayor, also a two-year term, and political newcomer Ed Straight was unopposed in his race for Ward 2 commissioner, the seat held now held by Bob Connors. When Connors decided not to seek re-election, he sought out Straight.

A swearing-in for the newly elected officeholders will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.

For more information on election day results, including the decision on a series of proposed charter amendments in Bradenton Beach, check for updates at www.islander.org and read the Nov. 10 issue of The Islander.

Voters turned out in Holmes Beach to again re-elect incumbents Sandy Haas-Martens and John Monetti to the city commission. First-time candidate Jean Peelen had challenged them for one of two open commission seats. Approximately 2,949 ballots were cast from among the 3,319 registered voters in Holmes Beach.

Based on unofficial returns, Haas-Martens topped the voting at 1,200, Monetti received 1,123 votes to and Peelen’s 626 in the three-way race for a two-year term.

Monetti, a former member of the city’s planning and zoning commission, was first elected to the city commission in 2006. Throughout the campaign, he pointed to his common-sense approach and a belief in serving one’s community as his strengths.

This will be the 15-year Island resident’s third-term serving on the city commission.

Haas-Martens is a retired banker who has remained active in the community. She has served six consecutive term on the commission. She believes her banking background and continued involvement within the community has given her an awareness of the issues that concern Island citizens.

In her first election campaign, Peelen took the time to walk door-to-door and meet fellow residents. The former civil rights attorney for the federal government has been an Island resident for three years and embraced her first opportunity to seek election.

Peelen ran on the desire to bring a new voice to city leadership and to facilitate better collaboration between the three Island cities.

The newly elected city commissioners will be sworn into office at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15, in city hall chambers, 5801 Marina Drive, with an organizational meeting to follow. The next regularly scheduled commission meeting and work session will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23.

Incumbent West Manatee Fire Commissioners Larry Tyler, Seat 3, and John Rigney, Seat 4, handily won their bids to keep their seats on the WMFR district commission board in the Nov. 2 general election. Both were challenged by first-time candidates, Tyler by Michael Carleton and Rigney by Mondher Kobrosly.

Tyler won his seat 5,689 votes to 4,350 for Carleton.

Rigney topped the WMFR voting with 7,213 over Kobrosly’s 3,024.

Scott Ricci who actively campaigned to bring “new blood” to the fire commission challenged for Seat 2, held by incumbent Mike Mulyck. Ricci won the vote 6,017-4,146 for a seat on the fire commission board.

Of the three newcomers challenging the incumbents, Holmes Beach resident Ricci is the only one with previous fire experience. Ricci was a volunteer firefighter for more than 10 years and served as fire commissioner where he previously lived in New Hampshire.

“I’m a fiscal conservative in my business and personal life and can work within a budget,” Ricci said in a Q&A with The Islander. “I’ll be a set of budget-minded fresh eyes on that board. I feel that I have a lot to offer.”

Tyler has served 13 years on the WMFR commission, having held the positions of chair and secretary-treasurer — adding to his fire experience with a city in Wisconsin comparable in size to Bradenton. Tyler believes experience matters and make him worthy of another term as a WMFR commissioner.

For Rigney this will be the fourth term of service on the WMFR commission. Rigney, a certified firefighter-emergency medical technician who was a Longboat Key firefighter for 24 years, says he is comfortable in knowing all aspects of fire service.

Mulyck is an Anna Maria homeowner and has been part of the fire service for 18 years. He has a background in occupational health and safety and has a record of managing public service costs effectively.

The WMFR commission is scheduled to hold its first post-election monthly meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 18, at Station No. 1, 6001 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

Veteran officeholder Carol Whitmore handily won her quest to serve another four-year term on the Manatee County Board of Commissioners.

Whitmore, a Republican and resident of Holmes Beach, defeated Democrat Sundae Lynn Knight, a rookie campaigner, in the Nov. 2 race for the District 6 at-large seat.

The unofficial vote, according to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, was 70,075 for Whitmore, 31,656 for Knight.

Knight’s election night party was at Joyland in Bradenton.

Whitmore’s campaign celebrated at Mattison’s Riverside in downtown Bradenton.

“I am very proud of this campaign,” Whitmore said. “It was very important to address only the issues and the facts. My candidacy was about accomplishments, services and a record of success.”

Whitmore was first elected to the county post in 2006. Prior to that election, she served as Holmes Beach mayor and city commissioner.

The Republican, who was unopposed in the August primary, said her top priorities are encouraging the creation of jobs and bringing more business to the area, especially the port.

“The state of the economy in Manatee County remains first and foremost in my campaign,” Whitmore said. “Just five or six years ago, we had the lowest unemployment rate in the country. We need to decrease the unemployment rate and help current businesses expand as well as attract new companies that offer well paying jobs. “

Knight, an engineer, said she decided to run after learning how many colleagues and friends had lost their jobs in recent years.

For more election coverage, read the Nov. 10 issue of The Islander.