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.