Incumbents David Zaccagnino and Pat Morton easily won re-election to the Holmes Beach City Commission in the Nov. 8 election, but incumbent Al “Lower Taxes” Robinson, seeking his second term in office, was defeated.
Jean Peelen won her bid for a first-term.
Candidate Andy Sheridan finished fourth in the race of five, ahead of Robinson.
Voters were allowed a choice of three votes among the five on the ballot.
Zaccagnino led all voters with 696 votes, while Morton had 651. Peelen’s 575 votes were enough to gain the third commission seat. Sheridan had 401 votes and Robinson had 326.
Voter turnout was steady, but not particularly heavy said one poll worker at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. In odd-numbered election years, the city uses only one polling location.
Based upon the number of votes cast, Holmes Beach unofficially had about 30 percent of its 3,247 registered voters cast a ballot. About 300 votes were absentee ballots, according to the unofficial results from the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office.
Four people were waiting at 7 a.m. for the polling station to open, including Robert Holway, the first in line, who said he was on his way to work, and Mayor Rich Bohnenberger.
The candidates arrived early, too, with Morton and Peelen arriving first.
The candidates presented their message to arriving voters with signs, T-shirts and conversation, but kept themselves the required 100 feet from the polling station.
Zaccagnino later said the voter turnout was “slow but steady” most of the day, and there was no waiting to vote.
After the results were posted, Zaccagnino thanked his supporters and said there were a number of good candidates.
“I’m thankful for election to my fourth term and grateful for the confidence the voters have in me,” he said.
Morton praised his campaign workers, and those who voted for him to serve a fifth term.
“I won’t let them down,” he said.
Peelen said she owed her victory to listening to quite a few people as she walked around the city during her campaign.
“I’m excited and grateful to be elected. I want to thank everyone who came out and voted, and everyone who voted for me. I’m ready to get to work.”
Sheridan said there were a number of good candidates from which voters could choose. He said he will continue to attend city meetings, provide public input and work on behalf of the city.
Robinson was seeking his second term in office.
A campaign flier that Robinson mailed two weeks ago to voters angered other candidates for implying that commissioners did not know how to make sound economic decisions and for criticizing the police department budget.
His campaign promise to “lower taxes” apparently rang untrue among voters.
Holmes Beach will hold a swearing-in ceremony and organizational meeting of the commission at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21, with the first meeting of the new commission at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22.