It’s highly possible and probable that by the time the polls open Nov. 4, many of us already will have cast our votes.
I don’t know about you, but the negative mailers piling up on the corner of my desk and the plethora of TV ads inundating my living room drove me to want to have my say and have it done.
I long ago signed up for an absentee ballot to free up my time on Election Day.
Early voting, whether by absentee or mail-in ballots, or a trip off-island to one of the four available early voting locations, is changing the face of campaigning.
We don’t just vote on Election Day, we can vote over the course of a month in advance of the polls opening.
With that said, we offer our choices for your consideration.
In Anna Maria there is a choice on the ballot for mayor among a newcomer and the incumbent and three candidates for commissioner, two incumbents and a newcomer.
There’s no more “low-key” campaigning than this year’s two races in Anna Maria.
In fact, incumbent candidate Chuck Webb showed up at our Popcorn & Politics event, asking what the format would be. Although he’s been elected and re-elected, he had never attended.
Therein may lie the problem. There’s a disconnect between Webb and the citizens he serves. He adjudicates, but he seldom talks to the press or constituents.
Nancy Yetter is seeking a second term and there’s very little initiative to her two years on the commission.
But she’s a good listener and follower.
And there’s David Bouchard. We know little of his political views, but he offers new insight and he might be the voice of compromise.
We recommend a vote for Bouchard and Yetter.
For mayor, we have old school vs. new direction. Dan Murphy promises decisive leadership, better communications and solid planning for the future.
SueLynn wants to bring back the past and her peers, who apparently are flocking off the island. She remains opposed to vacation rentals, although lacking complaints about so-called “party houses.” She seeks tourism-generated dollars for city infrastructure in spite of laws that prohibit that use, and fails to recognize that tourism spending and new homes are paying their way. And, while she works on plans to initiate paid public parking, she’s managed to turn a public service position into a full-time job.
We recommend Dan Murphy for mayor.
In Bradenton Beach, the choice is made tougher by the fact that Tjet Martin, the Ward 4 challenger to Jan Vosburgh’s seat on the commission, is the life partner of the mayor. They could possibly be a good team, as the mayor is reliant on Martin for his “eyes” almost everywhere but city hall.
Martin also is a party to a lawsuit against the city to halt construction of a parking lot on the renourished beach owned by the BeacHhouse Restaurant. Further conflict exists among the large quantity of email communications and public records Martin has uncovered, some of which appear to entrap Vosburgh, Commissioner Jack Clarke and city attorney Ricinda Perry in possible violations of Florida’s Sunshine Laws.
Martin is tenacious — and she’s ready to tackle the job full on, while Vosburgh is tangled in the misguided, ongoing plot to remove the mayor from office.
Sadly, as well liked as Vosburgh may be in the business community, her efforts to curb spending have been fruitless, she’s proven to be manipulative and she brings little to no initiative to the dais.
We recommend Tjet Martin for commissioner.
Onward to Holmes Beach and a race for the mayor’s seat and three hopefuls for two seats on the commission.
With Carmel Monti leaving his troubles behind as a one-term mayor, we see David Zaccagnino’s plan to step up to the plate as honorable, forfeiting the remaining year of his commission term.
He saw the need for a fair-handed administration and top-level leadership, and he stepped up early on to fill the He is experienced in city affairs, fiscally responsible and, above all, fair in his dealings with staff, citizens and the media.
His challenger, Bob Johnson, is new to the political scene and city government. He’s a popular candidate with strong credentials and leadership experience. However, his experience with city government is limited to two committees, one he quit early on, and the charter committee, which produced an abundance of meetings and suggested charter changes.
It comes down to two nice guys, but we’re going to go with the proven commodity and nine years of governing experience.
We recommend a vote for David Zaccagnino to get us past the current abuses.
For commissioner, we have challenger Andy Sheridan in the race with one-term incumbents Marvin Grossman and Judy Titsworth.
We like Grossman’s insights, right-brain thinking and thorough knowledge of the charter and the comprehensive plan. He’s proven he is capable of compromise and tough decisions.
Titsworth has railed on the building department’s problems and improving oversight there, although some of the changes— including the recommendation of a building official — haven’t all proven beneficial. Instead of two homes on one duplex lot, we now have her to thank for “party walls” in mega-size duplexes.
We think Sheridan will be a better team player and a strong advocate for Zaccagnino. He’s been attending meetings for more years than the two incumbents and, for those reasons, we recommend a vote for Grossman and Sheridan.
Overall, in all three cities, we remain opposed to the folly of paid parking — a proposition that more often comes with higher costs than benefits.We’re opposed to limiting parking on island streets, tolls and gated communities, and stripping the environment for development.
And we’re adamantly opposed to any attempt without cause by one official to remove another duly elected official from office.
We’ve fielded some questions the past few weeks about the proposed charter amendments on the ballot — 18 questions in all.
And so, to be short and simple, we say vote “yes” to the amendments that seek to update language in the charter. We are opposed to hiring another charter position — that of a human resources specialist — especially unless and until we get a much-needed city manager to oversee what has become a $9.7 million budget.
We find the amendments seeking to reinforce building heights and maximum building units redundant. An amendment to hold a special election if no one runs for mayor worthwhile. And we approve the amendment for the voter initiative (petition) process.
It’s all pretty simple, so take your time in the voting booth and read each one.
Last but not least, we have a vote on our countywide commission seat and a choice between the incumbent, Carol Whitmore, and challenger Terri Wonder.
This is a tough decision for many islanders, as Whitmore calls Anna Maria Island home. She’s a caring, compassionate caregiver, a nurse at heart and by profession.
But Terri Wonder has promise. She’s hyper-intelligent and highly capable of the job. She’s ready to stand up to developers, while some political insiders call Whitmore a “developer’s darling.”
She wrongly claimed to have the support of some of the old-guard in Cortez, and that really comes down to the battle to protect the fishing grounds in Sarasota Bay.
Her push to enact no-kill policies at the county animal shelter was a scam. It never happened.
And now we learn her campaign account is tied to a fundraising arm of the shelter through a not-for-profit. And that’s just wrong.
It seems she can’t please everyone, and no one is pleased with stale idealism.
We recommend a fresh start and a new, strong advocate for the environment and future growth planning. Please, consider a vote for Wonder. With those values in mind, vote early and wisely.
Bonner Joy
Editor’s note: The Islander deadline for candidate endorsement rebuttals and letters to the editor regarding the Nov. 4 election has passed. No further election comments will be accepted for the print edition of The Islander. Comments may be submitted at www.islander.org.