If a recall election is held for Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon, the ballot likely will ask: Shall William Shearon be removed from the office of mayor by recall?
But the ballot also will ask voters to elect a candidate to complete the unexpired term, if Shearon is recalled.
Shearon said he intends to be a candidate. He also plans to run for mayor in November, whether he is recalled or not. He currently is in the second year of his first two-year term.
“One way or another, whether I am recalled or forfeited, or whatever, I will be running in November,” he said.
After receiving Shearon’s written rebuttal to the recall petition, the city clerk was to prepare a “Recall Petition and Defense,” consisting of the recall petition, the rebuttal and lines for voter signatures.
The recall committee will then have 60 days to obtain more signatures.
Shearon said he urges residents to not sign the second petition and for them to re-elect him Nov. 3. He has copies of the 109 signed petitions from the first phase of the recall process and plans to send each person a letter stating his position “so they will be informed” when asked to sign the second petition, he said.
Former Commissioner Peter Barreda formed the recall committee in December. He said efforts to secure the “second wave” of petition signatures began Feb. 6.
“We’ll be out and about,” he said. “People will see us.”