Saying she wants to continue to move the city forward, Bradenton Beach Commissioner Janie Robertson filed April 8 to seek re-election Nov. 3.
“I’m very enthusiastic about all of the progress that this commission has made,” Robertson said in an April 19 phone interview. “I hope to keep the momentum rolling.”
Meanwhile, the May 19 recall election of Mayor Bill Shearon is proceeding with Vice Mayor Jack Clarke challenging for his seat if Shearon is recalled.
Robertson says she wants to serve another term in office regardless of who serves as mayor, though she would prefer to work with Shearon “who has history and experience and knows what he’s doing. We don’t know what Jack Clarke’s plan is.”
The current commission, including Robertson, Clarke and Shearon, along with Ed Straight and Jan Vosburgh, has “gotten so much action in the past year, when things have been dormant for so long.”
For instance, she said, this commission made progress establishing John R. Chappie Gulfside Park, addressed problems with stormwater and completed the renovation of the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
Importantly, Robertson said, the city has made significant progress updating its land development code. Commissioners were scheduled to hold a workshop on the LDC Tuesday, April 21, as The Islander went to press.
The city’s planning and zoning board has been refining that document, along with planner Alan Garrett and building official Steve Gilbert.
“We’ve been working on that for five or six years,” she said. “This is the first time we have had anything to look at.”
Robertson added she is looking forward to gleaning ideas from the recent Urban Land Institute study of Anna Maria Island. She is particularly intrigued by the fact that no island cities charge impact fees for new construction. That suggestion by the ULI committee was very important, she said.
Robertson represents Ward 3. Candidates for her seat must reside in Ward 3, although voting for commission seats is citywide. There currently are no other candidates for her seat.
Robertson said she was unopposed when she first ran for commission in 2005. She also ran unopposed in 2007 and 2009. After sitting out two years due to term limits, she ran again in 2013 and defeated Ric Gatehouse.
Gatehouse, who died in 2014, had been appointed by the commission to serve as Ward 3 commissioner in 2011 after no one stepped up to run on the ballot, she said.
Robertson said she does not foresee many challenges for the city if Shearon remains in office.
“He’s got a really good handle on city government, the projects,” she said. “He’s been around a long time. He knows how to move forward.”
Robertson said she will complete the qualification process as soon as the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office has paperwork ready for her.
Shearon, a former commissioner, was first elected as mayor in November 2013. Shearon also has announced he will run for re-election in November.