It’s official. Bradenton Beach voters will again have an option to amend their city’s charter.
At their June 2 meeting, commissioners adopted 4-1 two questions concerning public office term limits and candidacy requirements. The questions will be on the Aug. 30 primary ballot.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh voted no.
The commission wants to clarify two 2015 amendments to the city charter that were approved by voters. One was a scrivener’s error, apparently made by city attorney Ricinda Perry that erroneously eliminated term limits.
The second clarification was sought after it was learned the legality of the extended residency requirements for Bradenton Beach candidates had been struck down in another case challenging the 24-month requirement.
Charter amendments normally go through a charter review committee before going before the voters. But Perry told the commission the issues of term limits and residency were two recommendations that already were considered in 2015.
“Since these aren’t two new issues, the city can put them before voters again without going through committee,” Perry said.
In 2015, voters decided 236-116 to increase the residency requirements for candidates from nine months to 24 months.
Resident requirements came into question when the 6th District Court of Appeals ruled a required 24-month residency infringed on a person’s right to travel.
Vosburgh said she believed a person should live in the city for two years before he or she can know Bradenton Beach well enough to help guide it.
The rest of the commission — Commissioners Ralph Cole and Jake Spooner, Vice Mayor Ed Straight and Mayor Bill Shearon — felt it was better for the people to decide the legality of residency.
“What if we try to do 24 months and it’s wrong? Then what do we do?” Cole asked.
Term limits were reviewed by the 2015 CRC, which recommended removal of the three-consecutive term limit for public officials to the city commission, but the commission decided to keep them. The matter did not go on the ballot. However, the commission adopted a charter after the November election that showed the term limits stricken, therefore amending it.
City charter amendments must earn approval from the voters before becoming law.
There’s an apparent rush on getting term limits approved or denied in view of Straight reaching the term limit in November. Currently, according to the commissioners, no one has expressed interest in running for Straight’s seat in the November municipal election.
Straight holds the Ward 2 commission seat and was unopposed in the 2010, 2012 and 2014 city elections.
The qualifying period for elected office will be noon Monday, June 20-noon Friday, June 24.
Vosburgh also will be terming out in November but has said she won’t continue in public office.
William Vincent and John Chappie are candidates for her Ward 4 seat.
Bradenton Beach is divided into four districts or wards. Commission candidates must live within a district to qualify for office, while the vote for each seat is citywide. Mayoral candidates serve citywide.
Ward 2 encompasses the area between 24th Street North to the area surrounding La Costa and Runaway Bay condominiums, in the 1800 block of Gulf Drive North, bounded by the bay and the Gulf of Mexico on the east and west sides.
Ward 4 is the area between First Street North to 13th Street South, also bounded bay to Gulf.
