It was a sunny morning in Bradenton Beach Aug. 30 as voters took to the polls for the statewide Florida primary.
“It’s our duty to vote and, if we don’t put ourselves out there, it’s like we are saying anything is fine,” said resident and city commission candidate John Chappie Aug. 30. “This is especially important at the local level.”
In Bradenton Beach, residents were polled on whether charter measures addressing elected office term limits and residency requirements for city commission candidates should be amended.
Charter Amendment No. 1dealt with the residency period required to hold public office. Candidates for elective office in the city of Bradenton Beach must reside in the city for 24 months immediately prior to the date of qualifying.
Approval of the charter amendment would have reduced the residency requirement to nine months, following the state’s requirement for elected office.
The vote was 116 “yes” and 165 “no.”
The measure failed and candidates in Bradenton Beach will need to maintain the two-year residency requirement to qualify for the ballot.
In a pre-election interview Aug. 23, Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said she supported the 24-month residency requirement. She said it takes more than nine months to get a sense of community in Bradenton Beach.
Charter Amendment No. 2 asked if the city should amend its current charter to remove term limits?
The vote was 69 “yes” and 213 “no.”
Term limits remain, limiting commissioners and the mayor to three consecutive two-year terms.
“I’m for term limits,” said Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon Aug 23, before the primary vote. “It’s good to get new blood in office.”
The vote leaves the city without a candidate for Ward 2, where Commissioner Ed Straight, who will complete his third term in November, was set to run for a fourth term — but only if the amendment succeeded to remove term limits. He was the only candidate to qualify.
He declined comment on the Aug. 30 outcome.
But Straight will be disqualified and the new commission after the Nov. 8 election will select and appoint a qualified candidate from Ward 2 to the vacant seat.
There were 117 ballots cast at precinct No. 307, the Bradenton Beach Fire Hall at 201 Second St. N.
The total votes cast, 282, included early voting, 5, and mail-in ballots, 160.
Of 747 registered voters in Bradenton Beach, 333 are registered Republicans, 218 are registered Democrats, 176 have no party affiliation, and 20 voters are registered with other parties.
For precinct results from Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, and how they compare to results in county, district and state races, results are available at www.votemanatee.com.
Voter registration for the federal general election Nov. 8 must be postmarked by Oct. 11.