In true Anna Maria Island style, The Islander held its annual Popcorn and Politics candidates’ forum under a banyan tree in Holmes Beach as the sun sank into the Gulf of Mexico.
There are four candidates for three seats up for grabs in the Nov. 5 municipal election.
Holmes Beach commission candidates Rick Hurst, Jim Kihm, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek spoke Oct. 11 at the Arbor, 5312 Holmes Blvd.
The Islander publisher Bonner Joy moderated the event at the arbor adjacent to the Doctor’s Office, where owner Sean Murphy, welcomed a crowd of about 40 people. Both spoke about democracy, good government, the importance of voting and island life.
Murphy also addressed his participation on the city’s charter review committee.
Rick Hurst
Incumbent Rick Hurst, the first candidate to speak, said he ran in 2017 for two reasons.
“At that time, I felt our community was a bit broken,” Hurst said, adding that the divide between residents and visitors appeared to be a problem that he could help fix.
He also said he retired at a young age, had free time, and decided to give back to the community.
Hurst, who is father to a 12-year-old daughter, owner of the Freckled Fin Irish Pub and lives on Key Royale, said the commission has accomplished much in the two years he has served, including establishing an ordinance limiting formula businesses and additions to the vacation rental program.
“The reason I think you should elect me is because I do a really, really good job of looking at the entire picture,” Hurst said. “I don’t have an agenda. I want to make sure every decision we make is the right decision for the city.”
Jim Kihm
Jim Kihm, who serves as commission chair and is nearing the end of his first term, said if re-elected he will work to improve the quality of life in the city.
“It’s important that we keep our city safe and secure for not only our residents, but people that come to visit,” Kihm said.
He added that the city must press Manatee County and the state to help deal with impacts due to tourism.
Kihm said it is important that the commission acts responsibly with tax dollars and, if re-elected, he would continue to provide oversight on the city budget.
He also said protecting home rule — the city’s right to regulate itself — is imperative. Currently, Kihm serves as the commission’s legislative liaison and as vice president of the ManaSota League of Cities, as well as the city’s representative to the Florida League of Cities.
Terry Schaefer
Terry Schaefer, the only political newcomer among the four candidates, has been a full-time island resident for 13 years but began visiting the island 23 years ago.
He said, since moving to the island, he and wife Vicky “have always felt that Holmes Beach has a distinct character of its own.”
Schaefer served in 2017-18 on an ad hoc committee that investigated the pros and cons of different forms of government as related to Holmes Beach. The experience sparked his interest in public service.
“It gave me an opportunity to better understand, not just the forms of government, but our government,” he said, referring to Holmes Beach.
Schaefer said his 35 years in the banking business, including banking for a city of 43,000 people, gave him insight into municipal finance, which would help with the city budget.
“I can tell you I listen first before I act,” he said. “I expect to be involved with overseeing our budget and audit, and certainly look forward to the challenges that serving on our great commission involves.”
Carol Soustek
“This little strip of land has a lot of issues,” said incumbent Carol Soustek, running for a second term on the commission. She was appointed to a partial term in 2014 and elected to a full term in 2017. “We try very hard, to address them as well as we can.”
She said she is most concerned with sea level rise, as well as the greed of developers, those who might not have the city’s best interests at stake.
She also said she is worried people might be apathetic about voting due to “so much discussion of politics over the past 2-3 years.”
“They might be up to the hilt listening to anybody talking about politics,” she said. “But you must care because this little city needs everyone to pay attention.”
Soustek said, if elected, she will work to have videos of city commission meetings available on the internet, “So you don’t have to come to city hall, city hall will come to you.”
She said if more people attended meetings, they would have a better understanding of the issues facing the city.
“It takes a lot of work being a commissioner,” Soustek said. “But I enjoy it.”
Holmes Beach voters will cast their ballots 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive.
Mail and absentee ballots went out the week of Oct. 1.