By Laura Fletcher
Islander Reporter
It’s official.
Chappie
When the qualifying period for Bradenton Beach’s 2021 election ended Aug. 27, the mayoral race began.
Incumbent John Chappie will face challenger David Galuszka in the Nov. 2 citywide election.
Meanwhile, two incumbent commissioners — Jan Vosburgh and Jacob Spooner — qualified and, facing no opposition, are automatically returned to the dais for two-year terms.
Chappie has served both the county and city board for much of his 40-year residency in Bradenton Beach.
He is seeking his third term in office on this round as mayor. If reelected, he will term out as mayor in 2023.
Chappie was first elected to the Bradenton Beach City Commission in 1997, serving until he was elected mayor in 2001.
He was term-limited as mayor in 2007 and was elected to the county commission in 2008.
In 2011, he resigned from the county commission and again won a seat on the city commission. He was then termed-out as commissioner and retook the mayor’s seat in 2017.
Chappie made plans to talk to The Islander in the coming week about his bid to keep his seat as mayor.
Galuszka served with the U.S. Air Force for 20 years before moving to Bradenton Beach in 2019.
Galuszka
“I have been a public servant for most of my adult life. Knowing I could be a part of improving the quality of life and making our city a great place to live is motivating,” Galuszka told The Islander in an email Aug. 26.
He said the budget, parking, infrastructure, traffic and permits are among his concerns.
“My long-term goal is to ensure our city government does the best in it can for our visitors, businesses and, most important, our citizens to make Bradenton Beach the star of the island,” he said.
Galuszka said one of his biggest challenges is his opponent.
“He has a respectable background and years of experience in an elected office,” Galuszka said. “But, as I previously said, he had a first time, too.”
Vosburgh takes another term
Vosburgh represents Ward 3 on the city commission.
The boundaries east and west include Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and heading south from Fourth Street North to 10th Street South.
Vosburgh has served as a commissioner for nearly nine years. She termed out and then ran again for the office four years later.
“I am very patriotic and feel we all need to do our share as citizens of America,” Vosburgh said in an Aug. 25 email to The Islander.
Vosburgh said of importance to her are watching spending and keeping taxes low.
“Our permanent residences are shrinking every year. What we need is to do everything possible to encourage families, individuals and, of course, retirees to make our community their permanent homes,” she said.
Spooner retains Ward 1
Spooner represents Ward 1, which is bordered by the Gulf and bay from Sixth Street North south to 25th Street, where it cuts south between Avenue C and Sarasota Bay to 23rd Street North.
Spooner first was elected commissioner in 2015.
He agreed to an interview with The Islander for the Sept. 8 issue.
There were 715 registered voters in Bradenton Beach as of Aug. 4.
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 2 election is Monday, Oct. 4.