Campaign signs are springing up around Holmes Beach in advance of the Nov. 2 election.
Meanwhile, the five candidates running for three city commission seats have filed financial reports detailing campaign contributions and expenditures through Sept. 10.
The candidates include incumbent Commissioners Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek, former Commissioners Pat Morton and John Monetti, as well as political newcomer Renee Ferguson.
Commission Chair Jim Kihm, whose seat is one of three up for grabs this year, announced in August he would not seek reelection despite previously stating he would run.
Kihm, who said he had personal reasons for not running, was one of three current commissioners to donate to Ferguson, the leader in campaign contributions among the five candidates.
An 11-year resident, Ferguson received $2,500, including $100 from Kihm, $300 from Commissioner Kim Rash and wife Theresa and $200 from Commissioner Jayne Christenson and husband Joe, according to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections’ website, votemanatee.com.
Other contributors include Margaret Patall, Steven Clark, Mark Kennedy, Mary and Sean Muniz, Marjorie and Richard Motzer, Richard Brown and Melissa Rash.
Ferguson also received $23 as an in-kind contribution from Anna Maria Commissioner Carol Carter.
Ferguson recorded $1,650.02 in expenditures, including more than $800 for campaign signs, $311.37 for T-shirts and $89.65 for a “campaign/strategy/lunch.”
She has not served in an elected capacity but has attended past city meetings.
Soustek’s campaign has the next largest contribution total with $1,600, including $1,500 from herself and $100 from Mayor Judy Titsworth.
She recorded $577.76 in expenditures, including $500.86 for campaign signs and $76.90 for filing fees.
Soustek, who serves as the commission’s vice chair, was appointed in 2014 to complete the unexpired term of former Commissioner David Zaccagnino.
She was reelected to her first full two-year term in November 2015 and was reelected in 2017 and 2019.
Morton, a 27-year resident of the city who spent 17 years on the commission, raised $900 in contributions, including $500 from himself, $200 from Mike Norman and $100 from Titsworth and her husband, Steven.
He also received contributions from Lynne Budcinsk and Unike Kendall.
The expenditure reported for his campaign was a $76.90 charge for filing fees.
Morton was first elected to the commission in 2003 and served until he lost the vote in 2020.
Schaefer, elected to a two-year term on the commission in November 2019, had $500 in his campaign account from himself as of Sept. 10.
His only recorded expense was $76.90 for filing fees.
He serves as the commission’s liaison to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, the Center of Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria Elementary School and the city police pension board.
Monetti’s campaign has received $200, including $100 from himself and $100 from Sandra Haas-Martens, a former commissioner.
A $76.90 charge for filing fees was the only expenditure reported by Monetti, who has lived in the city for 16 years and prior to being elected commissioner, served on the planning commission.
There were 2,768 registered voters in Holmes Beach as of Sept. 23, according to the SEO.
Voting began Sept. 24, as mail-in voting ballots were sent to applicants.
Mail-in ballots can be requested via phone at 941-741-3823 or online at votemanatee.com.
For more on donors and spending by the candidates, go to Holmes Beach election online at islander.org.
Breaking down HB commission candidates’ finances…
Renee Ferguson
Contributions: $2,500
- $500 from both herself and Margaret Patall
- $300 from Kim and Theresa Rash and also from Steven G. Clark
- $200 from Jayne and Joe Christenson
- $150 from Mark Kennedy
- $100 from Jim Kihm
- $100 contributions from Mary and Sean Muniz, Marjorie Motzer, $100 from Richard Motzer and Richard Brown
- $50 from Melissa Rash
In-kind: $23
- $23 from Carol Carter
Expenditures: $1,650.02
- $860.12 for campaign signs
- $311.98 for rack cards
- $311.37 for campaign T-shirts
- $89.65 for “campaign/strategy/lunch”
- $76.90 for filing fees
- $23.20 for stamps
John Monetti
Contributions: $200
- $100 from himself and also Sandra Haas-Martens
In-kind: $0
Expenditures: $76.90
- $76.90 for filing fees
Pat Morton
Contributions: $900
- $500 from himself
- $200 from Mike Norman
- $100 from Steven and Judy Titsworth
- $50 from both Lynne Budcinsk and Unike Kendall
In-kind: $0
Expenditures: $76.90
- $76.90 for filing fees
Terry Schaefer
Contributions: $500
- $500 from himself
In-kind: $0
Expenditures: $76.90
- $76.90 for filing fees
Carol Soustek
Contributions: $1,600
- $1,000 from herself
- $500 from herself
- $100 from Judy Titsworth
In-kind: $0
Expenditures: $577.76
- $500.86 for campaign signs
- $76.90 for filing fees
— Information courtesy votemanatee.com.