Two former commissioners and one newcomer are challenging two incumbents for three Holmes Beach City Commission seats Nov. 2.
Commission Chair Jim Kihm, announced Aug. 27, the last day of candidate qualifying, that he would not seek reelection to a third term due to undisclosed personal reasons.
While people can attend city meetings to see the incumbents, Commissioners Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek at work, they can’t do the same for the challengers.
The Islander asked the challengers — Renee Ferguson and former Commissioners John Monetti and Pat Morton — to introduce themselves in separate interviews Sept. 3 to discuss what they can bring to the city, their goals and positions on current issues.
Here, in alpha order, are the introductions:
Renee Ferguson, an 11-year resident of Holmes Beach and a political newcomer, said she hopes to become more involved in the community after selling her summer home in Pennsylvania and becoming a full-time island resident.
“I felt that, if I wanted to have a voice, I needed to step up,” Ferguson said. “So that’s why I decided to throw my hat in the ring. …I think we need a new voice, new ideas and new energy on the commission.”
She said some of her main goals would be to prioritize infrastructure repair and improvements, better cooperate with Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach officials and lower property taxes.
Ferguson said that she’s “totally behind” the parking-by-permit system the city implemented on certain residential roads last year and wouldn’t recommend any changes for beach parking.
“I am so proud of our mayor and chief for formulating a lot of the ideas that were suggested by the past parking and traffic congestion committee,” she said. “I believe in residents first.”
John Monetti, a 16-year resident of Holmes Beach, said he wants to bring his “common sense” approach back to the commission.
Monetti began serving on the city’s planning commission in 2002, where he spent four years before running a successful campaign for a city commission seat in 2006.
He served on the city commission for six years before losing in the 2012 election.
He said that, after about 27 years working as general manager of the Columbia Restaurant on St. Armand’s Circle in Sarasota, he had taken a break from employment to spend time with his family and community.
Monetti did a short stint at the Chateau Anna Maria, a Holmes Beach restaurant, before stepping back.
“Since I already had such a background of involvement directly with the city of Holmes Beach, I thought that I might try again,” Monetti said. “Perhaps I could offer something to the city if the citizens want me to.”
About the city’s continuing pleas to the state Legislature to maintain municipal home rule over vacation rental regulation, Monetti said, “Some things are better guided by the state” but he declined to offer further explanation.
He also said the city’s parking-by-permit system had inconvenienced many residents who cannot walk to the beach, stating that he was “open to looking” at potential changes to the system.
“That’s a struggle on many angles,” he said.
Pat Morton has resided 27 years in Holmes Beach and was commissioner 17 years. He said he is running due to concerns he has with the politics in the city.
“There are people out here that want to ruin the island. …And I’m not going to stand by and watch it go because I worked too hard for 17 years to get what we have,” Morton said. “They want to change a lot of things that don’t need to be changed.”
“We’ve got good law enforcement and city staff. …And I have a feeling that something is going to happen if certain people get in there.”
He declined to explain, but added, “I took them a little too lightly last year,” but he said he wasn’t going to sit idle again.
Morton was first elected to the commission in 2003 and served until 2020, when then-newcomer Jayne Christenson and incumbent Kim Rash, seeking a second two-year term, beat him at the polls.
The four-way race for two seats went to the two highest vote-getters — 991 voted for Rash, 875 for Christenson, 856 for challenger Rick Hurst and 728 voted to reelect Morton.
Regarding policy, Morton said he would continue to be a staunch supporter of municipal home rule over vacation rental regulation if elected.
He added that he believes the city’s permit-parking system is “perfect” and would not require changes.
Morton said he hoped to retake a commission seat and resume his relationships and representation.
“I always put the citizens and city ahead of myself,” he said. “This has been my heart.”
There were 2,768 registered voters in Holmes Beach as of Sept. 3, according to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections.