By Tomas Gomez
Islander Reporter
Every vote counts.
That’s especially true in Bradenton Beach, a city with fewer than 750 registered voters where a tied race and an appointment were decided by a draw of cards.
On Nov. 2, voters in the island city will decide their next mayor — choosing between incumbent John Chappie and challenger David Galuszka.
And they’ll also decide whether to amend the city charter to eliminate term limits.
Chappie and Galuszka spoke with The Islander Oct. 20 to make their cases to undecided voters.
Galuszka has lived in Bradenton Beach for two and a half years, but his ties to the island run deeper.
His mother has lived on the island for more than 40 years, his aunt and uncle were business owners and Galuszka enjoyed a brief stay in Holmes Beach when he was 20, before leaving to join the U.S. Air Force.
His military career lasted 20 years — 12 years on active duty and eight years in the reserves, when he also worked for the Federal Aviation Administration.
He retired from the Air Force in 2005 and continued work at the FAA in air traffic control until his retirement in 2019.
“I think we need a new vision. A new voice,” Galuszka told The Islander. “Even though I’ve not been in elected office, there’s a process involved in government and I’ve been involved in those processes during my time in the FAA. A lot of my responsibilities dealt with things similar to what I see here.”
Galuszka lives close enough to walk to city hall. He walks to commission meetings now but hopes after Nov. 2 to take more frequent walks.
The challenger said he’s discontented with Chappie.
“I think when you look where his signs are located, it shows where his alliances are — vacation rentals and businesses. I haven’t performed a scientific poll but I think my signs are more common in residential areas.”
Galuszka’s agenda includes affordable housing, improved trolley signage and improved parking access.
He said he hopes to bring a fresh perspective to city politics.
Chappie, meanwhile, leans into his experience.
He’s been involved in Bradenton Beach government affairs in one manner or another for at least 37 years and he’s lived in the city for 48 years.”
“I’ve lived here my entire adult life and been involved with city government, county government and state government,” Chappie told The Islander Oct 20. “Because of my longevity, working at all levels, I’ve made great friendships and contacts. Not just the officials, I know the staff — I’m comfortable talking to everybody.”
Chappie arrived in Bradenton Beach by happenstance in 1974, when the father of a friend recommended visiting for a year to earn some money.
Chappie came and never left.
“I said to myself, ‘This is it. I don’t care what I have to do. I’ll dig ditches, mow lawns’ — not that that’s a bad thing, because that’s what I did!” Chappie said.
The first laborer at Western Construction, he went from digging ditches to foreperson and eventually branched out to open his own lawn-care business.
This also was when he entered Bradenton Beach politics as a member of the city planning and zoning board.
Chappie was first elected to the commission in 1997, serving until he was elected mayor in 2001. He term-limited as mayor in 2007 and was elected as a county commissioner in 2008. In 2011, he declined to run for the county board and again won a city commission seat. He termed out as commissioner and retook the mayor’s seat in 2017, defeating incumbent Mayor Bill Shearon by 77 votes.
A number of issues form the backbone of Chappie’s campaign but, he said, “The big issue we struggle with is the loss of community.”
He continued, “Since 2007, Tallahassee has attacked our home rule by not allowing us to impose regulations on things like party houses. Just a tad under 10% of our properties are homesteaded. So we struggle to retain what we have and hopefully increase our number of permanent residents. What I can do as mayor is try to improve the quality of life for our residents and lesson the impacts from developers building party houses.”
Chappie said he’s proud of grants acquired during his tenure for city projects, including $10.6 million for infrastructure. He’s worked to fund projects to underground utility lines, dredge a waterway on the south end of the city and remove derelict vessels from the bay.
Charter change proposed for term limits
Also on the ballot is Amendment 1, a ballot question approved by the city commission in a 3-1 vote May 6.
The amendment, if passed by a majority of voters, would eliminate term limits for elected officials.
Currently, elected officials in Bradenton Beach can serve three consecutive two-year terms.
Chappie said he supports the amendment. Galuszka opposes removing term limits.
If reelected, this would be Chappie’s third and final term as mayor if Amendment 1 is rejected.
As of Oct. 18, 303 mail-in ballots were sent out and 107 had been returned to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.
On Election Day, voters will cast ballots at the Bradenton Beach Fire Hall, 201 Second St. N.
Polling is 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
For more information about the election, call the supervisor of elections at 941-741-3823.
About BB Amendment 1
Bradenton Beach voters will cast ballots Nov. 2 to decide a mayoral race and also determine whether to eliminate term limits for elected officials in a vote on Amendment 1.
The ballot question for Amendment 1 reads: “The current city charter provides that no person may hold the same elected office for more than three consecutive terms or portions thereof, with each term lasting two years. Should the city amend its charter removing term limits, while maintaining the requirement that each term shall last for two years?”
The Islander asked both mayoral candidates their opinions on term limits and Amendment 1.
Mayor John Chappie: “I’ve never been a fan of term limits on the local level. Filling positions has been very difficult at times and some cities have resorted to appointments instead of elections. I think the people should decide who represents them.”
Challenger David Galuszka: “I’m against doing away with term limits. It’s a double-edged sword. You can have someone who does a great job or have someone in office for a long time who shouldn’t necessarily be there. It’s best to keep them in effect.”
— Tomas Gomez
