In Bradenton Beach, seats held by Commissioners Ralph Cole and Marilyn Maro are up for election in November.
According to the city clerk’s office, Commissioner Ralph Cole will pursue qualifying to retain his seat in the Nov. 8 election.
Maro told The Islander May 19 that she was undecided.
The same ballot will carry the proposed charter changes that could result in the removal of term limits for elected officials in Bradenton Beach — commissioners and mayor — who now are limited to three consecutive two-year terms.
It now is up to the electorate. If voters eliminate term limits, an official on the 2022 ballot who would term out could have another opportunity to stay in office.
While the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections shows Maro as having been elected to the commission twice, she has served as Ward 2 commissioner for three consecutive terms. She was appointed to a two-year term in 2016 and was elected in 2018 and again in 2020.
Cole was first elected in 2015 to the Ward 3 seat, was appointed to a one-year term in 2017, and elected in 2018 and again in 2020 without opposition.
Cole lost his bid for reelection in 2017 but was appointed by the commission to the seat left vacant after then-Commissioner John Chappie was elected mayor.
In an April 26 CRC meeting, city attorney Ricinda Perry described the current language in the charter and how it might impact officeholders.
“Right now, there is the appointment provision that is the law of the charter, but you wouldn’t be able to appoint somebody who doesn’t qualify. You don’t qualify if you’ve termed out. They could not come back onto the dais, even by appointment.”
Perry worked with the CRC on ballot language that would protect Maro and Cole, giving them the ability to retain their seats.
Charter Amendment 4, Section 2. Qualifications of candidates for elective office states: “If approved by the voters on Nov. 8, 2022, the Amendments of Ballot Measure 4 shall become effective as of the date of the second reading of Ordinance 22-542. For purposes of implementing the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of Article III and transitioning to the amended term limits set forth herein, a person holding office, who otherwise would not qualify due to serving as a Commissioner of a Ward for six years may qualify and run for office in the Nov. 8, 2022, General Election.”
If approved by the voters, Amendment 4 would allow a termed-out official to retain office.
If No. 4 is not approved by the voters, the commissioner is not qualified to hold office and the seat will be filled by the highest votegetter among the qualified candidates.
If no other candidates qualified for election to the ward seat, the commission will appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy.
Also, the city clerk is directed to redact the paragraph after the election in order to eliminate confusion in subsequent elections.
Candidates for office must be registered voters and permanently reside in Bradenton Beach for the 12 calendar months prior to the date of qualifying.
Qualifying in Bradenton Beach will be noon, Monday, June 13, to noon Friday, June 17.
To qualify, potential candidates must declare their candidacy via one of three forms of media —newspaper, radio or television and file the required paperwork with the SOE, specifying a campaign account and a treasurer to oversee the account.
Candidates for office also must submit proof of residency and pay 4% of a year’s salary of the office sought.
BB commissioners earn $400 a month.
Bradenton Beach has 672 registered voters.
In the 2021 election, 348 voters cast ballots.
To learn more about candidacy requirements or the election visit the SOE website, at votemanatee.com.