Lacking competition, Anna Maria has filled several empty city commission seats with appointments over the past half-decade.
Even those selected through the process thought it could be improved.
City commissioners unanimously voted Dec. 15 to approve a proposal from Mayor Dan Murphy to revise the appointment process before the selection of former Commissioner Carol Carter’s successor.
Carter and her husband, Bob, bought their home in Anna Maria in 2001 and became full-time residents in 2006. She was elected to the commission in 2013 and served as chair from 2019.
Carter alerted friends and city commissioners in August that she was planning to move to Sarasota County and submitted a letter of resignation to the mayor in November.
Murphy presented a key to the city and plaque recognizing Carter’s service at the Dec. 15 meeting — her last before moving.
Carter’s term would have expired in November 2023.
Previously, the commission appointed new members to fill vacant seats by voting on applicants following introductions and five-minute speeches at a city meeting.
The city’s last appointment was in 2021, when commissioners unanimously selected Robert Kingan to fill Doug Copeland’s seat on the board.
However, Murphy said he wanted to make the process more inclusive by accepting questions and discussion topics from the public for candidates to address at a public meeting ahead of a vote.
His new schedule for the process includes:
- Ongoing: solicit and begin acceptance of candidates for commission vacancy, as well as questions and/or discussion topics for candidates to address;
- Jan. 1, 2023: deadline for submission of questions and discussion topics;
- Jan. 16, 2023: deadline to apply for vacant commission seat;
- Jan. 17, 2023: provide candidates, commissioners and press with summary of questions and discussion topics;
- Jan. 23, 2023: hold public meeting for candidate presentations and to address questions and topics;
- Jan. 26, 2023: city commissioners vote to fill vacant seat.
Murphy said candidates would be given time to address questions and topics compiled before the Jan. 23 meeting from the dais while commissioners and the general public listen from the gallery.
His proposal specifies that if there is a tie on the first ballot, a second vote will be taken.
If there is a tie on the second ballot, there will be a drawing from a deck of playing cards.
Several commissioners voiced support, including Jonathan Crane and Deanie Sebring.
Sebring said when she sought an appointment in 2020, people only knew about her because of local press. She said she welcomed Murphy’s proposed changes so people could get to know the people seeking to serve them.
“I’m hopeful this elicits a little bit more public feedback,” Crane said. “I’ll sit on my skepticism and think we ought to give it a try.”
Commission Chair Mark Short supported the idea but added that the three-day time frame between the Jan. 23 and Jan. 26 meetings wouldn’t provide adequate time for local press to cover the candidate presentations.
Short proposed advancing the meeting date so members of the public who do not attend would have a chance to read about the candidates.
Commissioners agreed to reschedule the Jan. 23 meeting to 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
Directions to attend via Zoom can be found at cityofannamaria.com.
Murphy said people could email questions for the candidates to city clerk LeAnne Addy at amclerk@cityofannamaria.com.
Carter moved to approve the proposed appointment process with Short’s recommended change.
Kingan seconded the motion, which passed.
There was no public comment.