Election season might be uneventful again this year for the city of Anna Maria.
As of Aug. 18, the fifth day of qualifying to be on the Nov. 7 election ballot for city commission, only two candidates had emerged for three seats and they’re both incumbents.
Commissioners Jonathan Crane and Charlie Salem began the steps to qualify for the election with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office by Aug. 18, the end of the first week of a two-week qualifying window that opened Aug. 14.
That window will close at noon Friday, Aug. 25.
To qualify to run for a commission seat, candidates must submit paperwork and fees to the SOE, 600 301 Blvd. W., Bradenton. That includes:
- A candidate oath;
- A statement of candidacy;
- Financial disclosure forms;
- A qualifying fee or certification of petition signatures equal to 1% of the voters in the municipality’s last election.
Crane and Salem were the only people to submit qualifying forms to run for the available three seats as of Aug. 18.
Commissioner Robert Kingan, whose term expires in November, has announced he will not run.
Crane, who previously expressed uncertainty about running for reelection, was elected to the commission in 2019 and would serve his third term on the board if reelected.
Salem is the commission’s most recent addition. He was appointed by commissioners in January to fill a seat vacated by Carol Carter, who moved to Sarasota County after serving nine years on the board.
If Salem is elected in November, he will serve his first full two-year term on the commission.
If another candidate qualifies for the open position, joining Crane and Salem, all three will win new terms without contest.
It would be the sixth consecutive year for the city without competition to serve if no one or only one more person qualifies.
If no one qualifies before the deadline, the city will fill the vacant seat and two-year term by commission appointment.
Residents must live in the city for at least two years before they can qualify for office in Anna Maria.
City commissioners receive a $4,800 annual salary.
The deadline to register to vote in this year’s election is Tuesday, Oct. 10, and voters can request vote-by-mail ballots until 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26.