By Ryan Paice and Robert Anderson
Islander Reporters
A new financial disclosure law made an immediate splash in the political pool on Anna Maria Island.
Three of five Anna Maria commission applicants withdrew from consideration and Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Jake Spooner resigned Dec. 28 in response to new, more stringent requirements adopted in Senate Bill 774, which went into effect Jan. 1.
The measure dealing with “ethics requirements for public officials” was sponsored by Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary, and signed into law in May 2023 by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The law requires government officials, including municipal mayors and commissioners, to file an annual Form 6 financial disclosure form in place of Form 1, a simplified disclosure form.
Form 1 requires officials to disclose income sources, business interests, major debts and real estate holdings. It does not require officials to provide specific amounts for income, debts and holdings.
Form 6 has lower thresholds for what information has to be disclosed and has long applied to the governor, lieutenant governor, state cabinet members, legislators, state attorneys, public defenders and clerks of circuit courts.
The form now applies to mayors and city commissioners and requires them to disclose their net worth, income sources and amounts, bank accounts and year-end balances, stock and investment accounts, as well as land and real estate holdings.
Form 6 requires officials disclose financial debts and liabilities above $1,000 and the amount owed to each creditor, except for credit card debt and taxes.
While Form 1 asks officials to declare intangible assets worth more than $10,000 individually, Form 6 requires them to disclose all assets worth more than $1,000, as well as a lump sum value of other household goods and personal effects.
All elected officials in office as of Dec. 31 are required to file a Form 6 disclosure form by July 1.
SB 774 also increased the maximum civil penalty for state ethics violations from $10,000 to $20,000.
In Anna Maria, the disclosure law narrowed the playing field for two vacant seats on the city commission.
Three of five applicants for the seats — John Kolojeski, Pat Olesen and Susan Stephen — recently submitted emails notifying the city they are withdrawing from consideration due to SB 774.
Olesen, who informed the city of her intent to withdraw in a Dec. 22 email to Mayor Dan Murphy, told The Islander Dec. 29 that the disclosure changes were the sole reason for her decision.
“I’m disappointed it didn’t work out,” Olesen said. “I don’t mind being vetted but the fact of a lot of personal information being out there for the world to see, to me, was much too intrusive and inappropriate.”
“It’s a cyber security issue,” she added.
Kolojeski emailed Murphy Dec. 28 of his decision to withdraw.
He wrote in the email, “In my opinion the residents of Anna Maria did not need to know the value of an elected official’s Oriental rug or art collection (anything over $1,000). Such public information would most interest a thief.”
Stephen also criticized the new law in a Dec. 29 email to the mayor.
“Unfortunately, the new laws will impede my desire to run. In my opinion, PUBLIC release of my personal financial information is ripe for abuse,” Stephen wrote. “If I only was disclosing to the powers that be, it might be a different story.”
Without those three and Sharon Wisniewski, who previously withdrew, the applicants for the two seats are Gary McMullen and Kathleen Morgan-Johnson.
The deadline to apply, based on the city’s schedule to fill the commission seats, was Dec. 15, 2023.
Meanwhile, Spooner announced Dec. 28 his resignation from his seats on the commission and community redevelopment agency citing changes to state financial disclosure rules as the primary reason for his departure. Spooner, who has served the city since 2015, expressed gratitude for his tenure.
“My time on the commission has been deeply rewarding and educational. I have cherished the opportunity to contribute to our city’s growth and to collaborate on initiatives that have improved our residents’ quality of life,” he said in a Dec. 28 letter addressed to commissioners and city staff.
According to the Bradenton Beach charter, the remaining commissioners are charged with nominating candidates and voting for the nominee best suited to fill the remainder of Spooner’s term.
If the commission is unable to fill the vacancy after two meetings, a successor is chosen by lot by the city clerk from proposed nominees.
Holmes Beach deputy clerk Michelle Lowe told The Islander Dec. 29 that elected officials have been informed of the financial disclosure law.
She added that, as of Dec. 29, no city officials had resigned or expressed concern about complying with the measure.
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