The stage is set for a public forum to introduce two Anna Maria City Commission hopefuls.
The city gathered 30 questions from the public by its Dec. 27 deadline and sent them Dec. 29 to the applicants, Gary McMullen and Kathleen Morgan-Johnson.
Six residents originally applied for two vacant seats but four withdrew.
The vacant seats were held by Robert Kingan and Deanie Sebring.
Sebring resigned in October and her successor will serve the remainder of her term, which expires in December 2024.
Meanwhile, no one qualified to run for the seat occupied by Kingan, who decided not to seek a second term in November.
The applicants will introduce themselves during a public forum at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
The applicants will have a chance to answer written questions submitted by the public, in addition to responding to live questions.
Of the written questions, several ask for basic information, such as how long applicants have lived in the city, what their occupations are and their motivations for joining the commission.
Some questions ask for a history of public involvement, such as if applicants have served in other elected positions.
A pair of questions asks for thoughts on the reimagining Pine Avenue project, as well as the potential elimination of parallel parking along Pine as part of the work.
Other questions include:
- If you could initiate one new city project, what would it be?
- Do you agree with the annual financial support the commission and the city provide the Center of Anna Maria Island?
- Do you have any suggestions to improve parking in Anna Maria?
- If appointed, would you support increasing or decreasing the current millage rate?
- What are your thoughts on the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability consolidation study and the idea of potentially combining the three island cities into one city or annexing the three cities into Manatee County or the city of Bradenton?
McMullen and Morgan-Johnson will have an opportunity to answer the questions at the forum.
The three seated commissioners are scheduled to vote to appoint new members at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25.
Whoever receives the most votes from the seated commissioners will choose between the one- and two-year term, leaving the other term to the applicant with the second-most votes.
Mayor Dan Murphy has said the commissioners are not required to appoint applicants if they do not find them suitable for the vacant seats.