There will be a political race in the city of Anna Maria in November — the first race since 2017.
Former City Commissioner Brian Seymour filed forms June 3 with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office to qualify to run for mayor.
Seymour owns the Anna Maria General Store, 503 Pine Ave., as well as operates the City Pier Grill and Bait Shop on the city-owned pier.
He also spent time on the city commission. Seymour was first elected to the board in 2016, became chair in 2018 and served in that role until he resigned due to personal reasons in August 2019.
Mayor Dan Murphy, who has served in the office for a decade, announced in May that he would not seek reelection.
Commission Chair Mark Short was the first to file forms with the SEO to qualify for the post.
Short originally was a member of the 2019 charter review committee. He was appointed to the city commission later the same year and reelected without opposition in 2020 and 2022.
While the SEO had yet to qualify the pair as of June 7, they have set the stage for the first election the city has had for an elected official in seven years.
During that time, all new city officials were appointed by existing commissioners, including Seymour and Short.
Meanwhile, this year’s charter review committee chair, Christopher Arendt, might follow Short’s footsteps and become the second chairperson in recent history to join the city commission.
There are two commission seats up for grabs this year, including Short’s and Commissioner Gary McMullen’s.
McMullen was appointed by commissioners in January to serve the remainder of a term expiring in December. He has filed with the SEO to run for reelection.
Since Short’s pursuit of the mayoral post frees up his spot on the commission, Arendt may walk into the role unless additional competition steps up.
Arendt filed candidacy forms June 5 with the SEO.
If Arendt and McMullen are the only candidates to qualify for the two seats, they will win the spots without contest.
No candidates had reported any campaign contributions or expenditures as of June 7, according to the SEO’s website, votemanatee.com.
The window to qualify to run for a commission seat opened June 3 and will close at noon Friday, June 14.
Anna Maria mayors earn a $19,600 annual salary.
Commissioners receive a $4,800 annual salary.
Both offices have two-year terms.
There were 836 registered voters in Anna Maria as of May 31, according to the SEO.