Election season is just around the corner.
And a few familiar faces are hoping for a return to the Anna Maria City Commission.
Commissioners John Lynch, Kathleen Morgan and Charlie Salem told The Islander the week of Aug. 4 that they plan to qualify for reelection this November.
The window to qualify with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office to run for an official position with the city of Anna Maria will open at noon Monday, Aug. 18, and close at noon Friday, Aug. 29.
Anyone who fails to qualify with the SEO before the end of the qualifying period cannot run in the upcoming election.
The terms for Lynch, Morgan and Salem will expire in November, which leaves three commission seats up for grabs in this year’s election.
While no one can officially qualify before the Aug. 18-Aug. 29 window opens, both Morgan and Salem have begun submitting the required forms for qualification to the SEO.
Morgan was appointed to the city commission in January 2024 to serve in place of Robert Kingan, who vacated his seat.
She wrote in an Aug. 7 text message to The Islander, “It would be an honor to continue serving the city of Anna Maria and helping to guide its future.”
“Our community faces important challenges — from restoring the pier, to managing responsible growth, protecting our environment and ensuring transparency in government,” Morgan wrote. “I am committed to listening to your voices and making decisions that reflect our shared values.”
Salem was appointed to the commission in January 2023 to serve the remainder of Carol Carter’s term when she moved from the city and vacated her remaining term. He was reelected without opposition to a two-year term in November 2023.
He told The Islander Aug. 7 that he was preparing the necessary paperwork to qualify with the SEO earlier the same day.
Salem said he had a few priorities to tackle in a potential second term.
“Mostly keeping taxes low in light of all the expenses that people have in recovering from these hurricanes,” Salem said. “Helping hurricane recovery with a longer-term piece like the (Florida Division of Emergency
Management) Elevate Florida program — looking to make sure that we do everything we can to help residents make their homes safer.”
Lynch was appointed to the board this January to serve the remainder of Jon Crane’s term and is the shortest-tenured commissioner on the dais.
He wrote in an Aug. 8 email to The Islander that he planned to qualify for reelection.
If the three incumbents are the only qualifiers, they will retain their seats without an election.
If challengers qualify, Anna Maria voters will cast ballots Nov. 4 to decide who will make it to the dais.
Anna Maria city commissioners receive a $4,800 annual salary.
This year’s election will be 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The deadline to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 6.
Vote-by-mail ballots must be requested by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, and returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
For election info, visit votemanatee.org.