Two candidates have emerged in the race for five seats on the Holmes Beach City Charter Commission.
A third person, however, failed to qualify. Terry Schaefer, a member of the Holmes Beach Form of Government Committee, said May 30 he falls just a few days short of meeting the residency requirement.
Five seats on the charter review committee will be up for grabs on the Nov. 6 municipal ballot.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens, registered voters in Manatee County and city residents for two years before qualifying, according to city clerk Stacey Johnston, the city’s election official.
David Cheshire, now chair of the ad hoc committee, and Major Leckie, whose wife Pam served on the most recent charter commission in 2014, are presumed candidates in the charter race.
Charter review commissioners could pave the way for hiring a city manager. Cheshire’s committee has agreed to recommend changing the city government to a weak mayor-city manager structure by hiring a professional city manager. And changing the government structure to include a city manager would require amending the charter.
The charter, considered the bible for the city, is required of all state municipalities by the Florida Constitution. The statement of governmental duties and citizen powers must be reviewed every five years.
Charter commission members serve until their amendments or revisions to the charter, if any, are incorporated into a city ordinance by the city commission for placement on the ballot for the next election.
City commissioners can give input to during charter review meetings because it’s too late to do so once any amendments or revisions are proposed by the independent body.
“The city commission cannot do anything with regard to a recommendation except process it,” said Mayor Bob Johnson. “There’s no allowance for commissioners to add, change or delete.”
The last city charter commission in 2014 included Johnson, prior to being elected mayor, Cheshire, Pam Leckie, David Lester and James Plath.
Johnson, after serving as mayor and viewing first hand the administrative challenges for the city, favors a city manager. He has not ruled out another term on the commission, but said he would prefer five other candidates qualify.
“I would quite honestly like to see the citizenry of the city step up,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the charter commission is critical in preserving Holmes Beach as a community.
“We must take action to defeat state ongoing efforts to pre-empt home rule within our cities,” Johnson said. “We must make critical changes to our structure of government to ensure qualified city management and leadership continuity and stability.”
Members of the charter review commission are not paid, and time demands can be significant.
“We essentially met every week,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of discussion stuff that goes on.”
Any proposed changes must be approved by the city commission and adopted by referendum vote.
“Who really changes the charter?” Johnson asked. “It’s citizens, by vote.”
There is no assessment fee for charter commission candidates. Candidates must collect 15 petition signatures from voters living in the city and file a candidate residency affidavit among other criteria.
Before opening a campaign bank account or accepting or spending funds, candidates must appoint a treasurer and establish a bank account.
Candidate qualifying will open at noon Monday, June 18, and close at noon Friday, June 22.
3 ways to change HB city charter
Citizen petition approved at referendum, or
City commissioners by ordinance and referendum, or
City charter review commission proposes an amendment or revision to the city commission, which places it on the next scheduled ballot for voter approval.