Some familiar faces are hoping to stick around on the Anna Maria City Commission.
Commissioners Deanie Sebring and Mark Short told The Islander the week beginning May 23 that they will run for reelection. Their two-year terms expire in November.
Sebring was appointed by commission vote in November 2020 to serve a two-year term. She succeeded Amy Tripp, who announced she was moving to Black Mountain, North Carolina, after the election qualification window closed.
Instead of appointing a successor for Tripp’s remaining term, the city left her seat open until it expired, at which point commissioners appointed Sebring to complete a full term.
Short was appointed to the commission in September 2019 to complete the remainder of Brian Seymour’s term. He was elected without contest to his first full term on the dais in 2020.
The third seat up for grabs this year is held by Mayor Dan Murphy, who was first elected mayor in 2014 and has been reelected without opposition in 2016, 2018 and 2020.
Murphy has yet to reveal whether he will run for a fifth term.
“I have made a decision but want to share it with my children and grandchildren first, prior to stating anything publicly,” Murphy wrote in a May 25 text message to The Islander.
The window to qualify to run for the seats will open at noon, Monday, June 6, and close at noon, Friday, June 17.
To qualify, potential candidates must file forms with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office to detail a campaign bank account and appoint a campaign treasurer.
Potential candidates also must obtain 10 signatures from registered voters in the city, submit an affidavit of residency and pay 1% of the annual pay they would receive if elected.
Mayors are paid $19,600 annually.
Commissioners receive a $4,800 annual stipend.
Without challengers, they would automatically retain their seats.
The city has struggled to produce challengers in recent history. The last election with a vote between competing candidates was in 2017. Everyone since has either won without competition or was appointed by commission vote.
If there are challengers, the city’s voters will decide who will represent them Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the general election.
There were 968 registered voters in Anna Maria as of May 9, according to the SOE.
To learn more about the election, go to the SEO’s website, at votemanatee.com.