Election season has officially begun in Anna Maria.
Two incumbents — Mayor Dan Murphy and Commissioner Mark Short — have qualified with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office to seek reelection the week beginning June 6.
Murphy was first elected in 2014 and has been elected without opposition in 2016, 2018 and 2020. If reelected, he would serve his fifth two-year term in office.
Short was appointed to the commission in September 2019 to complete the remainder of Brian Seymour’s term. He was elected without contest to a full term on the dais in 2020.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring, who was appointed by commission vote in November 2020 to a two-year term, hadn’t qualified for reelection as of June 10 but told The Islander she will seek another term.
All the incumbents’ terms end in November.
The window to qualify to run for election opened June 6 and will 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 salary.
Without challengers, the incumbents 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 opposition 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.