The city of Anna Maria is potentially one step away from naming two city commissioners.
Gary McMullen and Kathleen Morgan-Johnson, the only applicants for the two seats on the city commission, introduced themselves Jan. 11 during a public forum at city hall, where they answered more than 30 questions submitted by the public.
They are potentially successors to Robert Kingan and Deanie Sebring.
Kingan’s term expired last December after he did not seek reelection. His successor will step into a full two-year term.
Sebring resigned mid-term last October. Her successor will serve approximately one year, until December.
At one point, there were six residents in the mix, but four withdrew their applications, three of them due to a new state financial disclosure law.
John Kolojeski, Pat Olesen and Susan Stephen submitted emails notifying the city they were withdrawing from consideration due to SB 774.
Sharon Wisniewski withdrew her application for other reasons.
The measure went into effect Jan. 1 and requires municipal officials to file more strenuous financial disclosure forms than previously required.
By the time of the forum, McMullen and Morgan-Johnson were the only applicants left to fend for the two vacant commission seats.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy introduced the applicants and set forth the forum rules: Each applicant was to answer alternating groups of five questions, beginning with McMullen — in alphabetical order.
The city also provided pen and paper for attendees to write questions to be addressed after the list of 30 advance questions was completed.
The applicants took seats on the dais and took turns answering questions and introducing themselves to a small audience.
McMullen was born and raised in Tampa, and his parents bought his current home in Anna Maria in the 1940s. So he spent summers on the island before becoming a permanent resident more than a decade ago.
He has spent most of his life working for government agencies, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
McMullen also worked as one of the city’s first code and parking enforcement officers and currently serves as the vice chair of the Anna Maria Historical Preservation Board.
He would need to forfeit his position on the board to serve on the city commission since Anna Maria’s charter prohibits commissioners from holding any other city office.
McMullen said at the forum that his experience with government processes and historical perspective on the city made him the best applicant.
“I’ve seen how the island has changed over the past 50 years and I think that gives me a unique perspective,” he said.
McMullen said his main priorities as commissioner would be to maintain and grow the city’s residential population and ensure safety on Pine Avenue by helping to shape the municipality’s plans to “reimagine” the roadway.
He supported the elimination of parallel parking along Pine Avenue so the city could install bicycle lanes on both sides of the corridor, which he said is currently unsafe and taking too long to improve.
“Safety is paramount,” he said.
McMullen said that if he could initiate one new city project, it would be to extend the multiuse path that stretches from Holmes Beach to Willow Avenue.
He said the path allows pedestrians and bikers to travel the stretch safely and should be extended to Pine Avenue to improve safety, especially at the four-way stop at Magnolia Avenue and Gulf Drive.
McMullen also supported the city’s financial contributions to the Center of Anna Maria Island but said the nonprofit should strive harder toward self-sustainability.
Morgan-Johnson moved to Holmes Beach in 2000 before heading to Anna Maria in 2005. She is the owner of Sarasota-based Morgan Johnson Realty and a licensed broker, who also works as a legal assistant in Sarasota for her husband, attorney David Johnson.
Morgan-Johnson also serves as the president of the Anna Maria Island Garden Club and as secretary of the Center of Anna Maria Island’s board of directors.
Morgan-Johnson said she is the best applicant for a commission seat because she cares deeply for the island. She said she wants to preserve the beauty and culture of the island despite county- and state-led challenges to its character.
Morgan-Johnson added that if she could initiate a new city project, it would be the addition of sidewalks along streets without them so pedestrians would not need to risk their safety by walking in roadways.
She said the addition and improvement of pedestrian infrastructure would be one of her priorities as commissioner, as well as mitigating the proliferation of vacation rentals and supporting local art and beautification projects.
Morgan-Johnson supported Commissioner Charlie Salem’s proposed feasibility study into potential measures to attract new residents and maintain the existing residential population.
She also supported the elimination of parallel parking on one side of Pine Avenue so the city could establish a multiuse path on the other side.
The two applicants also agreed in response to several other questions.
Both applicants have never served as elected officials before, own no businesses or vacation rentals within the municipality, oppose the Manatee County-proposed parking garage in Holmes Beach and the possibility of state-led island consolidation.
The applicants both gave themselves eight out of 10 ratings for their knowledge of the issues the commission faced in 2023.
Both applicants also said the residents would be of primary concern when balancing the needs of residents, businesses and visitors during their time on the city commission.
Lastly, both applicants agreed to allow leashed dogs in City Pier Park, 101 N. Bay Blvd., in response to the only live question submitted during the forum.
Murphy thanked both applicants for “stepping up” and applying to fill the commission vacancies.
The existing commission — which consists of three members — will vote to appoint new members at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
Directions to attend via Zoom can be found on the city’s website, cityofannamaria.com.
The voting process will involve the three existing commissioners scoring each applicant as their first or second preference by scoring them with a one or two.
Whoever receives the lowest average score — the highest average preference — will choose between the one- and two-year terms, leaving the other term to the second-choice commissioner.
Murphy also said commissioners can vote “0.” If an applicant receives two such votes, he or she will not be appointed to the commission.