A pair of city commissioners will pursue seats in Anna Maria but one is hoping to flip his seat.
Commission Chair Mark Short and Commissioner Gary McMullen filed candidacy forms with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office ahead of the city’s qualifying period.
The window to qualify with the SEO to run for elected office in Anna Maria opened June 3 and will close at noon Friday, June 14.
Three positions are up for grabs this fall, including the mayoral post and two city commission seats.
Mayor Dan Murphy announced May 23 that he would allow his term to expire and not run for reelection in November — ending a decade-long run as mayor.
Short, who was appointed in 2019 and reelected without opposition in 2020 and 2022, filed forms May 24 declaring his intent to run for the open mayoral seat.
McMullen was appointed by commissioners in January but his term will expire in December.
He filed forms May 29 with the SEO announcing his intent to run for election to the city commission.
Neither candidate had reported any campaign contributions or expenditures to the SEO as of May 31, according to the SEO’s website, votemanatee.com.
With Short pursuing the mayoral post, that leaves one available commission seat without a candidate.
The mayor earns a $19,600 annual salary.
Commissioners receive a $4,800 annual salary.
Both offices have two-year terms.
There were 836 registered voters in Anna Maria as of May 31, according to the SEO.