BRADENTON BEACH – As a result of their successful re-election bids, incumbent City Commissioners Ralph Cole and Marilyn Maro were sworn into their new two-year commissioner terms on Monday, Nov. 19.
Cole and Maro were the top two vote-getters in the recent at-large city election that also included candidates Tjet Martin and John Metz.
For the next year at least, Cole and Maro will serve with Mayor John Chappie and commissioners Jake Spooner and Randy White, whose current terms expire in November 2019.
Led by City Clerk Terri Sanclemente, the swearing-in ceremonies took place at 1 p.m. at city hall.
Cole and Maro were both asked to take the oath of office that said, “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support, protect and defend the Constitution and government of the United States and of the state of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution of the State and the Charter of the city of Bradenton Beach; and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of the position which I am about to enter.”
Cole and Maro also took the recipient of public funds oath that said, “I, Ralph Cole/Marilyn Maro, a citizen of the state of Florida and of the United States of America, and being employed as an officer of the city of Bradenton Beach, Florida, and a recipient of public funds as such employee or officer, do hereby solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Florida.”
Because of the mandatory statewide election recount process that concluded in Manatee County late Friday afternoon, Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett and the election canvassing board could not certify the county election results until Sunday morning.
On Sunday morning, City Clerk Terri Sanclemente received via email from the elections office the certificate of county canvassing notice. Sunday’s certification allowed Monday’s swearing-in ceremony to proceed as scheduled.
When contacted Friday evening, Bennett said the only change in the voting results were two additional votes cast in favor of U.S. Senate candidate Bill Nelson. Bennett said the county recount produced no changes to the outcomes of any of the races or ballot initiatives Manatee County voters voted on.
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