HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Holmes Titsworth has consistently defended the city against Manatee County officials and Florida legislators who propose to chip away at home rule, particularly on the parking garage and consolidation issues that have made headlines over the past several months.
For her determination and hard work, the Anna Maria Island Sun names Titsworth as one of its two 2023 Persons of the Year.
“Naming Mayor Judy your Person of the Year is a no-brainer,” Holmes Beach Commissioner Greg Kerchner said. “Especially in this tough political environment, she does so much for this city, takes so much grief and gets so little credit that I’m thrilled to see her receive this award. No one deserves it more. Her family’s history with Holmes Beach may be obvious but her dedication to improving our waters, wetlands and environment is just as important. It’s going to be really tough finding another mayor, let alone a city manager who will be as dedicated, accomplish as much or work as hard for so little compensation.”
“As police chief for the city of Holmes Beach with 45 years’ experience, I can say that Judy Titsworth is an amazing mayor to work with,” Chief Bill Tokajer said. “She lets me do my job. She allows us to have all the equipment that we need. All of our board members are on the same team, everybody’s going in the same direction and the direction that the city needs to go. She is in love with this city and has the city at heart and she takes it really hard when people attack her and the city. Not her personally, but the city itself. As to the work that we’re doing and how much we’ve accomplished, it’s just phenomenal. For us to be attacked and for her to be attacked is just unconscionable. She deserves this award. We appreciate her and I hope she knows it.”
“Judy has been like my little sister,” Commissioner Pat Morton said. “I was the one who got her involved in the commission. I worked on her for five years to get her in here and it has never been a regret. She’s been the best mayor we’ve had since I’ve been on the Island. I’ve been here over 30 years. She just grew so much since she became mayor. It’s beyond anything we could have out here. She stands up for the citizens, like all of them should do, and she respects our city employees and everyone else. And she’s earned their total respect in return. I will back her any way I can.”
Titsworth is part of the Holmes family that founded the city of Holmes Beach and was a city commissioner for many years before becoming mayor. She is currently serving her third term as mayor after running unopposed in 2022. In addition to being the city’s mayor, a job that’s she’s committed to full-time, she’s also working to oppose Manatee County commissioners’ plans to install a parking garage at Manatee Beach in violation of the city’s ordinances and land development code as well as working with the mayors of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach to fight against a push from the state to consolidate the three Anna Maria Island cities.
In the past year, she’s also worked with city staff and other leaders to develop the Islanders 4 Clean Water campaign to help bring public awareness to issues affecting local water quality and the environment.
