ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Are you considering running for a city commission seat? If so, the qualifying periods for city commission and mayoral candidates on Anna Maria Island will take place in June.
Candidacy may be announced at any time before or during the qualifying period. Candidates must first appoint a campaign treasurer and designate a campaign bank account before any contributions are accepted or expenditures are made. Candidates can serve as their own campaign treasurers.
Candidates must file a Statement of Candidate form within 10 days of appointing a treasurer and opening a campaign account.
Forms and additional information for Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach candidates can be found at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office website or in person at 600 301 Blvd. W., Suite 108, in Bradenton.
Holmes Beach candidates must obtain their qualifying forms through the city clerk’s office.
Anna Maria
The two-week qualifying period in Anna Maria will start at noon on Monday, June 11, and end at noon on Friday, June 22. Qualifying paperwork may be picked up at the Anna Maria clerk’s office and must be filed with the Supervisor of Elections Office.
Anna Maria candidates must be U.S. citizens, registered to vote in Manatee County and residents of Anna Maria for two years prior to qualifying.
The qualifying fee is $48 for City Commission candidates and $196 for mayoral candidates. Candidates can avoid the qualifying fee by filing an “Undue Burden” oath and securing the petition signatures of 10 registered city voters.
In the fall elections, there will be three election positions up for grabs: the mayor’s seat currently held by Dan Murphy and the commission seats currently held by Amy Tripp and Brian Seymour. The mayor and commissioners serve two-year terms. The mayor receives an annual salary of $19,600 and commissioners receive $4,800.
Bradenton Beach
The one-week qualifying period in Bradenton Beach will begin at noon on Monday, June 18, and end at noon on Friday, June 22. Qualifying paperwork may be picked up at the Bradenton Beach clerk’s office and must be filed with the Supervisor of Elections Office.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens, registered to voter in Manatee County and residents of Bradenton Beach for at least 12 months prior to qualifying.
As the result of charter amendments adopted by Bradenton Beach voters in November, commission wards have been eliminated and the two citywide candidates who receive the most votes will claim the two seats open this fall. Those seats are currently held by Marilyn Maro and Ralph Cole.
According to recent charter amendments, commission candidates no longer need to be registered city voters. The qualifying fee for commission seats is $48. No petition signatures are required in Bradenton Beach.
City commissioners serve two-year terms and earn $400 a month.
Holmes Beach
In Holmes Beach, City Clerk Stacey Johnston serves as the qualifying official and candidates qualify at city hall. The qualifying period there will be noon on Monday, June 18, until noon on Friday, June 22.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens, registered Manatee County voters and residents of Holmes Beach for two years prior to qualifying.
The qualifying fee is $60 for commission candidates and $240 or mayoral candidates. All candidates must secure the petition signatures of 15 registered city voters and file an affidavit of residency.
Candidates can avoid the qualifying fee by filing the “Undue Burden” oath and securing the petition signatures of 15 registered city voters.
The mayor and commissioners serve two-year terms. The mayor earns $24,000 a year and commissioners make $6,000 a year.
There also will be five elected positions for Charter Review Commission members. The qualifications are the same, but candidates do not have to pay the qualifying fee.
