Rothenberg qualifies for fourth term

Mayor Lee Rothenberg has qualified for a fourth term for his District 1 seat, three days after the commission approved a resolution to its town charter that allows the mayor to run for another two-year term.

So Mayor Lee Rothenberg, who was scheduled to vacate office in March 2010, can now serve seven years and five months of service if he’s elected this March.

Because Rothenberg elected to fill a partial term in October 2004, he was scheduled to serve five years and five months instead of a full six years in office.

Rothenberg’s qualification confirms a third contested commission race next year. Rothenberg will run again for his District 1 seat against fellow Country Club Shores resident Lee Pokoik. Country Club Shores resident Lynn Larson and L’Ambiance resident Bob White also are considering running for the District 1 seat.

Islander Club resident and former Planning and Zoning Board Chairman David Brenner will run against District 3 Commissioner Peter O’Connor, who is seeking his third consecutive term in office.

Bay Isles resident Phillip Younger already has qualified to run against At-large Commissioner Hal Lenobel.

The District 5 seat held by Vice Mayor Robert Siekmann has not been challenged yet. Siekmann is seeking his third and final term this March.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].