Anna Maria Island representatives urge opposition to offshore drilling

Representatives from the cities of Holmes Beach, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach agreed to introduce resolutions opposing offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico at the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting Wednesday, Oct. 21, after hearing from Longboat Key Vice Mayor Bob Siekmann and Commissioner Gene Jaleski.

One day earlier, the Manatee County Commission voted 7-0 to pass a resolution opposing oil drilling in state Gulf of Mexico waters.

The Longboat Key Town Commission unanimously passed a resolution in opposition to drilling Oct. 5.

The state legislature could discuss drilling off the west coast of Florida as early as November.

Siekmann said that, in the past, discussions of offshore drilling focused on Florida’s entire coastline, something that many people opposed.

“Now, it’s the west coast of Florida versus everyone else,” Siekmann said. “Right now, we bear all the risks. It’s our beaches and our property values.”

Jaleski discussed the potential environmental impact of offshore drilling.

“There are dead zones all over the Gulf where they have done this stuff,” he said.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].