2015 Issues to Watch: Commission races

The Longboat Key Town Commission will have at least one new face this spring.

The town’s March 10, 2015 general municipal election ballot will feature two contested commission races:
Jack Daly and Larry Grossman will vie for the District 4 seat that Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown will reach his term limit for in the spring.

And, Gene Jaleski is challenging incumbent Commissioner Phill Younger for the at-large seat he has held since 2010 — when Jaleski resigned from the seat after just more than a year in office.

Vice Mayor Jack Duncan will serve a third and final term after no challengers emerged to seek his District 2 seat.

Although candidates have yet to begin actively campaigning, it’s clear that several issues will come under scrutiny during election-season debates.

When the deadline to qualify for the March election passed in November, all four candidates spoke to the Longboat Observer about their priorities.

Candidates agreed that the ongoing Comprehensive Plan and code revisions, along with underground utilities, would be key issues during the election. Other issues they cited included beach erosion, Bayfront Park and 911 dispatch consolidation.

Daly, who is vice chairman of the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board, has support from at least one commissioner: Brown encouraged Daly to run for the District 4 seat he will vacate after six years.
The deadline to register to vote in the town’s March 10 election is Feb. 9.

Although the commission consists of a representative for each of five geographical districts and two at-large seats, all Longboat Key voters cast ballots for each of the seven seats, regardless of the district in which they reside.

FACTS FOR ’15
The issue: Voters will select two representatives for the Longboat Key Town Commission during the town’s general municipal election.

Why you should care: Commissioners determine how much you pay in taxes and how those tax dollars are spent and determine town policies. In the next year, the commission is expected to make important decisions about issues such as beach projects, 911 dispatch and a future town center.

Timeline: The town’s general municipal election takes place March 10.