- December 6, 2025
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Longboat Key’s main road will not change its name after the Town Commission unanimously agreed that changing Gulf of Mexico Drive was not worth the trouble.
Town Hall was packed Monday with more than 80 people, and more sitting in front of monitors streaming the meeting outside, as the public gathered to share their opinions on the most talked-about topic on the barrier island since the St. Regis Resort was approved.
Ever since the Florida Department of Transportation hired a contractor to remove signs marking Gulf of Mexico Drive from traffic arms on the Key in August, what the town should do has been on the lips of those from Longboat to Tallahassee.
“It’s an interesting question we have,” assistant town manager Isaac Brownman said during a presentation before public comment. “We have the burden that a name change could place on the community. We have the desire for protecting home rule, and we also have this desire to protect our relationships and hope that a change isn’t made on behalf or for the town.”
More than a dozen residents spoke for and against changing the name.
For some advocating for changing the name, it was a matter of patriotism.
“Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, whether you are left, right, Democrat, Republican, independent, the issue has become politicized,” said David Dickinson during public comment. “We’re making a big issue out of something that is very simple. We’re all Americans. We need to honor America. I’m a veteran of the United States Air Force. For 21 years, I served in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Africa. My house was blown up by a 122 millimeter rocket. I lost friends. It’s real easy to say I’m a patriot. Those are patriots. And by renaming Gulf of Mexico Drive to Gulf of America, we honor them. A lot of people have sacrificed for that. The name change will not cause anyone in this room an ounce of blood. It’s pretty simple.”
But from an unofficial tally of opinions sent to the town, most advocated for keeping the name of the road the same. Brownman’s presentation showed that as of Sunday night, 83% of those who emailed the town were against changing the name.
Arlene Skversky spoke on behalf of keeping Gulf of Mexico Drive as is, saying it would put an unnecessary hassle on some of the older population of the Key.
“There are so many residents, look at the crowd, near or over 80. If this name change goes through, it will be a huge burden on all residents. Especially these residents,” Skversky said. “The stress and the amount of time as well as the cost and the effort this will take to change the name with all of our documents could cause medical issues. Most people here are still physically and mentally active. That’s because they stay busy with things that they like. But the time this will take will easily put them on edge as it will cause them to stop healthy activities and focus on the frustrating process of reaching people inside bureaucratic agencies. This is so unhealthy for all of us here and those that are not here, and we need your protection.”
Commissioner B.J. Bishop, during a passionate address at the end of the meeting, described it as “one more thing” for residents to worry about as many still rebuild from the 2024 hurricanes.
“When I took my oath to serve in Longboat Key, the job that I have sitting in this chair is to be responsible for the health, welfare and safety of the residents of Longboat Key. There is nothing about the name of the street that meets any of those categories,” Bishop said. “There are many people in this audience and there are many people that are not here that live on Gulf of Mexico Drive that lost their homes or their homes are severely damaged. I know what that’s like. My husband and I lost our home in a hurricane over 12 months ago.”
Bishop pushed back against some who spoke who said those against changing the name to Gulf of America “must hate America” or have “Trump derangement syndrome.” She addressed the crowd saying that the town commission is devoted to this community at the highest level, loves Longboat Key and “work our darnedest to protect and save it.”
“One thing that I’m determined that we’re going to save it from is negative, toxic behavior,” she said. “Our job here is health, welfare and safety and getting this community back on its feet after the most horrid weather conditions that we have experienced in 100 years.”
Branham said, being a 37-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and a Gulf of Mexico Drive resident, he personally would support changing the name. But that military service to honor the flag swayed him to honor the will of the people.
“For the same token that we serve this flag, we need to honor the democratic process. Based on what I’ve seen so far from 400 some odd inputs, about 80-something percent says don’t change it for whatever reason,” Branham said. “My position is to honor the majority.”
According to a Q&A webpage regarding the removal of street signs from Gulf of Mexico Drive, FDOT removed the signs in response to a state law which reads that each state agency shall “update its geographic materials to reflect the new federal designation” of the body of water to Gulf of America. Mayor Ken Schneier said FDOT district one interim secretary Jamie Driggers told him in a phone call that the authority on what to name the road is the town’s, and Branham said he had a productive phone call with Driggers as well. Several comments made by commissioners and town staff signified that they hope the town’s decision doesn’t impact the relationship the town and FDOT share.
“It is important for the Town Commission and members of our community to be aware of the financial support and relationships that we have built with the State of Florida, and would be beneficial for those to be preserved,” Brownman said.
Town attorney Maggie Mooney said Longboat Key is not breaking any law by not renaming the road.
“The legislature adopted bill said all references to Gulf of Mexico is now Gulf of America for bodies of water. It did not speak to roads. It technically speaking did not speak to roads. However, when you read the legislative history and the staff reports, and the way the Florida Department of Transportation interpreted that law, that technically speaking is only relating to a body of water, it indicates an intention to effect change in potentially many more ways.”
Some what-ifs were mentioned, like what if the State of Florida pre-empts the town’s authority to name the road?
“Right now, the state has not pre-empted our right,” Mooney said. “But to (commissioner Debra Williams’) question, could they? Yes, they could. But we don’t have a crystal ball to know whether they will or will not do that. So it’s still uncertain, but it is a possibility in the many fields of possibilities here.”
What is certain is that the town has chosen to keep the name of the road, Gulf of Mexico Drive. What will or won’t happen next will be decided in Tallahassee.
