The three cities on Anna Maria Island will go to the polls on Nov. 3, with a mayoral race in Bradenton Beach and both Holmes Beach and Anna Maria electing three commissioners from fields of five candidates. Today, we look at the Holmes Beach race. Our take on the Bradenton Beach race ran Tuesday, and we’ll examine Anna Maria on Thursday.
Pat Geyer
Geyer, the owner of Duffy’s Tavern, has been a fixture at City Hall as a commissioner and mayor for some 25 years. With her almost half century living in Holmes Beach, Geyer has a deep knowledge of island life and history. She wants to continue to keep Holmes Beach a paradise without increasing density. Additional development must benefit residents, she says.
She views next year’s city budget as a major issue, figuring officials will have to evaluate the merits of each line item of spending in order to not raise taxes. With city revenues expected to fall, Geyer foresees a tough time balancing the budget. She also thinks the city’s tax rate is very low compared with what residents receive, but county and school taxes are too high and should be reduced.
Pat Morton
Morton, also an incumbent commissioner, is a church administrator who has lived in Holmes Beach for 16 years. He, too, believes the city budget is the top issue and spending must be brought under control. His vision for the city is making it a leaner and safer place.
He wants to protect Holmes Beach from over-development and stop too many residences from becoming short-term rental units for vacationers.
Morton points to his six years as a commissioner and his people skills as further qualifications for re-election.
Al Robinson
Robinson, who is semi-retired but buys, renovates and sells island properties, cites his business acumen over many decades — 45 years being self-employed — as his primary qualification for office. If elected, he plans to motivate his fellow commissioners to operate city government like a business.
While he says the current commission has done a good job overall, he seeks more realistic spending of tax money.
Just because the city is running smoothly does not mean it is efficient.
On the issue of growth and development, Robinson prefers Holmes Beach the way it is and he’s unimpressed with development north of the Skyway Bridge.
Andy Sheridan
Sheridan, in training for insurance sales and an officer with the Key Royale Resident Owners Association, is making his first bid at joining the commission and has been a regular at meetings since February. He cites his experience at running businesses, managing people and listening skills as qualifications.
The city’s top issues, he says, are to protect and maintain the quality of life, to examine the budget to cut wasteful spending and minimize taxes, and improve stormwater drainage.
His goal is to maintain the balance between residential, rental/tourist properties and commercial establishments over the long term. He support the enforcement of city codes, including rules covering property values and appearance.
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