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 Anna Maria race. Our takes on the Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach races ran Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
David Gryboski
Gryboski, who works in commercial real estate and retail development, is a political newcomer who feels a duty to get involved in the community now that he’s made a commitment to plant roots on the island. He believes his background in finance and economics will be valuable in dealing with the city budget and preventing wasteful spending. He pledges to never vote to raise taxes.
He is concerned that tension in the community is splitting residents into business versus residents factions. Gryboski wants to unite citizens through the city’s comprehensive plan, which, he says, clearly states support for businesses within the commercial and retail/office/residential (ROR) zoning. In noting that change and development are inevitable, he says he intends to only embrace growth that improves island life.
His other top issues include protecting neighborhoods, beach renourishment, stormwater drainage and environmental awareness. Gryboski also vows to defend the vision statement outlined in the city’s comprehensive plan, which defines Anna Maria as a quiet, Old Florida beach community, bicycle and pedestrian friendly with a commercial center of small shops and specialty stores.
John Quam
Quam, retired from industrial management and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, has served seven years on the commission. He is running again in order to preserve the community’s single-family residential character and wants to ensure that codes and ordinances are only amended if they do not negatively impact public safety and the quality of life. He does support a viable business district that falls under current codes and development as outlined in the comprehensive plan.
He sees the city’s top issues as parking and traffic congestion, particularly around City Pier and in the ROR district. He does not want to increase density in the area, and any new structures must provide the required parking on site.
Quam vows to approve budgets that do not hike the millage rate while retaining the city services vital for the safety, health and welfare of residents. He says city spending is very well under control.
Harry Stoltzfus
Stoltzfus, a veteran of the bridge industry who has been both a business manager or company owner, is a first-time office candidate. He is campaigning to ensure Anna Maria remains unexploited and prevent it from becoming another commercialized island resort. Stoltzfus wants codes on development, density and intensity followed and not weakened.
While he’s in favor of more commerce in the business district, he wants to go slow. Recent plans, he says, are creating too many commercial and rental spaces, and the city does not hold the population to support a large number of retail shops.
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