Bradenton sends city charter revision questions to voters. Some call it a ‘power grab’
Big changes could be coming to the mayor’s office after a contentious Bradenton City Council meeting resulted in charter revision questions being sent to the ballot in November.
Residents will vote on three referendum questions meant to tweak and clarify Bradenton’s 1903 charter. In November, voters will be asked whether they want to remove the mayor’s power as commissioner of police and the mayor’s ability to supervise “any city officials.”
If approved by voters, the mayor would still preside over public meetings and retain the ability to veto ordinances and break ties on council votes. City Council began discussing charter revisions in June 2019 when the local NAACP chapter pushed the city to adopt a citizens oversight committee meant to hold police officers accountable.
Some council members said a revised charter could be the answer. By removing some of those powers from the mayor, the council could serve as an oversight committee with shared power over the Bradenton Police Department.
Voters will also be asked whether they want to clarify the powers of the vice mayor in the mayor’s absence and to remove archaic language from the charter that specifically refers to the mayor and police chief as men.
“The City Council is not mandating a change. We’re putting a ballot to the citizens to get their opinion,” said Councilman Patrick Roff.
After each ballot question had been passed by separate ordinances, Mayor Wayne Poston addressed the proposals, criticizing the council for the lack of transparency and public input.
“The suggested changes are not in the best interest of Bradenton or its citizens. The changes were conceived by too few people,” Poston said. “We should be a government of all the people, not just those elected who close the door behind them when they come into office.”
In an interview with the Bradenton Herald, Poston explained that he would have preferred council members to take the charter review into the community, with meetings in each ward to solicit public input. Without that component, Poston described the proposed charter revision as a “power grab.”
“Despite Mr. Roff saying it’s not a power grab, it is. He wants to be in charge of everything, as you can see. Mr. Sanders is a bit the same way,” Poston said. “The city has been successful for a long time. I don’t know how this is going to make it better.”
Advocates for the charter changes disagreed with the mayor’s assessment, pointing out that an effort to put the questions in front of voters doesn’t mean that the changes will actually happen.
“I think if you don’t vote for this, you’re trying to block it — you’re afraid they agree with the referendum,” said Councilman Bill Sanders. “The public has a voice here and all we’re trying to do is give them a voice in November.”
They also said there was a lack of leadership from the mayor, who could have made a suggestion to solicit more feedback from residents.
“Now that it’s all over with, all of a sudden, you’re awake,” Roff told Poston.
“This is the first time I’ve heard you say you want my leadership,” Poston responded. “There was plenty of opportunity for the council to take this to the citizens. Instead, they decided to do it in this chamber.”
Other council members were opposed to the removal of the mayor’s powers. Councilman Gene Brown argued that the council has as much power over the police department as it needs because they vote on and approve the department’s budget. Councilman Gene Gallo felt the same way and pressed charter revision proponents for specific details about how the proposed changes would morph into better oversight.
Sanders responded, saying he wants oversight over the “infractions that become public” without the council’s prior knowledge but did not provide specific examples.
Several members of the public spoke during Wednesday’s meeting, criticizing council members for what they say is part of a secret “agenda.”
“Let me be clear: I do believe the charter needs updating, but not this way. Not using modernization as a pretext for a whole other agenda,” said Kurt Landefeld, of Bradenton. “Far from updating a century-old document, this ordinance proposes radical changes in the way city government is organized.”
Former NAACP President Rodney Jones also spoke at Wednesday’s meeting, stating that he doesn’t believe Poston does enough with his role as police commissioner.
“What you have is a non-certified, non-law enforcement officer over the police department,” Jones said. “While you sit there and you run for mayor again, you are despicable and I’ll tell you why. Seventy percent of those killed in Bradenton are black, and I haven’t heard a plan to address that.”
With voter approval in November, Councilman Harold Byrd Jr., who is challenging Poston for the mayor’s seat, said the City Council members could serve as a review board that could act on any complaints about the police department or its officers.
“There is an opportunity for this council to be a sort of a review, where all citizens for the whole city of Bradenton, they can come before us as council and feel that their voice is going to be heard,” Byrd said.
All three charter revision questions will be placed on the General Election ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
