Bradenton Voters to Decide Ballot Questions

Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown discusses a ballot question on term limits during a city council meeting June 10 at city hall.

By: Lisa Neff

Bradenton voters on Nov. 3 will decide two proposed changes to the city charter — imposing term limits for the mayor and city council and removing the mayor’s tie-breaking vote on the council — while also electing candidates to city offices.

The Bradenton City Council on June 10 unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance to hold a referendum on whether to amend the city charter to impose term limits — three consecutive terms — beginning January 2028 for the mayor and council.

After a two-year break, a former officeholder could seek election again.

The council also unanimously voted to ask the electorate whether to amend the city charter to remove the mayor as “ex officio president of the council,” state that the mayor is not a member of the council and remove the mayor’s right to cast a tie-breaking vote.

During discussions on the proposed ballot measures, it wasn’t clear how the council members themselves would vote on their secret ballots, but it was clear they believe the questions are important for the electorate to decide.

Mayor Gene Brown brought forth both issues this spring.

Explaining the referendum on the mayor’s relationship to the council, Brown said it’s uncommon for the mayor to break a tie, but it’s all too common for the mayor not to be able to communicate effectively with a councilmember because of the Florida Sunshine Law.

The Sunshine Law prohibits two or more members of the same voting body from discussing matters that could foreseeably come before the board for a vote. So, the statute creates limits on the mayor conferring with a councilmember because they might vote on the matter.

“One of the biggest things is … an opportunity for me to be able to tell you where we’re at,” Brown told councilmembers. About term limits, Brown said Bradenton candidates have campaigned on the issue for years and it is time to let voters decide.

“I just thought it was the right time to bring it up again,” said Brown, who raised the issue as far back as 2012. “I believe this is an 80-20 (opinion) in the community. The citizens probably believe in some term limits.”

The proposed limit is for 12 consecutive years, with an opportunity for a person to run again after a two-year break. “I never thought eight years was enough in a situation,” Brown said. “Twelve years … seems to be good. …And you know, you can be president for eight years, you could be governor for eight years, but you can never go back. There’s an opportunity with this to go back.”

Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore shared a concern that term limits can narrow the pool of candidates. For example, a person who would have to quit a job to serve on the council might hesitate to run.

Bradenton City Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore speaks to term limits during a meeting June 10 at city hall.

Brown said term limits could result in more interest in running for office because people will not have to compete against 20- year incumbents.

“I just think it’s the right time” for the question, the mayor said, adding, “If it gets voted up or down, we live with it.” Days after the council approved the two ballot questions, candidate qualifying for the nonpartisan city election — and many other offices — closed.

According to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey in Ward 2 qualified and David Levin withdrew his candidacy from the Nov. 3 general election.

In Ward 3, incumbent Kemp Schuessler and Thomas Schwarz qualified.

In Ward 4, Moore and Keith Green qualified.

Election Day is Nov. 3.