Information set for upcoming elections
There will be two seats open for the Fort Myers Beach Town Council in March 2016.
Information related to candidacy qualification and reporting dates is now available on the Town website at www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov to inform those interested at making a run at a municipal seat.
Councilman Alan Mandel (seat #2) will be “termed out” after he serves his second three-year term and will not be able to run for Council for at least one year beginning in March. Vice Mayor Dan Andre (seat #1) has served one full three-year term and is eligible for a second term if he so chooses to run again.
There has been some confusion as to Andre’s eligibility. In October of 2012, Andre filled the interim position created by the resignation of former Beach Mayor Larry Kiker after he vacated his Council seat to run for County Commission. In March 2013, Andre then qualified and ran unopposed for his first three-year term, so he is eligible to run again.
Council election is March 15, 2016. Qualifying week for that municipal election begins at noon on Jan. 25, 2016 and extends to noon Jan. 29, 2016.
According to Town records, there are three guidelines for a candidate for Town council to following: 1) must be a resident of the Town and a registered voter and must have resided within the corporate limits of the Town for a minimum of one year prior to qualifying for election; 2) may announce his or her candidacy at any time, but must not accept any contribution, make any expenditure or collect any signature on a candidate-petition with a view to bringing about his or her nomination, election or retention in public office, or authorize another to accept such contributions or make such expenditure on the person’s behalf before an Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (DE-DE 9) must be filed with the Town Clerk. The form must be completed before the campaign account can be opened.
One percent of a potential candidate’s annual salary can be made payable from the candidate’s campaign account to the Town of Fort Myers Beach as a filing fee. If a candidate chooses to qualify by petition and avoid a filing fee, no less than 51 certified petitions must reach the Elections office no later than Dec. 28, at noon.
Go to www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov for more information regarding the municipal election process, required forms and publications. From the Town website home page, click “Your Government,” “Departments,” Town Clerk,” then “Municipal Elections.”
During the elections, there will be also 22 referenda questions on the ballot. Town Attorney Dawn Lehnert has been tasked to re-work of the questions ror better chronological order.