The Choice is Clear When Considering What It Takes to be Mayor

I’d like a few moments of your time to address the mayoral race here in the City of Anna Maria, and what I think, in my past experiences, is needed at this time.

As a former three-term commissioner, I served concurrently with two mayors, Sue Lynn and Fran Barford. Both administered our city with very different styles. It’s not important to elaborate on the differences, but I can say with all certainty, there’s a right way and a not so effective way to run our city.

Some will say that since the mayor doesn’t have a vote, there’s really not much to be concerned about from the standpoint of policy or experience. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Administratively, our city is in as good a shape as it has ever been. It is undeniable that to keep it that way and make needed on-going improvements requires seasoned skill and expertise. 

Being mayor, first and foremost, is about solid management skills. The more our mayor knows about how to manage people effectively, the better off our city will be. Your staff will work harder, they’ll accomplish more, and the city will run smoother, more efficiently.

The more our mayor knows about how to deal with often-difficult conflicts, especially as the “face” of the city, the better life will be for everyone.

And the more experience our mayor has managing multi-million-dollar budgets, the lower your taxes will be.

It is my considered opinion that one candidate for mayor simply does not have the depth of experience nor maturity in business and financial affairs to face such challenges. It is my opinion that one candidate does have what it takes to meet the challenges of being mayor to the betterment of our city. That candidate is Mike Selby, a man of unimpeachable character, solidly backed by 30 years of very successful business experience. 

I don’t see any experience in his opponent’s background that qualifies her to effectively deal with today’s challenges and multi-million-dollar finances. Nothing personal; just the facts. If I were interviewing both for the job, the choice would be very clear. 

So, putting personalities aside, please take the time to think about who you would feel comfortable with when it comes to managing the issues and the finances of your city.