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The Longboat Key Town commissioner and the Bradenton Beach commissioner join dozens of elected officials across Florida who resigned early this year without filing new detailed financial disclosure forms required by the state. Ta.
Debbie Murphy resigned as Longboat Key town commissioner on Dec. 24, but announced her resignation in November.
Jake Spooner sent a one-sentence email to city officials on Dec. 28 and resigned from his position as Bradenton Beach Commissioner.
“I have cherished the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our city and collaborate on initiatives that improve the quality of life for our residents,” Spooner wrote. “However, due to recent changes in state law regarding financial disclosure requirements for city employees, I have determined that I must resign from my position at this time. Thank you for the opportunity to serve Bradenton Beach. It has been truly rewarding. .” period of my life. ”
The mandatory disclosure bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis received broad bipartisan support in the Republican-led 2023 legislative session. Now, officials in areas such as Naples, Daytona Beach Shores, Cedar Key and Fort Myers Beach have resigned to sequester their finances.
In St. Pete Beach and North Palm Beach, a majority of elected officials have resigned. In Reddick, Marion County, all six commissioners and the mayor resigned, leaving only the secretary in charge of local government.
The form asks for information about the official’s net worth, amounts in bank accounts, 401k plans, assets of $1,000 or more, and all debts, and may also disclose certain businesses with specific clients or investment interests. It has been demanded.
What is Form 6? Here’s why so many elected officials across Florida are suddenly resigning.
What now? Will Mr. DeSantis replace the dozens of local officials who resigned in the face of new disclosure laws?
In Anna Maria, three of the five candidates vying for appointment to two vacant City Council seats withdrew their candidacy due to new requirements.
Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton said the town council took a strong stance against the bill before it was passed last year, but Murphy was the only mayor to resign as a result. Ta. The vacancy is expected to be filled by the Jan. 22 commission appointment.
“The new disclosure requirements were an intrusion into her private life beyond what she had signed up for,” Tipton said. “There were several people who were very concerned and weren’t sure whether to proceed with her term.”
“Our commissioners are not paid for their time,” he said. “They’re just a committee of volunteers. And asking them to disclose this much financial information seems a little harsh.”
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said he has no personal concerns because he is familiar with financial disclosure forms as a two-term Manatee County commissioner. But he, too, worries that increased oversight will deter a dwindling number of permanent residents from running for local government.
“This will narrow the pool of candidates we can draw from,” Chappie said. “People are going to start thinking even more about it before they decide to run…I’m all for transparency, but this is a deeper issue than disclosure forms.”In recent years, we’ve seen a lot more… I think I was hit by this. ”
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said the city has struggled to find enough candidates to run for years. The board is preparing to make appointments in January to fill the two City Council seats that were left unfilled because there were no candidates during the general election.
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Murphy said requiring detailed financial disclosure would have a big impact on small-town politics.
“People don’t want to reveal what they have or don’t have,” Murphy says. “When you’re in a small city and you’re in public office, it’s like living in a fishbowl. Everybody knows everybody. The neighbors know how much they owe, how much property they have. Do you really want everyone to know?”
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