A Different Approach to a Marco Mayor

At the December council meeting an ordinance was moved forward to establish a Mayor on Marco Island. This action requires a City Charter amendment that would need to be voted on and approved by a majority of the Marco electorate. The sad thing about this ordinance is that the Mayor would not be chosen by the voters but by the Councilors. I have a better idea.

Let’s change the City Charter to elect Councilors by districts and elect an at-large Mayor. Marco has three voting precincts (190,193,194) divided equally by population. Let’s make the precincts into districts and choose two Councilors per district on staggered four-year terms and have a Mayor run at large for a four-year term

This is how it would work. November 2024 Marco has four seats up for Council. Each precinct (190,193,194) would elect a Councilor to serve a four-year term and all precincts would vote for a Mayor to serve a four-year term. Two of the remaining three Councilors, with terms expiring in 2026, are living in separate precincts (193,194). Councilor Folley (193) must resign to run for the State Representative seat, so in November 2024 someone will be elected to finish his remaining term. This person would live in precinct 190.

If this Charter change was approved the new system would be complete next year. Of course, as is currently the case, no one shall be elected to more than two four-year terms (any combination of Councilor or Mayor). This new district system would improve the representation of the citizens of Marco Island.