Monroe County Commissioners chose Holly Merrill Raschein as the mayor during a Nov. 8 meeting at the Harvey Government Center in Key West. Commissioner Jim Scholl will serve as mayor pro tem.
Merrill Raschein has been a commissioner since 2021, and Scholl since 2022. Commissioners recognized outgoing Mayor Craig Cates for his performance for the past year and for leading the county through its 200th anniversary celebrations.
The mayor’s title is given to the Board of County Commissioners chairperson. The commissioners choose the designee based on a majority vote, usually at the November board meeting. A mayor pro tem is also designated to fill in when the mayor is unavailable. The mayor presides over the Board of County Commissioners meetings and serves as the Monroe County representative at ceremonial occasions. The mayor is also responsible for signing and co-signing documents with the county clerk.
