A deadlock surrounding a choice to fill a vacant Islamorada Council seat ended after one finalist withdrew his name from consideration.
Council members convening at the Founders Park Community Center for a Feb. 11 meeting ultimately approved Anna Richards for the post vacated by Buddy Pinder. A real estate agent and licensed floodplain manager, Richards was one of two finalists council members had considered for several hours during a special Jan. 30 meeting. The other was real estate agent and Land Acquisition Advisory Committee chairman Greg Dully.
In his remarks to council members on Feb. 11, Dully said he decided to step down from being considered after much thought and prayer. He said it wasn’t an easy decision to make, although he believed the move would foster unity while hoping that it would allow the council to move forward.
“I ask that we come together in support of Anna as we move forward. Our community is stronger when we stand united, and that was why I ran and was hoping to get an appointment,” he said. “I’m confident we can work together to make Islamorada a beautiful place to live.”
Dully added he plans to stay involved and intends to run for council in the next election.
The seat came open after Pinder, who won a two-year term last November, submitted his resignation letter to the village on Jan. 10. Following Pinder’s exit, the village sought residents interested in filling the seat. Seven candidates came before the council last month and stated why they’d be best suited to represent the village residents.
Council members were stuck, however, as repeated 2-2 votes to fill the position persisted into the evening on Jan. 30. Mayor Sharon Mahoney and Vice Mayor Don Horton supported Richards, while councilman Steve Friedman and councilwoman Deb Gillis wanted Dully. An impasse led council to table the matter to a March meeting, as no one budged from their position. Council members were set to discuss the council vacancy, as Horton added a discussion item to the Feb. 11 agenda. But Dully’s decision to step away from consideration led Horton to request that the council select Richards.
Friedman suggested the council pursue a change in the village charter to allow for a special election, and give the voters a chance to decide as opposed to four sitting members. Currently, the charter doesn’t allow for a special election in cases where a vacancy exists on council. Village Attorney John Quick said the change would need to be brought forth via ordinance. The process would likely take four months.
Horton believed the council had a responsibility to follow the charter.
“When we started this entire thing with Buddy’s resignation, we all agreed on what the process would be. We were stuck and didn’t know how to get out of it. We’re not stuck now,” he said.
The council ultimately voted 4-0 to approve Richards to fill the vacant seat. She was sworn in by Village Clerk Marne McGrath after the council successfully worked through its agenda.
Gillis thanked Dully for his consideration of the seat, while Horton said he was a “uniter, not a divider.”
A full council will return to the Founders Park Community Center for a meeting on March 18.
