On May 3 the voters of Cedar Key will choose their representatives on the City Commission and the Cedar Key Water & Sewer Special District Board. Occupation of three seats on the Commission and one contested seat on the Water & Sewer Board will be decided, without the possibility of a runoff election because only two people are running for each seat.
Commission Seat No. 1 is a race between Commissioner Heath Davis and Marguerite VanLandingham. For Seat No. 3 Judith "Skip" Drake and Patrick O`Neal oppose each other. For Seat 5 Commissioner Sue Colson faces challenger Glenda Richburg. One seat on the Water & Sewer Board is being contested, where Chair Thelma McCain faces Jeff Dwyer.
The primary issue in the coming election will probably be planning for the future development of Cedar Key. An underlying issue will be finding a way to provide adequate water for firefighters in several portions of the island. Because some residents of the island live in unincorporated areas, both the Commission and the Water & Sewer Board will be expected to be responsible by many voters.
Building on the citizens` views, as expressed at a two day meeting in 2004, Cedar Key`s Comprehensive Plan and of our Land Development Regulations are being rewritten. The keystone of the Comp Plan is protection of the natural environment. Protection of water quality and aquaculture follows directly from the overall protection of the environment. Maintaining the fishing village character of Cedar Key, the third wish expressed at the 2004 meeting, results from protecting water quality and clamming.
Cedar Key News will send a questionnaire to candidates in all contested elections. The focus of the questionnaire will be the future of Cedar Key. The responses to the questionnaire will be published in the April 21 issue of Cedar Key News.
The Cedar Key Lions Club and Cedar Key News will co-sponsor a candidates forum starting at 7 PM April 22. The forum will be held at the Lions clubhouse. | 