CITY OF CEDAR KEY COMMISSION
APPOINTS MAYOR, VICE
2025 April 8
2025 April 8
Editor’s Note:
Cedar Key News staff initially reported that
Cedar Key News staff initially reported that
Fire Chief / Emergency Operations Director Robert Robison was not in attendance.
He was in attendance. The error is corrected in the third paragraph below.
The Cedar Key City Commission met Tuesday evening, April 8, 2025, at 5 pm at City Hall. In attendance were Commissioners Nancy Sera, Jim Wortham, Jeff Webb, and Jolie Davis. Also in attendance was commissioner-to-be Mel Beckham.
MEETING SPECIFICS
Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Department Chief Edwin Jenkins, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain, City Clerk / Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester, Deputy City Clerk Telicia Winfield, Clerk Heather Lang, and Fire Chief / Emergency Operations Director Robert Robinson.
This meeting was attended by some forty-plus audience members. Among them were: Jennifer Webb, Jan and Clay Childers, Janice Fugate, Sherry Sicking, Doug and Sandy Lindhout, Vanessa and Ken Edmonds, Angie Beckham, Anne Miller, Jeri Treat, Tom Ankersen, Andrew Gude, Caryn Stephenson, Doris Hellerman, Royce and Allison Nelson, Tammy Wilkes, Ben Iverson, Tara Barney, Jim and Lynn Martindale, Judge Luis Bustamante, Dennis Gill, Dell Weible, and the Cedar Key News’ Mandy and Frank Offerle.
REORGANIZATION
Annually, after elections, reorganization occurs. Normally, reorganization includes the seating of new members, election of a mayor and vice-mayor, and the rehiring of the attorney and department heads.
This “special meeting” was called because commissioner Nacy Sera will be out of town at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The rehiring of the city attorney and department heads is postponed until an upcoming meeting, while the mayor and vice-mayor are elected tonight.
NEWLY ELECTED, RESEATED COMMISSIONERS SWORN IN
Introduced by City Attorney Norm Fugate, Levy County Judge Luis Bustamante swore in the three newly elected commissioners to be seated or reseated: Jolie Davis, Jim Wortham, and Mel Beckham. The swearing in affirms allegiance to the city, state, and the nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
After heralding Cedar Key’s storm resilience, a bit of biographical data on each appointee, and his expression that he thoroughly enjoyed proceedings such as these, Bustamante administered the oath of office and unabashedly presented each with a pen with his name on it.
MAYORAL DUTIES DISCUSSED
Deviating from the appropriately noticed agenda and citing several commissioners’ requests to do so, Attorney Norm Fugate introduced a document written by Commissioner Jolie Davis attempting to outline the duties of mayor.
The document commented upon aspects, such as: policy implementation, city administration, budget management, public engagement, meeting management, and communication.
Commissioners thanked Davis for the document. Suggested changes will be transmitted to Fugate, who will return to the commission with a coalesced draft.
MAYOR ELECTED
Fugate then opened the floor for a motion for mayor. There was some discussion as to whether it should be a motion or nomination.
Wortham said that it should be a nomination and that was seconded by Sera.
Newcomer to the commission Mel Beckham was nominated by Jim Wortham. Graciously declining, Beckham responded that as this was the first night in the position, he could not accept the position. He thanked everyone.
Jolie Davis nominated Jeff Webb for mayor; Webb accepted the nomination.
Jim Wortham nominated Nancy Sera for mayor; Sera declined the nomination.
Nancy Sera then nominated Jim Wortham for mayor; Wortham also declined the nomination.
Fugate then asked, "Would lanyone like to nominate Davis?"
Davis said she had already expressed her desire not to act as mayor.
.
Resultantly, after three declinations for the position, Jeff Webb, in a three to two vote, was elected mayor.
The yeas were Webb, Davis and Beckham. The nays were Sera and Wortham.
VICE MAYOR ELECTED
Beckham nominated Wortham for vice mayor.
Beckham nominated Wortham for vice mayor.
Webb nominated Davis for vice mayor.
Jim Wortham was elected vice mayor in a four to one vote.
MEETING ADJOURNED
The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 pm
The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 pm
*******
