By Le Peerman
Margate voters: on the ballot for the Nov election, there will be a ballot question that will change the charter.
The question is, should Margate have an elected Mayor?
Now, if that were the only thing I wouldn’t have concerns about; however, how you vote on Nov 2022 doesn’t go into effect until 2028: six years from now.
If this were truly about what the residents want, you would vote for it, and it would go into effect in the next election in 2024.
What happens in 2028?
Three of the commissioners will have served their term limit. Running for mayor would add years onto their term only under a title.
Residents have voted twice for term limits. Once in 2011 for term limits and again in 2018 to remove term limits. (put on the ballot by the same three commissioners that will be termed out in 2028)
Residents voted to keep the term limits. Will the elected mayor have more power than the other commissioners? NO.
The elected mayor will do the same job as the rotating mayor does now. The only difference is mayor will be elected and extended years on the dais. Publicly only one commissioner has said he would run for mayor once termed out. Whether Margate has an elected mayor or not is up to the voters, but I believe so should when that starts, not up to people who want to get around term limits.
I am also concerned about the pay. While it has been said the mayor will make the same that they make now remember, according to the charter, the commission sets the salary for themselves. I can easily see the mayor’s salary being raised.
Read the question well and understand what exactly you are voting for. This should have been a simple ballot change question.
Should Margate have an elected mayor? It should not have been set up to be advantageous to commissioners now serving.
My recommendation is to vote no as this question is set up.
Former Margate Commissioner/Former Margate Mayor
Lesa “Le” Peerman
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