Bradenton Beach Election Sees No Contested Races, Commission Vacancy Looms
Qualifying for Bradenton Beach’s Nov. 4 municipal election closed Aug. 29 without a single contested race, leaving one commission seat vacant and three incumbents automatically returning to office.
Mayor John Chappie, who has lived in the city for nearly five decades, will serve another two-year term. Chappie has held the mayor’s seat for more than 12 years across two separate tenures and previously served six years as a commissioner. He emphasized his continued focus on guiding the city through recovery efforts following the 2024 hurricanes.
Commissioner Debbie Scaccianoce, first appointed in December 2023, secured a two-year term representing Ward 1, while Commissioner Ralph Cole will return to the dais with a one-year term for Ward 3. Cole previously lost his seat but regained it after city ward boundaries were revised.
The one vacancy comes from Ward 4, where longtime Commissioner Jan Vosburgh is stepping down after serving since 2013. No candidates qualified to run for her seat. Per the city charter, the commission must advertise the vacancy and appoint a resident from Ward 4 to fill the two-year term after Vosburgh’s departure in November.
Bradenton Beach commissioners receive $400 per month, while the mayor earns $800 per month.
