BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Starke has set a special election to fill the District 3 seat currently held by Commissioner Shannon Smith.
Smith recently announced he would run for the District 1 county commission seat. Because his term as city commissioner would overlap if he were elected to serve on the county commission, he must resign from office.
His resignation is effective Oct. 1.
Starke has arranged to hold a special election to replace Smith on Aug. 20, which coincides with this year’s primary election.
District 3 covers the northwest portion of the city as well as much of downtown west of U.S. 301.
Starke commissioners earn $1,481 a month, or $17,772 a year. The qualifying fee of 5% of the annual salary plus a 1% election assessment comes to $1,066, which must be paid during qualifying week. Qualifying week is from noon on Monday, June 10, to noon on Friday, June 14.
Supervisor of Elections Amanda Seyfang will oversee the election.
Commissioner Danny Nugent wanted the commission to fill the position of city clerk during the same special election. The position is open following the resignation of Jimmy Crosby. Like Smith, Crosby’s term would have ended following the city’s next scheduled election in fall 2025. City Manager Drew Mullins has been appointed interim city clerk by the commission to carry out the duties of those office.
Commissioners still have more to talk about regarding both the clerk and police chief positions. Both are elected offices per the city charter. The commission could place charter referenda on the primary ballot, however, asking voters if they would like to amend the charter and remove these elected positions.
If that is the case, electing a new clerk might be premature.
In 2017, the commission asked voters about changing the clerk from an elected to an appointed position. With a 16% voter turnout, the referendum lost by just six votes.
Starke is something of an anomaly as many municipal clerks are appointed by a mayor or city council. The same is often true of police chiefs as well.
Despite what some have claimed, Starke voters have not in recent times been asked about whether the police chief should remain an elected position. While it was discussed, the question never made it to a ballot.
The difference now is there is no longer an agency for a police chief to lead. The commission has turned law enforcement over to the sheriff’s office and approved an ordinance naming the police chief a ceremonial position paid an annual salary of $1.
