Smith retains council seat, Johnson joins
No election will be held in March for the Sanibel City Council as only two candidates filed paperwork for the two seats opening up – a sitting councilmember and a now-former planning commissioner.
City Councilwoman Holly Smith and Richard Johnson, who held a seat on the Sanibel Planning Commission up until Jan. 25, both filed to take part in the election. Smith’s seat, along with the seat currently held by Councilman Chauncey Goss, were on the ballot. Goss did not seek re-election.
Because they were the only candidates, Smith and Johnson will take up the two seats when they expire on March 19.
Smith was appointed to the city council in December 2017 to serve in an interim position, filling a vacancy left behind when former Councilman Jim Jennings relocated to Fort Myers. She was one of nine applicants who applied to the city to fill the vacant seat and was picked by the sitting council.
In January 2018, the city held a one-week qualifying period for anyone interested in running for Smith’s seat to finish out the final year of Jennings’ term. Smith was the only candidate to complete the process and qualify. Had she had any challengers, a special election would have been scheduled.
With Johnson moving to the city council, a planning commission seat has opened up.
“There will be another vacancy we’re filling on the planning commission,” Smith said on Jan. 22 during the Sanibel Planning Commission meeting.
At its Jan. 15 meeting, the city council filled two openings on the planning commission – the results of Phillip Marks and Dirk deWerff retiring. It also reappointed Commissioner Roger Grogman.
Eric Pfeifer and Paul Nichols were appointed in separate 5-0 votes by the council.