Four Apply to Fill Key West Commission Seat, Interim Vote Set

Key West officials received and posted four applications as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 26 to fill the District 5 seat on the city commission after the Nov. 19 death of Mary Lou Hoover. The interim appointee will serve until the Aug. 18 election, and the seated commissioners and mayor will vote on the appointment at the Tuesday Dec. 2 city commission meeting. The application window remained open until 5 p.m. on Friday Nov. 28.

The city clerk’s office posted applications from former city commissioner Harry Bethel, former city commissioner Margaret Romero, former senior deputy city clerk Sue Harrison and clinical psychologist Fred Covan. Two candidates have already declared for the Aug. 18 election, and as of Nov. 26 neither had applied for the interim position.

Applicants must live in District 5, have been a full time resident of Key West for at least a year, disclose any potential conflicts of interest, and submit a statement of interest and up to three references. Complete applications were posted on the Dec. 2 meeting agenda at cityofkeywest-fl.gov.

Harry Bethel noted his long life and service in Key West and his prior tenure on the commission from 1991 to 2007. He wrote that he seeks “to fill the unexpired term for District 5 and will not seek election at the end of the term. I think based on my experience as city commissioner, I can be an asset for the duration of the term.” Bethel listed several local references.

Sue Harrison drew on 21 years in the city clerk’s office, retiring as senior deputy city clerk. She emphasized familiarity with the city’s code of ordinances, land development regulations and bid procedures, and wrote, “From my experience in the city clerk’s office, I understand the value of confidentiality and being impartial, acquiring all the information available in order to make the best decisions possible for the city. My wish is to fill the seat for District 5 that Commissioner Hoover held with as much thoughtfulness and compassion as she demonstrated throughout her career.”

Margaret Romero cited experience as an IBM executive consultant in organizational change and strategy and described priorities including putting community members first and using data based decision making. Fred Covan, a clinical psychologist, wrote that he is skilled in conflict resolution and community leadership, noting his long term local involvement and service to congregational governance. He wrote, “I love this city and am not going anywhere. In fact, I have already bought my gravesite in KW. I believe I am a good candidate for this position because I am comfortable dealing with people and conflict. I have organized and managed emotionally disturbed adolescents in Harlem, NY, psychologists in a large NY hospital and I’ve been president of the board of directors of the local synagogue for 30 years, and don’t think that’s not an easy job. I am good at conflict resolution and think I can bring some stability and listening to the board.”

For residents of District 5 the interim appointment will determine who speaks for neighborhood priorities on land use, municipal contracts and routine commissions business through next summer. The commission’s Dec. 2 vote will settle who holds that authority until voters decide in August.