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Ed Bania/Staff

Marco Island resident Jim Kennedy has organized a sign contest to protest a November, 2008 City Council election date. The top three winning signs will receive $200, $100 and $50. The deadline for entries is July 16.

The Marco Island City Council voted 4-2 on June 18 to recommend an ordinance that would change the council election date from the second Tuesday in March next year to the presidential election in November.

The November election date has angered many island citizens, including Joe Batte and Roger Hall. Both have already announced their candidacy based on a spring election date.

Another citizen, Jim Kennedy, has formed a sign contest to protest the November date.

The council election is usually held the second Tuesday in March, the day of Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary. This year, however, the state Legislature approved moving the primary up to Jan. 29.

The public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to move the date to November will likely occur during the Aug. 6 council meeting. If approved, the action would extend the terms of council chairman Mike Minozzi and councilors Glenn Tucker, William Trotter and Terri DiSciullo. All four councilors voted to draft the ordinance. Councilmembers Chuck Kiester and Rob Popoff voted against the date. Councilor Ted Forcht was absent from the meeting.

Minozzi and Tucker cannot run in 2008 because of term limits. DiSciullo’s and Trotter’s seats are also up for election. Both said they haven’t decided whether to run again.

Kennedy is asking residents to create a sign, place it in their front yard, then fill in the contest’s entry blank.

He noted many residents that sent e-mails to councilors objecting to the November date also said they were part of a “silent majority.” Kennedy said the sign contest is an “appeal” to those citizens.

“Since they don’t want to come forward too often, maybe they will be willing to put a sign on their lawn instead of having to go forward to speak to someone,” he said.

Signs for the contest should not be more than four square feet. The deadline for entries is July 16.

Kennedy said impartial judges will determine the best sign based on creativity and content, not artistic ability.

“Be creative, be artistic, be the first on your block to display your thoughts on the council’s decision regarding the November election date, on the STRP, or any other issue that we should have been able to vote on,” Kennedy said. “We should have a voice in city government. Put your voice on canvas, plywood, paper, or whatever material you can find in your garage. Let City Hall know exactly what you think.”

Signs personally attacking people will not be accepted.

The judging will be completed by July 25. Winners will be notified by Aug. 3. People creating the top three winning signs will receive $200, $100 and $50.

You can call Kennedy at 394-9514 or e-mail him at p51cheroke@comcast.net to receive an entry form.