Woman gets Elected Mayor in landslide, but cannot take offic

[JonathanBelles]

That is the headline of today here in my controversial little town. We just had elections here on the 10th for Mayor and Council. As you saw in on of my other topics, Kenneth City has some of the strangest laws and codes, but this town just made headline news. In both races, both the incumbent positions lost in landslides. Teresa Zemaitis, is a public high school teacher (at my old HS BTW), and overwhelmingly won in the Mayoral race with a vote of 71.2%. There is a vague statue in the Kenneth City Charter that says that public workers cannot be mayors. Because Zemaitis won, she had to go to court the other day, and it was decided that she cannot take office, even though she was allowed to run, and won in a landslide! This is the first issue of its kind to come about in the State of Florida! Zemaitis will be appealing, but for now she is recognized by the public as Mayor-Elect, and by the law as a High School Teacher.

BUT BUT BUT!!! The same law stops the replacement of the Mayor from happening. The leading candidate for Vice-Mayor (an appointed position by Mayor [or by Council in the effect that there is no mayor]) is also a public employee, so she also cannot not take office!!!

Oh, Living in Florida is bad at times, but living in Kenneth City is comical at times.


Just thought I would share this story.

[vbhoutex]

[southerngale]

That's nuts! Keep us posted on what happens.

[JonathanBelles]

Article in today's Neighborhood Times (local newspaper), says that Zemaitis is paying/has paid $1,500 in total. The town of Kenneth City has paid an overwhelming $17, 244.45 in total to keep her OUT of office. All council members will be inaugurated on Wednesday...but no mayor will be put in. In the future, there will be a vote for Vice Mayor by the newly sat city council. That person will act as mayor, if it is not the teacher, unless Zemaitis gets an injunction to hold the office open.

We have found out that if Zemaitis loses her case or drops it, then one of the council members will be mayor....which means there would have to be another election!

By the time this mess gets cleared up, it will be time to jump into the St. Petersburg City Mayoral Elections, which will be VERY hot this year.

[vbhoutex]

Sounds like good ole boy politics led by someone who has a bone to pick with her to me. She needs to get an injunction against the city and go for the throat imo.

[gtalum]

The rules are the rules. Apparently she knew before she ran that she was ineligible.

I suspect her appeal will be laughed out of court. There's nothing unconstitutional about the rule.

[Derek Ortt]

I have to agree (gasp) with gtalum here

she knew the rule. I wonder if she can resign her other position in order to become mayor

[vbhoutex]

I have to agree (gasp) with gtalum here

she knew the rule. I wonder if she can resign her other position in order to become mayor

*****THUD***** Can someone pick vb up off the floor?

[gtalum]

I wonder if she can resign her other position in order to become mayor

She can. The judge in her earlier case specifically said so.

[JonathanBelles]

She was also ALLOWED to run for Mayor as a teacher, and can also hold the position of Mayor-Elect as a teacher. I agree with the town's people, and I voted for her knowing the rule was there.

[JonathanBelles]

Some more news! As I type the new Kenneth City Council is being sworn in and a new vice mayor is being elected. They did a house to house poll today of all residents today to see who everyone wants as vice mayor (who will be interim mayor for now). Funny enough but the slim majority went to, the School Teacher!!!! Her name is Wanda Dudley. I doubt they will elect her, but who knows. All four council members have signed a petition to get a change in the rule to get public workers able to take mayoral office. This petition would force a referendum to change the language of the law. I will probably know tonight or tomorrow who won the vice-mayoral spot.