The developer-friendly majority opposes a special election.
By Ramon Lopez
Original Air Date: April 23, 2025
Host: It took Venice City Council members barely five minutes to decide how to fill the seat abandoned by Joan Farrell two weeks ago. Ramon Lopez reports.
Ramon Lopez: It took the Venice City Council exactly five minutes and 30 seconds on Tuesday to decide how to fill the council seat vacated by Joan Farrell’s unexpected resignation.
Venice’s charter requires the city council to appoint a successor for Farrell within 60 days. Candidates must be registered voters and Venice residents for at least 12 months.
The council last filled a seat after a member resigned in January 2022. Rachel Frank was appointed to replace Brian Kelly.
The council can appoint that person to: one, fill the entire remaining term; or two, serve until a special election is held.
The city council members voted to seek qualified candidates through Friday May 2. Nominations will then be made by council members with a tie broken by drawing lots.
But the city council did not call for a special election, as suggested by council member Ron Smith. He did not make a formal motion because he knew he wouldn’t get a second. Smith cast the lone nay vote on the matter.
We hear from Ron Smith and Vice Mayor Jim Boldt.
Ron Smith.
Ron Smith: I’m thinking that the appointment would be better for an interim period until a special election can be held, given that the duration of this open seat is fully 18 months.
Jim Boldt.
Jim Boldt: Our public does not want special elections because they cost a lot of money. While I always welcome the public to vote, this is an interim situation, so I think we should follow what the public wants us to do.
RL: The grassroots group Venice Thrives favored a special election so Venice residents can have a voice in selecting Farrell’s replacement. Ron Smith agreed.
RS: We need to appoint somebody immediately to fill the seat. But we can also call for a special election. I favor a special election because this seat is going to be open for more than half of the term—for 18 months.
RL: The list of known candidates includes former two-term council member Mitzie Fiedler. She was defeated in 2023 in the Seat 1 race by Farrell. Fieldler’s upset loss was viewed as a reaction to her vote favoring approval of the rezoning of property at the corner of Jacaranda Boulevard and Laurel Road to allow for a Pat Neal shopping center development.
A second known candidate is Chris Derbak, a military vet who has spoken at council meetings about hurricane cleanup.
As the drama over selection of Farrell’s replacement plays out, it appears unlikely that opponents to the controversial shopping center that will replace wetland will continue their fight. That’s the view of Ron Smith.
RS: The decision of the council can be appealed. It’s not very realistic to appeal it. I don’t know whether they will. I’d hate to see them spend a lot of money. They’ve already spent a lot of money trying to fight this issue.
RL: Meanwhile, Joan Farrell told WSLR News why she thinks the city council voted in favor of Neal’s plan, the last straw for the one-term-and out council member.
Joan Farrell.
Joan Farrell: I’m mystified because, at the minimum, they should have issued stipulations for glaring safety issues. I would just think that they were pro-developer. Their record has been that. I don’t know that—a lot of people say, “Oh, well, they’re in the developer’s pocket.” I would never say any such thing. I would never say that any bribes are being sent across the table. It could be simply a matter of groupthink—that they have had this stance for so long that it just seems to be a status quo-type vote. It could be that.
RL: It’s now revealed the anchor business at Neal’s shopping center will be a Publix grocery with an adjacent liquor store. Attorney Francis Recchuiti, an area resident, warned Publix corporate management in a letter that “the traffic pattern on the site development plan, if implemented, will certainly cause catastrophic consequences and financial risk to Publix.”
He said the developer calls for a dangerous four-way intersection which will not be controlled by a traffic light.
He forewarned Publix of the potential risk of liability because of being warned of the danger at this business development.
This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.