Summary
At a special meeting Aug. 20, the Town Commission of Melbourne Beach swore in candidates, heard a raised residency question, and voted 5-0 to accept four people as qualified for two upcoming commission seats.
At a special meeting of the Town Commission of Melbourne Beach on Aug. 20, commissioners swore in three candidates, took testimony related to a residency question for one applicant and voted unanimously to accept four people as qualified for two upcoming commission seats.
The sworn proceeding addressed the town charter's candidate-qualification requirements, including a six-month continuous-residency rule. Town Attorney Ryan Knight and Town Clerk Amber Brown administered the process; no member of the public offered objections during the required comment periods and each candidate's qualification was approved 5-0.
The meeting began at about 5 p.m. and the commission said it would follow the charter's procedure for taking testimony under oath to resolve documentary discrepancies. Town officials said they had received change-of-address information from the Florida Division of Elections (secretary of state) showing a recent address change for one candidate; the commission said sworn testimony would allow the record to address that matter.
Dr. Terrence A. Allen Cronin Jr., who introduced himself as a longtime local resident and as a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami, told commissioners, "I look forward to serving this community." Commissioners confirmed on the record that Cronin had submitted the required nominating petition, qualifying fee, loyalty oath, financial-statement forms and candidate oath, and that he met the six-month residency requirement as presented in his testimony. After a motion and second and a public-comment period in which no objections were raised, the commission voted 5-0 to accept him as a qualified candidate.
Bruce McDowell Larson and Steven Owen Walters were each asked the same charter-based qualification questions on the record and were confirmed by Clerk Amber Brown as having filed the required paperwork, paid the qualifying fee and met residency and other documentation requirements. Both were approved by unanimous 5-0 votes after no public objections were offered.
The fourth candidate, Sherry Quarry, was not present for the oath owing to illness, the commission said. Commissioners reported they had not received any formal objections to her paperwork; after a motion and public-comment period with no objections, the commission voted 5-0 to accept her as a qualified candidate.
Votes at a glance: Dr. Terrence A. Allen Cronin Jr. — qualified, vote 5-0; Bruce McDowell Larson — qualified, vote 5-0; Steven Owen Walters — qualified, vote 5-0; Sherry Quarry — qualified, vote 5-0.
The commission adjourned the special session and said it would return for its regular meeting at 6 p.m.
Procedural note: commissioners emphasized this proceeding was not judicial but an official administrative step to receive sworn testimony and documentary evidence required under the town charter for candidate qualification. Public comment on each candidate was opened after a motion and second and closed prior to each vote; no objections were recorded on the public record.
