Charter committee adopts top-two primary to move Panama City elections to November

A Panama City charter-review committee voted 4–1 to adopt a top-two primary option that advances the two highest vote-getters to the November general election, the committee said during its meeting.

The vote, taken after a lengthy discussion about voter turnout and the role of August primaries, followed debate over three options: a plurality/winner-take-all approach in November; a primary that advances the top two candidates to November; and a primary system that requires a 50% majority. Supporters of the top-two option argued it preserves the November general election as the decisive contest while avoiding a potentially low-turnout August result deciding officeholders.

Committee members said aligning municipal contests with state and national elections should boost participation. One member noted that in Ward 2, with 4,649 registered voters, only about 400 cast ballots in the most recent local contest, and members cited that low participation as a motivation for change.

Motion and vote details: a committee member moved to adopt option 3 (top-two primary); the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote, 4 votes in favor and 1 opposed. Vice Chair Henderson Jansenius and two other members recorded yes votes; one member recorded a no. The committee did not alter candidate qualification deadlines beyond the options discussed; members said the commission retains statutory authority over certain timing and term-length questions.

The committee asked staff to incorporate this decision into a master redline charter draft and to circulate updated language before the next meeting. Staff said it will also assemble examples of how other Florida municipalities structure primaries and November contests. The committee directed follow-up work rather than final placement in the charter; any charter language will be finalized and then presented for voter approval as required.