During the past five days, two members of the Milton City Council have abruptly resigned, prompting the city to seek applicants for appointees to complete the remainder of their respective terms, which both end in 2022.
Ward 4 Seat 1 Councilwoman Sharon Holley resigned on Thursday, March 18, and Ward 3 Seat 1 Councilman George Jordan called it quits yesterday.
Holley, in her resignation letter, referenced but didn’t specify “outside influences,” which she blamed for making the council “ineffective.”
Jordan, during today’s Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners meeting, announced he had resigned and thanked commissioners for their support.
“I have grave concerns about the transparency, honesty accountability and leadership in Milton,” Jordan said, adding that he believed continuing forward would be an indicator he was in agreement with City actions.
But District 3 Commissioner James Calkins expressed hope that the resignations might prove helpful for the city, which has been marred by dramatic infighting amongst council members and the mayor. “I think Milton right now, with the new majority, is going in the right direction,” said Calkins.
“Mr. Calkins, you and I definitely disagree on that,” replied Jordan.
District 1 Commissioner Sam Parker praised Jordan for his service. “I think you did it from a truly altruistic viewpoint,” said Parker, adding that the back-to-back resignations “causes a little head scratching to maybe wonder what’s going on over there.”
As per the City Charter, the City Council has a total of 60 days to appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacated seats for the remainder of the unexpired term.
The following schedule will be used to make the appointments will be followed:
- Deadline to Apply: 2 p.m., Monday, April 5, 2021
- Review and Discussion: 5:30 p.m., Monday, April 5, 2021 (at the Executive Committee Meeting)
- Appointment: 5:0 p.m., Tuesday, April 13, 2021 (at the regular meeting of the City Council)
Interested parties who reside within Ward 3 or Ward 4 (pictured in green and yellow below), may complete an application for the respective vacancy and submit a current resume to the City Clerk before the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The City Clerk will review all applications to determine eligibility. Applicants will be given an opportunity to present their qualifications at the April 5, 2021 Executive Committee Meeting.
Applications are available on the City’s website: https://www.miltonfl.org/269/Elections
All related events are open to the public and will take place at City Hall, located at 6738 Dixon Street in Milton.
The City Clerk can be reached at 850-983-5402.
