Commission Aims to Pick District V Appointee

Other big-ticket items head line Tuesday’s agenda.

The Key West City Commission is expected to make one of its most consequential decisions of the year Tuesday when it selects an interim commissioner to fill the District V seat left vacant by the death of Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover earlier this month.

While the agenda includes dozens of routine contracts, purchases and grant agreements, the central item is Agenda Item 28, calling for commissioners to appoint Hoover’s temporary successor under Section 2-31 of the city’s Code of Ordinances.

From left to right, Bethel, Covan, Harrison, Ivey Jones, Romero and Veliz — applicants for the vacant District V seat formerly held by Mary Lou Hoover.

Six applicants in the running

• Harry Bethel, former city commissioner

• Fred Covan, retired psychologist and longtime civic advocate

• Susan Harrison, former Monroe County School Board member

• Sherry Ivey Jones, former Bahama Village Redevelopment Advisory Committee chair

• Margaret Romero, neighborhood advocate and declared 2026 District V candidate

• Gregory Veliz, former Key West city manager and FKAA Executive Director

Commissioners are not required to conduct interviews or use a scoring matrix, and the Charter gives them broad discretion in choosing an appointee. The interim commissioner will serve through the end of Hoover’s term, in 2026.

Other business Tuesday

Though overshadowed by the District V vacancy, commissioners will also consider other items on the agenda including:

— A proposal by Commissioner Sam Kaufman to allocate $40,000 in emergency relief funds to local food pantries amid rising food insecurity.

— A slate of special-event approvals, including New Year’s Eve celebrations on Duval Street, the Mile 0 Fest kickoff concert, and multi-day events at Truman Waterfront Park.

— Purchases of major public-safety equipment, including a mobile command post funded with federal Homeland Security dollars and a 6000-psi air trailer for the Fire Department.

— Second readings of several ordinances, including a proposed Employee Whistleblower Protection Act, updates to building-regulation enforcement authority, and a measure waiving permit fees for public-housing projects.

— An evening presentation on the Duval Street Resiliency & Revitalization Plan, scheduled for the 5 p.m. session.

The commission will also receive an update on the city’s progress implementing recommendations from the 2025 Monroe County grand jury report.

The meeting opens at 9 a.m. for the morning session, with the evening session reconvening at 5 p.m., both at City Hall, 1300 White Street. The full meeting will be live-streamed on the city’s website and public comment can also be registered via eComment.