After announcing resignation Mayor Chris Bull
reflects on achievements in Marathon government
He also spent 10 years as the American Youth Soccer Association’s regional coordinator, as the Marathon Youth Club’s president, and as a tennis pro at Wonderlin Tennis.
Bull has coached numerous soccer teams and tennis players, and has been the recipient of several awards for his community service.
However some of Bull’s fondest memories of Marathon involve his work to expand and improve the city’s parks and recreation facilities, and the upgrading of local infrastructure in anticipation of future development.
“When we first got here in ’99, I came on board to help build the Parks and Recreation Department, phase two of the Community Park, and the amphitheater there, as well as the Rotary Park,” Bull said. “Bringing Jimmy Schmidt aboard and the efforts of all our great volunteers helped create a community of activities and public meeting places where families could get together and have fun. It was a really great time to raise a child and be a part of watching Marathon grow up at the same time as my kids. It’s all been great.
“Since I’ve been here we’ve built two fire stations, and started a fire hydrant program that helped lower people’s fire insurance,” he added. “We also built a Marathon marina, and cleaned up the Boot Key Harbor and made it a jewel for many traveling sailors. We’re in good shape for the next phase of redevelopment and economic growth in our town.”
The process to replace Bull, whose position is a ceremonial one rotated among City Council members, could take more than one path, with the Marathon city election set to take place on Nov. 3.
“In an ideal world we would have had time to decide it during this election, but there’s no time to do that now,” Bull said. “What the charter says is that the city has 30 days from by resignation to fill the vacancy. Oct. 28 is the official date. “They could have the current City Council call a special call meeting, but I think the fairest thing to do would be for the new council, after the election, to make the first order of business the swearing in of the new council, and then make the second order of business the appointing of a new mayor and vice-mayor.”
Oftentimes, Bull said, the council member who serves as vice-mayor is selected to perform the top job by popular vote of the councilors, having received the useful experience of serving as the second-in-command.
“Then whoever wants to be vice-mayor can be voted on,” Bull said.
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