Last Key West City Commission Vacancy in 1995
- Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
- Nov 29, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Last Key West City Commission Vacancy in 1995
By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco November 29, 2025
The last time Key West faced the unusual task of appointing an interim city commissioner was in 1995, when District 6 Commissioner Emery Major was suspended and later removed from office. Governor Lawton Chiles issued the suspension on June 30, 1995, after federal investigators uncovered evidence of election fraud and bribery tied to Major’s 1993 campaign. The suspension created a vacancy that required immediate action under city law, much like the current District 5 process in 2025.
Emery Major’s removal stemmed from allegations of absentee ballot fraud and bribery. In the 1993 municipal election, Major won his seat with a significant portion of votes coming from absentee ballots — 219 in total, representing about 35% of his vote count. Investigators found that campaign workers had improperly collected ballots from elderly voters, sometimes delivering them directly to Major’s home. These practices violated election law and raised serious concerns about corruption. The scandal became part of the broader “Bubba Busts” era, when federal authorities cracked down on entrenched corruption in Key West politics.
To fill the vacancy, Governor Chiles appointed Carmen Turner as interim commissioner. Turner’s appointment was historic: she became the first and only Black woman to serve on the Key West City Commission. Initially appointed to complete Major’s term, Turner later ran for election in 1997 and won, serving until 2005. Her tenure was marked by dedication to community service and advocacy for transparency, making her a respected figure in Key West civic life.
The 1995 case underscores how rare interim appointments are in Key West. They occur only under extraordinary circumstances — in this case, corruption and removal from office. The appointment of Carmen Turner stands as both a corrective measure to restore integrity and a milestone in the city’s history.
As Key West now faces another appointment in District 5 following Mary Lou Hoover’s passing, the precedent of 1995 offers a reminder of the weight such decisions carry.
In the decades that followed, from the 2000s through the early 2020s, the city commission remained relatively stable. No commissioners were removed for misconduct or corruption, and most transitions occurred through regular elections or voluntary resignations. This long period of continuity underscores how rare and significant the 1995 removal truly was in Key West’s civic history.
The only recent case that came close to a removal was Mary Lou Hoover in 2025. Hoover, who represented District 5, missed three consecutive meetings between August and October due to health problems. Under the city charter, missing four consecutive meetings without an excused absence would automatically vacate the seat. Before this provision could be triggered, however, Hoover passed away on November 19, 2025, creating the vacancy now being filled by appointment.
Beyond local charter provisions, Key West commissioners also faced state-level threats in 2025. In July, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier threatened to remove commissioners, except Commissioner Carey who voted to support ICE agreement 287g, after they voted to void the city’s immigration enforcement agreement with ICE. While the threat was serious and highlighted political tensions between the city and state, no removals were ultimately carried out.
Taken together, the record shows that only one commissioner has been removed since 1995: Emery Major. Mary Lou Hoover’s case in 2025 was a near-removal under the city charter, but her death created the vacancy instead. State-level threats in 2025 further illustrate the pressures Key West commissioners sometimes face, but removals remain exceedingly rare in the city’s modern history.
Sources
“The Bubba Busts Revisited.” Key West The Newspaper (The Blue Paper), 4 Nov. 2019,
“Indictments Verbatim.” Solares Hill, 22 June 1995.
Florida Politics. “James Uthmeier Threatens Key West Leaders with Removal from Office for Voiding ICE Agreement.” Florida Politics, 2 July 2025,
Fox News. “Florida Threatens to Remove Key West Leaders over Sanctuary City Concerns.” Fox News, 2 July 2025.
Miami New Times. “Florida AG Threatens to Remove Key West Commissioners After ICE Vote.” Miami New Times, 2 July 2025.
Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
Liana is a Key West native who loves writing about her island home. She taught English to students in grades 6–12 for nearly 35 years in Key West schools, sharing her love of literature and language with generations of local students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida. Liana is the owner of Conch Media Group, LLC, and the creator and manager of The Key West Post. Her goal is to keep readers informed about the issues that matter most in Key West. As a lifelong local, she offers a perspective often missing from corporate media and from journalists and bloggers who are new to the island. When Liana isn't writing and managing this website, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. On most days, you’ll find her walking, biking, or running outdoors, soaking up the natural beauty, friendly people, and diverse cultures that make Key West so special.
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