4 Of 5 St. Pete Beach Council Members Resign Over FL Law: Reports

ST. PETE BEACH, FL — St. Pete Beach could soon be without a governing body after four out of the city's five council members submitted their resignations at a Monday meeting, according to multiple reports.

The resignations came in response to a new Florida law called Form 6, which requires small-town officials to disclose personal financial information, including their net worth, the amount of money in their bank accounts and the cost of any assets they own over $1,000, WTVT reported.

The only member of the council who did not resign was Mayor Adrian Petrila, the St. Pete Catalyst reported.

"This is not me being scared; this is not me backing down," District 3 representative Ward Friszolowski said at Monday's meeting, according to the Catalyst. "This is a decision that was made for me, and I'm not really happy about it."

Form 6, which is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, has led to a wave of resignations across the state.

Previously, municipal elected officials were required to file a Form 1 financial disclosure listing assets and liabilities over $10,000, income sources and property holdings, according to the Talk of Titusville; however, it did not require them to specify dollar amounts and other details.

In North Palm Beach, a majority of council members resigned in response to the law. Resignations also happened in Naples, Dunnellon, Windermere, Longboat Key, Seminole, Belleair Beach and Indian Rocks Beach, according to reports.

City Attorney Andrew Dickman told the Catalyst council members will stagger their resignations to aid in the appointment of new commissioners. He also called a special election an "impossibility."

"I think it is a compelling discussion to have with lawmakers about individuals who I think, fairly, should be grandfathered in under the old rule because that’s not what they signed up for," Dickman told the publication. "Then we wouldn’t be here with such a problem, such a situation here at the end of the year."

Speaking with Fox 13, Petrila said the city is losing some "amazing" people.

"Personally, I feel bad that they’re put into the position where they have to choose between serving the city and not," he told the station.