STEVE REID
Editor & Publisher
sreid@lbknews.com
After weeks of contentious debate sparked by state action, Longboat Key’s Town Commission voted unanimously to retain the historic name Gulf of Mexico Drive for its main thoroughfare.
The decision was a clear victory for a decisive majority of residents, who argued that stability, history, and community consensus far outweighed the political impetus for a change. The current name has been in place since September 16, 1957, when the roadway, formerly known as John Ringling Boulevard, was officially designated Gulf of Mexico Drive.
The controversy was ignited when the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) removed existing road signs in August, a move Mayor Ken Schneier said “forced the town to address the issue.”
The Mayor ultimately summarized the outcome by stating, “I believe the case has not been made to change the name, and no law requires us to do so.”
Schneier cited the massive cost of changing approximately 5,140 addresses—mostly condominiums and apartments—and the “unprecedented volume of opinions” against the change as the rationale to keep the name. Mayor Schneier also confirmed that FDOT officials assured him the state agency would “remain neutral and not punish the town.”
A Matter of Practicality and Peace
The most compelling arguments against renaming the road centered on the administrative burden and the residents’ quality of life.
Longboat Key Club Manager Rick Konsavage was strongly opposed, arguing that from a business perspective, the changes with vendors and the administrative side would be “very difficult,” calling the prospect “a disaster.” He emphasized the “decades of marketing and awareness” built around the current name, suggesting, “We don’t need to do anything.”
This sentiment was echoed by Longboater Arlene Skverskey, who stood clearly opposed, arguing that the town was full of old people who are already sick and unhealthy, and would be “overwhelmed by the change.” She challenged the commission to “stand up to whoever is pushing or suggesting this.”
Long-time resident Lillian Sands pleaded for calm, asking, ”Why is this headache destroying our peace? “Gulf of Mexico Drive is a beautiful name and the majority of us like our name,” she added.
Resident James Armstrong pointed out the lack of practical reason to act, stating there was “no compelling reason to do anything right now” and no loss of funding, adding that funding or project retaliation would be “morally incorrect.”
Planning and Zoning Board Chairman David Lapovsky, speaking for himself, called the entire process “an absolute waste of taxpayer dollars,” asserting that those who felt differently did so for “emotional reasons not practical reasons.”
The Call for Patriotism and Logic
Despite the consensus, several residents passionately advocated for a new name.
Longboat resident Fred Laguno was direct, saying, “There is no name Gulf of Mexico anymore so the name gulf of Mexico Drive is now nonsensical. Many people simply hate America. Many hate our president. We should not bow to this.”
About three residents spoke in favor of a change, with patriotism being a central theme. One resident advocated for changing it to Gulf of America Drive, calling it “a matter of patriotism. It would not cost anyone an ounce of blood and that it was pretty simple to do.”
Another resident pushed for Vietnam Drive to help veterans “return some respect,” noting he and others were “spit on when they returned from the war, and this would help ameliorate that moment.”
A third resident simply deemed it “absurd to have a road run next to a body of water and they don’t match in names.”
Commissioners follow the voters
In their final comments, commissioners acknowledged the strong public outcry.
Commissioner Penny Gold noted the difficulty of making the decision while being “in the middle of a federal shut down,” but recognized that over “400+ people responding is a good indicator of how the public felt.”
Commissioner Steve Branham, a “37-year-old veteran,” alluded to the power of the sheer volume of constituent emails and letters, stating, “I would be more than happy personally to change to gulf of America or Veterans Drive, but I think we should honor the democratic process. Right now we have 85% against it. Right now the people have spoken. My position is to honor the majority.”
Commissioner B.J. Bishop reinforced the need for stability, saying, “One thing I’m determined to save Longboat from is negative, toxic behavior. If I was told I had to go to the department of motor vehicles to change my license, open carry would be more dangerous than it is. I say leave the name alone,” she concluded, sealing the unanimous consensus to retain Gulf of Mexico Drive.
