By Steve Plunkett
Alderwoman Holly Reitnauer may not be leaving the Briny Breezes dais in March after all.
Reitnauer, who was appointed in December 2024 to replace Kathy Gross in Seat 2, did not file papers in November to run for election in March.
But things have changed, she now says, and she would like to remain on the Town Council.
“I have given it a lot of thought, and my health situation has improved. So therefore I would like to remain in my seat, helping to move Briny forward,” she wrote in a letter to the council received Jan. 13.
She is the first person to officially express interest in filling the position.
Alderman Jeff Duncan was the only one of three incumbents in November to file qualifying papers for the March 10 election. Reitnauer — who is married to Alderman Bill Birch — and Mayor Ted Gross, Kathy’s husband, did not.
That meant Duncan was automatically elected to his Seat 4 position for a second two-year term and that there would be no election in Briny Breezes. Duncan originally was appointed as an alderman in December 2023 when no one filed to run for then-Council President Christina Adams’ seat.
According to the town’s charter, the council will appoint someone to fill Mayor Seat 6 and Reitnauer’s seat in March.
Gross in December said he was not seeking another term, citing his dissatisfaction with Briny’s weak-mayor form of government, the effect of the state’s Sunshine Law on his personal relationships and his desire to spend more time supporting people affected by sex trafficking and abuse.
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