Seven Biscayne Park residents have qualified to run for three commission seats during the upcoming elections.

The seats up for grabs are those of Mayor John Hornbuckle, Commissioner Kelly Mallette, who are running for reelection, and Commissioner Chester ``Doc'' Morris.

Morris decided not to run again, saying he wanted to spend more time with his wife.

The other candidates in the running for a seat: Albert Childress, Roxanna Ross, Rose De Merle, Bryan Cooper and Ronald Coyle.

The top three will win a seat on the Biscayne Park commission. The qualifying period for the Dec. 1 election ended Friday.

Mallette, 33, won a four-year term in 2005. She has been a resident for 24 years.

She said she plans on working to bring back programs to the recreation center, which were eliminated earlier this year because of budget cuts.

``I believe that working with the manager we can bring back an after-school program, offer additional programs to seniors and for young people at our recreation center.''

Hornbuckle, 50, is running for his third term. He was first elected to a four-year commission term in 2003. He has been a Biscayne Park resident for eight years.

He was first elected mayor by fellow commissioners in 2005. In 2007, he won a two-year term and was elected mayor once more by the commission.

Hornbuckle said his plans include continuing with projects like cleaning up the medians, implementing more hurricane preparedness, and bringing back programs to the recreation center.

``We've made a lot of progress in the last years,'' he said. ``I think we're headed in the right direction, and I think we can move forward.''

Village activist De Merle, 73, has been unsuccessfully running for a commission seat since 1991. Her last defeat was in 2005.

She said she wants to make sure all the medians and trees are well taken care of, while keeping spending in check.

``I also want to make sure that our children are getting the right services, and make sure they are safe,'' said De Merle, a Biscayne Park resident for 31 years.

Ross, 50, is the current chair of the village's Recreation Advisory Board. This is her first time running for public office.

Ross said she wants to boost local Crime Watch efforts and bring more services to the community.

``I want to help the village preserve that old-Florida feel that we have here,'' said Ross, adding that ``even though these are difficult times, I would like to see more resources allocated to that area that could really enrich the experience at Biscayne Park.''

Cooper, 48, is also running for a public office for the first time and serves on the Parks and Parkways Advisory Board.

Cooper said he wants to protect property values and improve safety in Biscayne Park.

``I'd like to support our police force in increasing effective and good, old-fashioned patrolling of our streets for crime prevention as a key focus,'' said Cooper, a village resident since 2003.

Childress, current chairman of the Code Review Committee, and Coyle, a former Biscayne Park commissioner, were unable to be reached for comment.

After the Dec. 1 election, the five-member commission will elect the village's mayor.

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