Two maxims stand out from South County’s March 10 municipal races: Elections have consequences and every vote counts. Those maxims were true in one of the area’s smallest towns and in its biggest city.
Boca Raton voters squashed plans for a major private development of restaurants, shops, a hotel and housing on city-owned land downtown.
They rejected a new police headquarters — or at least the idea of paying $175 million of taxpayer money for one — and they put three novices in control of the City Council (to the extent that the victorious Save Boca slate chooses to stick together as a voting bloc).
Up the road in tiny South Palm Beach, they won’t be building a replacement Town Hall after all, now that a new council majority opposed to those plans has been elected.
Boca Raton and South Palm Beach also had too-close-to-call races where a few more votes could have made a difference.
Andy Thomson, Boca Raton’s new mayor, eked out a five-vote victory over political newcomer Mike Liebelson. Almost a third of eligible city voters took part in the election — considered a good turnout — but that means almost 70% stayed home.
Meanwhile, a four-vote difference relegated South Palm Beach incumbent Sandra Beckett to a third-place finish in the Town Council race, which won her a two-year unexpired term instead of a full, four-year term, which the first- and second-place finishers received.
Liebelson and Beckett must have lost at least a little sleep thinking about those tiny margins and their would-be supporters who didn’t vote.
More elections coming
Given that, here’s some advice if you’re a state resident of voting age who cast a ballot in March — and even more so if you’re one of those who didn’t. Your vote matters, so be alert: More elections are on the way.
The statewide primary is Aug. 18 and the general election Nov. 3. The upcoming races feature everything from who will be your next governor and U.S. senator to seats on the Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation District.
If you haven’t registered to vote yet, understand that it may soon be more difficult, as new requirements are being considered by Congress.
Challenges ahead
Finally, while an election victory feels good, governing can be trickier.
South Palm Beach’s new council majority campaigned on a Town Hall renovation being a more cost-efficient solution than building a $7 million new one, though consultants have said that’s just not so. Will the conclusion be any different after the next study is done?
And Boca Raton voters decided the $175 million the city wanted for its new police headquarters was just too much. Will the new council find a way to meet the city’s police needs for less? And what will happen if state efforts to cut property taxes — the lifeblood of municipal governments — become a reality?
In retrospect, Delray Beach was fortunate in 2023 when voters approved its $100 million public safety bond. But three years later, a new police station still hasn’t been built and its price — originally pegged at some $80 million — is now estimated to be $97 million, squeezing out some fire rescue-related projects that had been desired as part of the bond.
And the police station isn’t even designed yet, which typically means the cost will rise even higher. Just look at Delray Beach’s ongoing construction of a new water treatment plant (no voter approval required). It was estimated at $120 million just a few years ago, but with updated requirements is now expected to cost $287 million.
So, I’ll end by saying congratulations to March’s winners. You’ve got your work cut out for you.
— Larry Barszewski, Editor
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