You may see campaign signs for the March election in front of our office.
They were approved by our landlord, not by us.
We are doing our best to stay away from the toxicity of certain Facebook pages — unless we feel a need to correct a lie concerning our business.
We haven’t spoken to one of our original business partners since he filed to run for office. We’ve built a wall between our journalism and his candidacy.
None of this has been difficult to do. It’s who we are. Our readers know that.
Still … in all of our 11 years of publishing, I’ve never wanted so badly to do candidate recommendations.
But we don’t, we won’t and, in fact, we can’t afford to.
The economics are simple: We’ve never had enough staff to sit down with every candidate and ask questions that ferret out his or her platform and purpose for running for office. That takes time and resources far beyond our small-newspaper capabilities.
And this year, as we struggle with the economic fallout of a global pandemic, we find we can no longer afford to give free space to letters drafted by candidates or by anyone endorsing — or criticizing — a candidate for office.
Every inch of newsprint we use must be supported by paid advertising. That’s how we are able to keep our distribution free and focused on the readers in our small communities. It’s a business model our advertisers embrace, since we deliver their messages directly into the hands of a highly desirable audience.
We have continued our practice of running candidate profiles for all contested races. We ask each candidate the same questions and hope the side-by-side comparison of their answers is helpful.
But with the fog of politics so thick and nasty this year, I fear voters in our municipalities may get lost and lose confidence in local government — with unintended consequences as a harsh result. A simple majority vote, after all, can decide the character and well-being of our coastal communities.
So, in lieu of recommendations from your trusted local newspaper, you will all need to educate yourselves on the candidates.
It may feel unsavory to step into the miasma of politics in 2021, but be bold. Ask your candidates about their motivations for seeking office, research who supports them (and why), learn what you can about their backgrounds. And, importantly, do your best to sort the truth from the lies and hyperbole.
In other words, know your candidates. And vote.

— Mary Kate Leming, Editor

Austin Rigal, 14, an eighth-grader at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, got more than 200 sponsors to fund wreaths for veterans at Palm Beach Memorial Park Cemetery in Lantana, with help from his father, Robert Rigal. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Larry Keller

Doing good was never so hard for Austin Rigal. Every year around the holidays, the 14-year-old picks a charity or two to support. In December, he settled on Wreaths Across America, an organization that coordinates annual wreath-laying ceremonies at veterans’ graves nationwide, including Arlington National Cemetery. In doing so, Austin discovered that Palm Beach Memorial Park Cemetery in Lantana had sponsors for only 19 wreaths, although 200 veterans are buried there.
An eighth-grader at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, Austin hoped to persuade friends and others to sponsor wreaths at $15 each. But he had barely begun when he learned the deadline had passed. So he told his parents, Robert and Ingrid Rigal, that he would like to sponsor the 181 wreaths that the cemetery’s general manager needed to reach her goal.
Robert made sure his son understood what that entailed and offered to split the tab. Austin’s share was about $1,350.
It was doable, however, because although Austin doesn’t get an allowance, he sets aside money he receives from gifts and so forth. His dad pays him a generous amount of interest to encourage him to save. He does the same for Austin’s 10-year-old sister, Lauren, whose most recent charities were Operation Smile and the ASPCA.
After the deadline passed, the website at Saint Andrew’s posted an item about Austin’s efforts. Teachers and parents then sponsored wreaths, and some volunteered at the ceremony. The cemetery not only received 200 wreaths for veterans’ graves, but also sponsors for 45 more that will be applied to next year’s event.
But first, another hurdle arose. On the eve of the Dec. 23 ceremony, logistical issues prevented all the wreaths from being delivered on time.
“The staff from the funeral home and my family drove around and bought wreaths the night before to fill the gap. Ultimately, we got enough wreaths,” Robert Rigal says.
In the end, all turned out well. Some of Austin’s friends showed up to volunteer at the ceremony. So did his sister and a few of her friends. A school security guard who is a Marine Corps veteran came. A few wounded veterans were there. There were Boy Scouts, and fire department personnel did a presentation of the colors. A priest spoke.
And something else happened that was unexpected. Cemetery officials presented Austin with a display case containing emblems from all the service branches and the Pledge of Allegiance.
“He really appreciated it and now it holds a prominent place for him in his room,” his dad says. “It ended up being a great event.”
“It was much better than I thought it would be,” Austin says. “I didn’t expect that many people to come.”
Wreaths Across America wasn’t a surprising choice for Austin to support. “I’ve been interested in military history and the Marine Corps ever since I can remember,” he says. “My dad is a former Marine. I’ve always loved the Marine Corps and interesting battles. I plan on going to the Naval Academy and becoming an officer.”
Other charities he has supported include the Wounded Warrior Project, Shriners Hospitals for Children and an organization that builds houses for veterans with disabilities.
Charity work is a pleasure, Austin says. It wasn’t the gift from the cemetery or compliments from friends and teachers — even the woman who cuts his hair — that meant the most in the aftermath of his effort at the Lantana cemetery.
“It’s an amazing feeling to know that you’re helping somebody, and people who sacrificed for their country for people like us,” Austin says.
“So being able to give back to them, even after they have passed away, feels great. It doesn’t matter if it’s a veteran or not, it feels great to help people in need, people who deserve better.”

The mayor, elected every three years, presides over a commission of four other members who are elected to three-year alternating terms by the community at large. The mayor and two commissioners up for re-election March 9 each have a challenger.

Related Stories: Two vie to be mayor | Mayoral race attracts outside money, mainly to challenger's campaign | Three candidate forums can be viewed virtually

Candidate profiles were compiled via telephone interviews. Candidates were asked to supply personal information regarding their age, education, marital status and number of years residing in their municipalities. They were also asked to provide a brief history of their professional life and experience, if any, in holding public office. Finally, they were asked about their positions on issues facing their communities and to provide an overarching quote detailing the reasons they believe they should be elected (or re-elected) along with a current photograph.

Related Stories: Four candidates compete in two commission races | Mayoral race attracts outside money, mainly to challenger's campaign | Three candidate forums can be viewed virtually

Candidate profiles compiled
by Steven J. Smith

Delray Beach will hold four virtual candidate forums. They are:
Feb. 10, 6-9 p.m., streamed live from the Arts Garage stage to the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/delraybeach/).
Candidates will receive questions from the Chamber Advocacy Committee and the public. Candidates will pick the questions randomly and they each will have two minutes for opening and closing statements.
Feb. 11, 6 p.m., When We All Vote Palm Beach County hosts a virtual candidate forum. Register at bit.ly/pbcdelraywestpalm. For more information email whenweallvotepalmbeachco@gmail.com. Space is limited.

Feb.18, 6:30 p.m., Hosted by League of Women Voters and St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church at 46 SW 10th Avenue. Candidates answer written questions from the moderator and real-time questions live-streamed via St. Paul virtual platform. Observers allowed by invitation only; all documented CDC guidelines observed. For invitation or live-stream information: 243-1004; saintpaulmbc.org
Feb. 24, 7 p.m., Beach Property Owners’ Association virtual candidates forum will feature pre-recorded interviews of the candidates focusing on barrier island issues. Viewers will not be allowed to ask questions.
BPOA members will receive the Zoom link; non-members can request the link by sending their name and address to admin@bpoa-drb.com.

Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies said they were looking for the man who held up the popular Seaside Deli & Market in the County Pocket on State Road A1A just south of Briny Breezes.
The suspect, captured on camera wearing a jacket with the word ‘Navy’ on the front and back, entered the store shortly before 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday and pointed a gun at the employees, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the suspect, who made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, to call 561-688-4717 or to call Crime Stoppers at 800-458-TIPS (8477). Information may also be emailed to GrobT@pbso.org. ABOVE: Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star BELOW: Photo from PBSO

By Rich Pollack

The number of crimes in most towns and cities in coastal south Palm Beach County fell during the first six months of 2020, according to state statistics. Coronavirus restrictions early in the pandemic are getting some of the credit.
In Highland Beach, the number of reported crimes dropped by more than 70%, from 28 to eight, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Uniform Crime Report. In Manalapan the number dropped from 12 to four and in South Palm Beach from six to two, similar to Highland Beach in terms of percentage.
Ocean Ridge, which includes crimes in Briny Breezes, had one fewer reported crime (11) in the first six months of 2020 than it did during the same period the previous year. Of the smaller area coastal towns, only Gulf Stream reported an increase — with the number of crimes doubling due to a rash of auto thefts.
Still, the number of overall crimes in the coastal communities remained low, with Gulf Stream’s 14 total ranking as the most in any one small town.
Of the larger cities only Delray Beach experienced an increase — a small one at that — while Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and Lantana all witnessed declines.
The drop in crime locally during the first six months of 2020 mirrors statewide numbers that show close to a 12% drop, and county numbers that show a drop of close to 5%.
Although there is no way to know for certain, police chiefs in Highland Beach and Ocean Ridge say that restrictions early in the pandemic — which shuttered businesses, parks and beaches — may have kept would-be criminals away.
“During a short period of time when more severe restrictions were in place, the number of certain types of crimes went down a little,” said Ocean Ridge Police Chief Hal Hutchins.
Those types — burglaries and thefts from unlocked vehicles, which Hutchins calls opportunity crimes — were down as more people stayed home during spring lockdowns and fewer people visited the area.
“The fact that we had less people and less traffic, that did help us to a limited extent,” he said.
Highland Beach Police Chief Craig Hartmann said that more people at home translates to better vigilance. “There are more eyes and ears out there when people aren’t traveling,” he said.
For Highland Beach, as well as other towns, a focus on prevention — with the help of enhanced technology — could also have been a factor driving the drop in crime during the first six months of 2020.
Manalapan Police Chief Carmen Mattox says that the addition of four police officers, bringing the department’s staff to 12, has played a role in keeping crime down.
“Increasing our visibility, improving our technology and improving communication has been a big help,” he said.
One tool in the technology kit, the installation of license plate readers throughout the area, has played a role in reducing crime, according to Hartmann, especially as their usage continues to increase.
“License plate readers are so important because they give you a level of alert,” he said.
He pointed to a recent incident in which a license plate reader picked up a suspected stolen car passing through Highland Beach. When officers located the vehicle, they discovered that the two people inside were wanted in connection with armed robberies.
Hartmann had a feeling the suspects — who had a loaded gun in the car — planned more crimes, but said there’s no way to know for sure.
How much crime was deterred by license plate readers, the increased awareness and vigilance of residents, and actions by law enforcement are not reflected in the statewide crime report, he pointed out.
“There’s no statistic for what was prevented,” Hartmann said.

By Charles Elmore

Health agencies in Palm Beach County will receive 9,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses during the first week of February, an agency chief said, a sign of change after outcry about overwhelming reliance on Publix to distribute doses locally.
If the vaccine supply keeps growing, that could open the door to inoculating the general public by late spring or summer, said Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County.
“We need to keep those expectations realistic and continue to realize that it’s a matter of supply and demand,” Alonso said.
Her comments Feb. 2 to the County Commission came after state officials said they expected an increase of about 40,000 weekly doses from the federal government, up from around 266,000 arriving in the state each week. That allows more vaccine to flow to counties.
By Feb. 1, nearly 11% of Palm Beach County’s residents, or more than 160,000, had received at least one shot, with more than 20,000 receiving both shots. That vaccination percentage topped peer counties including Broward and Miami-Dade.
Still, there remains a considerable way to go in a county of 1.5 million people, including more than 360,000 people 65 or older, according to census data. And exactly how doses get distributed has remained a hot topic.
For week after week, scarce supplies have made a vaccine jab seem like a long shot.
“I feel like I won the lottery,” said Debbie Miglis, 65, one of 50 people to get shots in Highland Beach in January after appointments through town government there filled up in 97 seconds.
For others, the quest has involved rising before dawn on selected days when Publix offers appointments online, only to find spots quickly taken in most cases. That has meant starting over the next available day.

TOP: During a Jan. 15 vaccination event at St. Lucy Catholic Church in Highland Beach, police direct traffic and answer questions.
ABOVE: Resident Debbie Miglis receives a shot. LEFT: A Delray Beach paramedic gets ready to give a shot to one of the 50 people who received first doses.
Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, who raised concerns about vaccine access for residents in the Glades and other communities not near a Publix pharmacy, also pressed Alonso about creating better ways for people to sign up for appointments.
On Jan. 29, the state launched myvaccine.fl.gov, a website that was supposed to let people 65 and older and other eligible individuals get preregistered so they can be contacted later when appointments are available.
But within hours, Alonso said her agency would discourage residents from using the new system because no appointments were available. She said the focus would be on clearing a backlog of appointment requests on her department’s own system that previously led local health agencies to stop accepting new inquiries.
Palm Beach County residents can still use the new state site, Alonso’s agency said, “but at this time, appointments are not available in Palm Beach County for those registering in this system.”
At the Feb. 2 meeting, McKinlay said Alonso’s position on the new system’s use “is pushing people to other counties.”
Alonso said she did not like waiting lists, which can leave people “frustrated” if they don’t deliver quickly.
Palm Beach County Vice Mayor Robert Weinroth, whose district covers portions of the county’s southeastern communities, has noted the county’s Health Care District released a preregistration website at vaccine.hcdpbc.org.
The health district “advised they are still working with the existing state reservation list with the Florida Department of Health,” Weinroth told constituents by email. “New sign-ups will go into a virtual waiting room until they complete the list and begin accepting new reservations.”
Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer said he has advocated for a more integrated and accessible system to register for vaccines.
“Like many of you, I’ve been frustrated at the many different places to sign up,” Singer told residents by email. “For weeks, I’ve called upon the state to centralize sign-ups.”
He said he made repeated requests to the governor’s office and state agencies for “equitable access,” such as offering telephone as well as web options, which the state’s new system does include.
The flow of new doses to local health agencies as well as to Publix signals a change of course for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who earlier defended making the supermarket chain the primary conduit for vaccine distribution in Palm Beach County.
County Mayor Dave Kerner said he received a call from the governor after commissioners and others made their concerns clear: “He said message received.”
Currently eligible for vaccinations in Florida are state residents 65 and older, residents of long-term care facilities, health workers with direct patient contact and others deemed “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19.
Controversy has attended the distribution of vaccines since they began arriving more than a month ago.
“It’s the hottest subject for all,” Highland Beach Mayor Doug Hillman said.
Highland Beach Town Manager Marshall Labadie noted in a Jan. 5 meeting: The town of Palm Beach “miraculously pulled a rabbit out and came up with some vaccines” when they were not widely available across Palm Beach County.
After an initial explanation that Palm Beach was uniquely prepared to start delivering 1,000 doses, Alonso later blamed “miscommunication.”

Staff writers Rich Pollack, Jane Smith and Mary Hladky contributed to this story.

By Jane Smith

The historic Seaboard Air Line Railway Station in Delray Beach will be renovated and become home to the city’s Health and Wellness Center and Human Resources offices, city commissioners decided Jan. 12.
The $2.6 million rehabilitation cost will come from two sources, Public Works Director Missie Barletto said at the workshop.
The bulk, $1.8 million, will come from an insurance payout after vandals set the station on fire in February 2020. Her department will contribute another $209,000, leaving about a $630,000 gap.
She estimated that moving the Health and Wellness Center would save $530,000 in rent over 10 years. The center is in a privately owned building at 525 NE Third Ave. It provides annual physicals, flu shots, X-rays, acute care and generic drugs at no cost to city employees and their families.
“We do not have dates for the construction completion for the depot as the construction management company is still in the planning, design and permit phase. In general, we expect construction to be complete within two years,” Gina Carter, city spokeswoman, wrote on Jan. 22 in response to a question from The Coastal Star.
 The wellness and human resources centers will move into the facility when it’s complete, she wrote.
Moving Human Resources will free up space in City Hall.
The train station sits just west of Interstate 95 and north of Atlantic Avenue. Designed by Gustav Maass in the Mediterranean Revival style, the station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The city listed it on the Local Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Amtrak last used the train station in 1995.
Delray Beach paid $1.58 million in 2005 for the historic train station on nearly 1 acre. At one time, commissioners discussed spending $325,000 to renovate it.
A Fire Department official toured the site on Feb. 25, 2020, the day of the fire, Roger Cope, a Delray Beach architect, told the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency Board. The official determined the walls were structurally sound, said Cope, who was involved with restoring the train station.
“But the wooden structure supporting the roof was destroyed,” Cope said.
The station can be restored, he said.
“The train station did not have sprinklers to prevent the fire from spreading,” said Bill Bathurst, then a CRA board member. “Our historic gems need to be protected.”

By Jane Smith

Delray Beach will allow its Human Resources Department to conduct a search for city manager candidates, a majority of the commission agreed at a special meeting held on Jan. 19.
Faced with the higher cost of hiring a search firm, about $55,000, versus the lower cost of an internal recruitment process at $7,000, three commissioners decided to go for the lower cost approach.
Using an outside search firm “is the wrong choice because the cost is wrong in these pandemic times,” said Deputy Vice Mayor Shirley Johnson. “And it didn’t work the last two times.”
The commission ended up firing Mark Lauzier and George Gretsas, two recent city managers found by outside search firms.
An outside search firm would cost the city an average of $50,000, plus costs for candidates’ travel and lodging at $2,000, and then hosting a reception and tour could be an additional $3,000, according to Ebony Olivier, a Human Resources generalist.
Using an internal recruitment method, Olivier estimated, the advertising cost would be $2,000 to the various job websites and specialty associations, such as the International City/County Management Association. The travel, lodging, reception and tour costs would be similar.
Commissioner Adam Frankel said he preferred to let the new commission make that decision. City Commission elections will be held in March.
“But if we can’t do that, I say we give it to Ms. Alvarez,” Frankel said. Jennifer Alvarez, the former purchasing director, has been interim city manager since late June. “I haven’t seen employee morale this high at City Hall,” he added.
Vice Mayor Ryan Boylston did not attend the special meeting.
The last time the city used an internal recruitment process for a city manager was in 2012, Olivier said. That search produced Louie Chapman as the city manager.
Chapman eventually was let go by the City Commission in mid-2014, after the body tried to fire him but did not have the required four commission votes. Chapman received nearly $73,000 in taxpayer money as severance.
Johnson wanted to involve a citizen advisory committee to help review the initial selection of qualified candidates. Doing so would add another month to the selection process, Olivier said.
“I think we should do this in stages and see what comes in,” Mayor Shelly Petrolia said. “Most people are not aware of how the city works. City employees are the most impacted by this decision.”
A lawsuit against the city filed by Lauzier has been postponed to start sometime between April 26 and May 21. He is seeking a jury trial. The county court system recently started holding jury trials in criminal cases that had previously been delayed because of pandemic concerns.
Delray Beach fired Lauzier in March 2019 and he sued the city for wrongful dismissal in April 2019.

Mayor David J. Stewart faces challenger Robert Hagerty in the March 9 election. The mayor and council members are elected to three-year terms with no term limits.

Related Stories: Two citizens speak out about Facebook group's 'ugly' remarks | Third mayoral candidate withdraws from race | Mayoral candidate forum set for Feb. 18 

Joe Farrell, a 20-year Lantana resident and an alternate on the town’s planning and zoning commission, has ended his run for mayor. The election will be March 9.
Town Clerk Kathleen Dominguez said Farrell’s name will not appear on the ballot.
Farrell, a 58-year-old flooring distributor, said he was getting out of the race because he wouldn’t be able to commit 100% to the position due to family obligations.
“I have advocated for a change in the mayor’s office and do not want to split the vote for change without being very confident that I would carry the day,” he said.
With Farrell out, it is a two-man contest between incumbent David Stewart, 67, and Robert Hagerty, 56.
Farrell said he would support Hagerty.
— Mary Thurwachter

The Lantana Chamber of Commerce will host a mayoral candidate forum at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the town’s recreation center, 418 S. Dixie Highway. Masks and social distancing requirements will be enforced.
To attend online, go to https://zoom.us/j/92691678712?
pwd=Z3pV3A1Sk8vYklneDdJRlN6V0s2dz09. Meeting ID: 926 9167 8712. Passcode: 771713.
Questions may be emailed to the Chamber of Commerce at debate@lantanachamber.com.

Ocean Ridge is teaming with the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County to hold a virtual candidates forum from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 11.
 The forum will be held through Zoom at: https://zoom.us/j/99394405913?pwd=cGM3N3l0dEZwaGMrb1BQVm5DNGpaZz09.
By telephone, dial 646-558-8656. The meeting ID is 993 9440 5913, passcode 219478.
  Residents can submit questions to the candidates until 3 p.m. on Feb. 11 by emailing mjrange@comcast.net.
All questions must be addressed to the group, not any individual candidate. 

The legislative branch of the Ocean Ridge town government consists of five commissioners elected at-large, including a mayor selected by the Town Commission. Two seats will be filled March 9, including one currently held by departing Commissioner Phil Besler. Of the four candidates, the two getting the most votes will be elected.

Related Story: Candidate forum set for Feb. 11

Candidate profiles were compiled via telephone interviews. Candidates were asked to supply personal information regarding their age, education, marital status and number of years residing in their municipalities. They were also asked to provide a brief history of their professional life and experience, if any, in holding public office. Finally, they were asked about their positions on issues facing their communities and to provide an overarching quote detailing the reasons they believe they should be elected (or re-elected) along with a current photograph.

Candidate profiles compiled
by Steven J. Smith

By Dan Moffett

Gulf Stream commissioners are poised to begin a year of planning and deliberation to prepare for some significant construction projects aimed at improving the town’s defenses against king tides and storm surges.
The work ahead comes in response to an engineers’ report in December that identified a half-dozen upgrades needed to address vulnerabilities in the town’s stormwater drainage system.
“I think the rest of this calendar year is a planning year,” Town Manager Greg Dunham told the commission during its meeting on Jan. 11. “A year for planning, design, risk assessment and bidding out the projects.”
Dunham said construction should begin in 2022. It is likely to take months to complete.
In December, consultants from West Palm Beach-based engineering firm Baxter & Woodman recommended replacing and adding more Intracoastal drainage valves, regrading stretches of low-lying streets — in particular, the west ends of Banyan Road and Palm Way — and working with owners of The Little Club to upgrade areas at the golf course.
Dunham said the town is already shopping for the valves and estimates put their cost at about $68,000. Installation is expected to begin this year. Other improvements will be more complicated.
Jeff Hiscock, one of engineering consultants who wrote the report, put it simply to Dunham: “You guys need a pond.”
The idea is to construct a retention/detention pond that would help collect stormwater in low-lying areas before discharging it into the town’s drainage system.
Dunham knows something about these ponds. “I’ve done that in Ocean Ridge,” he told the commission. Dunham was the town manager there from 1998 to 2002 and implemented a stormwater study that led to the winning of several grants and loans to build the town’s detention pond at Woolbright Road and State Road A1A. The pond remains an important piece of Ocean Ridge’s drainage network today.
One thing Gulf Stream doesn’t have to worry about is ready cash. The town has about $5.6 million in unrestricted reserves that can be put to work on upgrades.
“It’s great to be able to make these improvements and still be in good financial condition,” said Commissioner Paul Lyons.
Also during the January meeting, the commission unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that updates coastal management policies in the town’s comprehensive plan. The amendments go hand in hand with the proposed drainage improvements and satisfy the state Legislature’s order that municipalities adjust to rising seas.
The statewide focus on king tide response comes in the wake of a South Florida Water Management District study that found the average high tide has risen about 6 inches over the last 35 years and could rise more than twice that by 2070. Ú

By Mary Thurwachter

When it comes to election law, or any law for that matter, the more precise the language, the better. Crystal clear is best.
So says Max Lohman, Lantana’s town attorney, who ought to know.
“I have the dubious distinction of probably litigating more election lawsuits in the last two or three years than nearly any other attorney in Palm Beach County,” Lohman told the Town Council on Jan. 11. He advised the city to tweak its election law to avoid lawsuits or runoff elections, which could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
The Town Council approved these two tweaks: adding a subsection related to the regulation of invalid votes cast for a candidate who has died, withdrawn or is ineligible for having been arrested for or charged with a felony; changing the word “petition” to “petitions.”
The second change came about because of a Lantana litigation last year after one candidate failed to file all his petitions. Candidates need to obtain signatures via the petition process to have their names on the ballot. 
“During the lead-up to last year’s council election we had an issue with petitions and qualifications, and we ended up in litigation because our code used to say petition instead of petitions,” Lohman said. “We needed to change that to make it crystal clear what paperwork is required for the candidates.”
The other change stemmed from a lawsuit in Palm Beach Gardens, a municipality Lohman also represents. The suit was precipitated because of a withdrawn candidate, he explained.
“Back then, Palm Beach Gardens required a majority of votes to win, just like we do here still. After the ballot was printed, one of the three candidates withdrew and said he didn’t want to be elected.
“We posted signs at polling locations, we tried to inform people that this person was not running, they cannot take office if someone votes for him, yet miraculously 1,100 people still cast their votes” for that person, Lohman said. “This precipitated a lawsuit over whether those votes should be counted in the total. If the votes were counted, nobody got a majority and so then you have to have a runoff,” which the city avoided.

Related Stories: Former police officer seeks to unseat mayor | Third mayoral candidate withdraws from race | Mayoral candidate forum set for Feb. 18

By Mary Thurwachter

Two prominent Lantana citizens called for a halt in cyberbullying by a group of residents on a private Facebook page.
Kem Mason, a retired firefighter and Lantana’s Santa Claus for holiday events, and Dave Arm, president of the Chamber of Commerce and the owner of a local gym, took advantage of the public comments portion of the Jan. 25 Town Council meeting to air concerns about what Mason called “the venomous words of individuals who only seek to promote themselves and their own agenda.”
“There’s been some talk around town, ugly remarks that are being made,” Mason said from a prepared statement. “My name has finally come to the forefront so I’ve written these words. We need to bring back civility.”
The ugly remarks are coming from a private group on Facebook, Arm said. He described the group as being “closed off in their own little cocoon.” He said members have attacked the mayor, town manager, Town Council, the entire town staff, the Chamber of Commerce, Arm himself, his business and others.
People have the right to free speech, but there is a better way to go about airing criticism, Mason said.
“While we do have a First Amendment, we must each use restraint and respect when making statements that others will read,” Mason said. “This is also true within our own town, when people use corrosive words on websites to denigrate and manipulate the truth.”
He said if someone is going to express discontent, he or she should do it “in a form which is respectful and dignified.”
“Respect for one another, even when we disagree, is of the utmost importance within our society, otherwise chaos ensues,” Mason said. “While I am sure these words are falling on the deaf ears of those who feel justified in their ugly remarks and rumors, I ask those who read their words not to empower them by attending their website of abuse. We must use restraint when we voice our opinions and consider the consequences of our words. We must overcome the passion of our hearts with the reason of our minds.”
Although Mason did not name the Facebook group during his remarks, after the meeting he confirmed he was referring to Lantana Raw. The group describes itself as “a friendly neighborhood group for all past and present residents of Lantana and people who work in Lantana.”
Arm said when he and his wife moved to Lantana 15 years ago, they were impressed by how friendly everybody was. “Back then, Facebook was just a venue for Harvard students to get to know each other,” he said. “Obviously that’s changed. Now you’ve got a cancer on the town. They can yak all they want, but they’ve got this group that really believes this.”
Neither Mason nor Arm is a member of Lantana Raw but learned of the attacks after seeing printed copies of posts from the group that have been circulating around town.
Members of the Facebook group who are suspected of being disloyal, or of leaking information, are tossed out, former members of the group have said.
One major target of the attacks has been Mayor David Stewart, who is up for re-election in March. The mayor says he doesn’t belong to Facebook, but is aware of the rebukes aimed at him, courtesy of friends who share printed copies of posts. He declined to comment on the matter.

Related  Stories: Four candidates compete in two commission races | Two vie to be mayor | Three candidate forums can be viewed virtually

By Jane Smith

The Delray Beach mayor’s race is turning into a battle between the locals and the outsiders.
Shelly Petrolia, the incumbent, raised $91,697 as of Dec. 31. That amount includes $53,715.90 in self-loans. In December, 87% of her contributors had Delray Beach addresses.
In addition, Alan Mindel and his sister, Marlene, who built the Aloft Hotel in downtown Delray Beach, each donated $1,000 to Petrolia’s campaign.
Political newcomer Tracy Caruso raised $101,275 as of Dec. 31. That amount includes a $51,000 self-loan. In December, about 48% of her contributors had Delray Beach addresses.
Caruso, who is married to state Rep. Michael Caruso, received four $1,000 donations from political action committees that were not based in Delray Beach. The donors include Ethics and Honesty in Government of Coral Gables and the Palm Beach County Police Political Benevolent Association PC & Issues Fund in West Palm Beach.
For the two other commission races, none had the obvious difference in the Delray Beach addresses of donors as the mayoral candidates did in the December report.
Vice Mayor Ryan Boylston is facing a former commissioner he beat in 2018, Mitch Katz, for Seat 3.
Boylston raised $40,439 as of Dec. 31, including a $10,000 self-loan. His December donors gave a range of money from $3 to $1,000. Ten of his 139 donors gave $3 each, while 17 donated $1,000 each.
His big donors include five tied to the Opal Grand Resort, formerly the Marriott hotel, which faces the beach. In 2020, Boylston played a key role in getting the sea grapes trimmed to improve the views of the beach and the habitat of the dune.
Friend Lee Cohen, a personal injury attorney, donated $1,000 to Boylston in December. Boylston also received $1,000 from the county police political action committee.
Match Point, which runs the Delray Beach Open, gave his campaign $1,000. Boylston boasted of his negotiating prowess in ending the city’s lawsuit against Match Point. The city had sued to end a no-bid contract. The 2019 settlement resulted in Match Point’s continuing to run the tennis tournament.
His challenger, Katz, just entered the race in December. He raised $6,036, including a $500 self-loan.
His biggest donor was Ken MacNamee, who contributed $1,000. MacNamee is a retired bank executive and a prolific public records requester who is focused on how the city spends taxpayer dollars.
JoAnn Mower, retired health industry executive and wife of Sandy Zeller, who sits on the city’s Planning & Zoning Board, donated $500, as did Benita Goldstein, who runs a bed and breakfast in Delray Beach.
Price Patton, a veteran journalist, is running against incumbent Adam Frankel in the Seat 1 race.
Patton worked for more than two decades at The Palm Beach Post. He was a founding partner of The Coastal Star in 2008. He has taken a leave of absence.
In November, he started his campaign with a $10,000 personal loan.
Patton’s December contributors mirror those who donated to the Katz campaign, including MacNamee and Goldstein. Patton also received $1,000 from his wife, Carolyn.
Jestena Boughton, whose family owns the Colony Hotel in downtown Delray Beach, donated $1,000 to the Patton campaign.
Sandy Zeller donated $500 in November.
Incumbent Frankel raised $22,500 in December to bring his year-end total to $34,500. He did not lend his campaign any money.
Frankel’s contributors mirror those of Boylston. Five $1,000 contributors have ties to the Opal Grand Resort. Frankel also received $1,000 contributions from Match Point and the county police political action committee.
In addition, four firms tied to the O.G. bar on Southeast Second Avenue donated $1,000 each to Frankel’s campaign.
He also received $1,000 from Neil Schiller’s law firm. In the past year, Schiller has come before the commission or the city’s CRA for two Delray Beach property owners: the Doc’s Place owner and BH3 Management, which is trying to redevelop three blocks of West Atlantic Avenue and owns the Pour & Famous bar, which wanted to add an outside restaurant on West Atlantic.
The municipal election is set for March 9.
Commissioners decided on Jan. 12 not to hold early voting for city races. Because the county or state is not holding an election in March, it would have cost the city about $125,000 to host seven days of early voting, the city clerk said.

Keith Rowling, shown beside his renovated Gulf Stream home, says South Florida is like New York was in the ’60s. ‘It's definitely growing but there's a lot more runway.’ His five-bedroom home was built in 1948. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

If you cruise the A1A corridor in south Palm Beach County it’s a familiar sight: A buyer purchases a multimillion-dollar mansion on the beach, then has it torn to the ground and starts over with his own design.
Not Keith Rowling. Already one of the most successful wealth advisers in the nation at age 39, Rowling has moved into four residences in Delray Beach and Gulf Stream since coming from Michigan in 2016 and chosen to renovate each one.
The latest is a five-bedroom house on a one-acre lot in Gulf Stream built in 1948 that he purchased last August.
“Many people would have looked at it as a tear-down,” said Rowling, whose family includes a fiancée and an 11-year-old daughter. “Instead of tearing it down we gutted it, and it’s kind of a bohemian beach house now. It’s really cool, actually.
“I love renovating houses. We modernized this one effectively: new floors, new kitchen, new bathroom, put a lot of light into it. Took out all the old crown moldings, all the heaviness of the old house. So now it’s very airy, very white. It’s kind of a really cool beach-house look now.”
Rowling launched his investment career as a teenager, using his lawn-mowing money to buy five shares of Boeing stock after reading in U.S. News and World Report that the company was about to launch the 777. He became a vice president at UBS Paine Webber and moved on to become managing director and financial adviser at Morgan Stanley in Michigan for nine years.
He’s been managing director at Merrill Lynch in Palm Beach since 2017. Forbes ranked him No. 4 on its list of Next Gen Best in State Wealth Advisors in 2019 and No. 5 in America’s Next Gen Advisors in 2020.
He first moved to coastal Delray Beach, then to a townhouse in Gulf Stream before he “kind of stumbled across” his recent purchase.
“Walking down the beach in the middle of COVID, I kind of realized if I didn’t do it now I never would be able to,” he said. “And since then the real estate numbers have just been amazing. I found this place pre-COVID, then decided to buy it during COVID.”
To say he’s bullish on the future of the area is putting it mildly.
“South Florida is like New York was in the ’60s,” he said. “It’s definitely growing but there’s a lot more runway. The financial capital has always been attracted here, but the intellectual capital that’s coming is going to change this place.
“Florida booms and busts, but you’ve never seen intellectual capital flood a very small place.”
— Brian Biggane

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?
A: I was born in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and went to Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills. I then attended Notre Dame University, meaning I went to Catholic schools all the way through. I liked it a lot. Most of the time you’re there with mostly middle-class kids, and the work ethic and Midwest values that instilled were very beneficial in my growth. I had one sister, Jennifer, who also went to Notre Dame.

Q: What professions have you worked in? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?
A: Only one profession. I started in wealth management at the age of 17 as the protégé of a top female adviser, Martha Adam. I worked for her all through my time at Notre Dame and then joined her as a partner in 2004. I’m on the Barron’s and Forbes top financial adviser lists, and crossed $1 billion in asset-funded management in 2020.

Q: What advice do you have for a young person seeking a career today?
A: Start early, you can pay now or pay later. Don’t be afraid to take chances. Adjust your sails often, and when you find your spot, be 110% committed to make it succeed.

Q: How did you choose to make your home in Gulf Stream?
A: My 11-year-old daughter, Charlotte, is extremely asthmatic and the Midwest winters were torture for her. The salt air of South Florida is an incredible therapeutic. Gulf Stream is an ideal locale, a small town situated in the middle of what is rapidly becoming the “new world.”

Q: What is your favorite part about living in Gulf Stream?
A: The combination of incredible beauty, low-key lifestyle and a group of neighbors who are equally accomplished and genuine. For me it’s the best-kept secret in South Florida.

Q: What book are you reading now?
A: I’m rereading Abundance, by Peter Diamandis. It reminds us how the technological revolution is creating incredible opportunities and advancements in all areas of our lives. In these times we must remember there are always reasons to be optimistic; even the vaccine and how quickly it came about is revolutionary. Humanity finds a way.

Q: What music do you listen to when you want to relax? When you want to be inspired?
A: It’s all pretty much the same to me. My fiancée does the playlist, so whatever she’s listening to. I wish I had a better answer, but that’s it.

Q: Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?
A: Starting in high school working for Martha Adam. She was my mentor and one of my best friends from 16 until she passed several years ago. She was one of the top female brokers at Paine Webber in Michigan when she started in the late ’60s. She gave me my start in the business and taught me everything from stocks and bonds to clothing and wine.

Q: Who/what makes you laugh?
A: My daughter, Charlotte Rowling, and my fiancée, Kristy Rao. The combination of the wit of my 11-year-old and that of a lifetime New Yorker, neither of whom hold much back!  

Q: Do you have a favorite cause? If so, why is it important to you?
A: I love being a father; my daughter is my life. We spend an inordinate amount of time together.  Whether it’s on the boat, in the backyard or struggling through Singapore math, we celebrate life together.