News

By Steven J. Smith

    Candidates planning to run for offices in many of the Palm Beach County municipal elections March 15, will need to file qualifying papers earlier than usual, according to Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher.
    “Due to the federal elections next year, we need to mail out military and overseas ballots 45 days before the election,” Bucher said. “So our deadline for qualifying candidates will be much earlier this time around.”
    That deadline traditionally depends on the city, she added, but all municipal town clerks have agreed to change their qualifying dates to fit candidates on the March 15 ballot.
    “That’s because by getting on that ballot they won’t have to pay a lot of the expenses for their own elections,” Bucher said.
    As of this writing, no candidates have officially filed for open seats or offices. Filing periods for the March 15 elections in Palm Beach County coastal towns — as well as available seats or offices and their terms — are as follows:
    South Palm Beach: noon, Dec. 1 until noon, Dec. 15; two, two-year terms for council member.
    Lantana: noon, Nov. 24 until noon, Dec. 8; two, three-year terms for council member.
    Manalapan: noon, Nov. 24 until noon, Dec. 8; three, two-year terms for Town Commission.
    Boynton Beach: noon, Nov. 3 until noon, Dec. 17; one, three-year term for mayor and two, three-year terms for City Commission.
    Ocean Ridge: noon, Nov. 24 until noon, Dec. 8; one, three-year term for City Commission.
    Briny Breezes: noon, Nov. 10 until noon, Nov. 24; one, 1-year term for mayor; one, 1-year term for town clerk; three, two-year terms for alderman.
    Highland Beach: noon, Nov. 10 until noon, Nov. 24; one, three-year term for City Commission.
    Gulf Stream: No municipal elections will be held in 2016. The next election will take place in 2017 for five Town Commission seats carrying three-year terms.
    Delray Beach: No municipal elections will be held in 2016. The next election will take place in 2017 for two City Commission seats carrying three-year terms.
    Boca Raton: No municipal elections will be held in 2016. The next election will take place in 2017 for mayor and two city council members, each having three-year terms.
    Bucher said municipal candidates face a variety of requirements to attain eligibility for an election.
    “In Delray Beach, for example, you have to get at least 25 registered voters to sign your petition,” she said. “In other territories you can pay a fee and file paperwork. It all depends on the individual municipal charters, which also generally determine when the elections will take place. But state law does allow them to change that, by resolution or ordinance, in the years that they jump on to a federal or state ballot. Joining bigger elections helps them to reduce expenses. We’re hopeful it will increase voter turnout as well.”
    Bucher added early voting will be available for eight days prior to the March 15 elections, at 13 locations around Palm Beach County.
    For more information, log on to www.pbelections.org or call 656-6200.