Related Stories: Appointed council member faces former member, two others | Newcomer faces incumbent | Two amendments on ballot | Candidate forum coming Feb. 17
By Mary Hladky
As the City Council races enter their final stretch ahead of the March 9 election, incumbent Monica Mayotte and challenger Brian Stenberg lead in campaign cash totaling just under $55,000 each.
But both are largely financing their own campaigns for Seat D so far. Mayotte, a proponent of environmental protections who seeks a second three-year term on the council, has loaned her campaign $50,000.
Stenberg, vice president of the Boca Raton medical office real estate management firm the Greenfield Group, who has taken leadership roles in the Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations, Rotary Club and Boca Square Civic Association, has lent his campaign $52,000.
In the race to fill Seat C being vacated by Jeremy Rodgers, former Deputy Mayor Constance Scott has raised just under $50,000 from some of the best-known names in the city, including lawyers, architects and political figures. She has made no self-loans.
Her chief competitor is Yvette Drucker, a longtime volunteer who has raised nearly $39,000, including a $5,000 contribution from herself. She was appointed by City Council members in October to temporarily replace Rodgers after he began a military deployment overseas.
That appointment gave her far greater visibility and potentially an advantage over her competitors. Adding to that, Drucker is endorsed by Mayor Scott Singer and Deputy Mayor Andrea O’Rourke.
Two other candidates for Seat C are barely visible in the race and have raised little money.
Perennial candidate Bernard Korn, a real estate broker, has twice lost mayoral elections to Singer. He has raised $11,600, mostly though a loan to his campaign.
It is unclear if he is eligible to hold office in the city. Candidates must be city residents.
While Korn has submitted documents to the city showing he lives at 720 Marble Way on the barrier island, he and his wife also own a house, which is homesteaded, outside the city limits.
The city has accepted his residency proof, but if charter amendments on the March 9 ballot are passed by voters, stricter residency rules will go into place.
Korn is simultaneously running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Rick Scott.
A latecomer to the race, Josie Machovec, has raised $706. She is one of four plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit attempting to overturn Palm Beach County’s mandate that masks be worn in public places.
The 4th District Court of Appeal ruled on Jan. 27 that it would not temporarily stop enforcement until a trial decides the mandate’s legality.
The campaign contributions are as of Dec. 31, the most recent reported by the city as of the end of January.
Candidate endorsements are rolling in.
As of Jan. 28, Mayotte had won endorsements from Singer, O’Rourke, the city’s firefighters and police unions, Palm Beach County Commissioner and past Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Robert Weinroth, Palm Beach County School Board Chairman Frank Barbieri, state Sen. Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton), LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Caucus, and SEIU Florida Public Services Union.
Stenberg has support from the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce; Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors; and Wellington Vice Mayor Michael Napoleone.
In the Seat C contest, Scott has the endorsement of the Chamber of Commerce, the city’s firefighter and police unions, and the Palm Beach County Realtors Association.
In addition to Singer and O’Rourke, Drucker is endorsed by state Sens. Lori Berman (D-Delray Beach) and Polsky, Palm Beach County Commissioners Melissa McKinlay and Weinroth, LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus of Palm Beach County, Ruth’s List of Florida, Boca Raton/Delray Democrats, and the Palm Beach County chapter of the Democratic Environmental Caucus.
The deadline to register to vote in the municipal election is Feb. 8.
Comments