By Steve Plunkett
City Council Member Constance Scott was effectively re-elected Jan. 25 when challenger Bill Trinka officially quit the race just two weeks after filing to run.
“After deep personal reflection I am suspending my campaign for City Council,” Trinka announced at the council meeting the night before. “While I wish to remain a voice in the community for matters in the downtown area, as of right now all events and appearances related to my campaign are canceled.”
Trinka, a retired Boca Raton firefighter and 40-year resident, said he learned self-reliance from his father and felt extreme discomfort asking other people for help in the campaign.
“I don’t have to be up on the dais to make a difference,” he said after signing candidate withdrawal forms at the city clerk’s office.
It was Trinka’s second quick reversal in January. He was reappointed to the Downtown Boca Raton Advisory Board on Jan. 10 only to resign five days later for his City Council run. Trinka said he “probably” will reapply for a seat on the advisory board.
This will be Scott’s second three-year term on the City Council. She also is chairman of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency.
Still to be decided in the March 13 municipal election is the race between incumbent Anthony Majhess and challenger Frank Chapman. Majhess, a Palm Beach County firefighter, is seeking a second term. Chapman, a political newcomer, has a law degree and is president of the Boca Pop Warner Football League.
The City Council changed the qualifying dates from the first seven business days of February to the first seven business days of January to get candidate names to the county supervisor of elections earlier and to give candidates and voters more time to interact. Ú
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