Rebecca Shelton, who won the Boynton Beach mayoral race with 56% of the vote, was sworn in at the March 18 City Commission meeting. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Tao Woolfe
Photos of rescued chihuahuas are sprinkled among the election announcements posted on Rebecca Shelton’s Facebook page.
Last month, voters overwhelmingly elected her as Boynton Beach’s mayor, hoping she can foster more civilized City Commission meetings and rescue projects that will beautify and soothe the downtown landscape.
The 49-year-old real estate broker says she can.
Government transparency, cleaner neighborhoods, more trees, shorter buildings, and actively listening to what residents want were among her campaign promises.
“I am deeply committed to fostering an open, transparent, and inclusive government where every voice is not only heard but valued,” Shelton said shortly before the March 11 election.
Her message was effective enough to allow her to garner 56% of the vote, as well as endorsements from the Palm Beach County Fraternal Order of Police and Police Benevolent Association, the Boynton Beach Association of Firefighters, and a number of Palm Beach County judges and attorneys.
Shelton defeated three other contenders: Court McQuire, a marketing executive who gathered 28% of the vote; Golene Gordon, a longtime city activist who has served on advisory panels including the Community Redevelopment Agency advisory board, and who received 12% of the vote; and insurance agent David Merker, a former city commissioner who captured 4% of the vote.
Shelton, who wore a bright red jacket to her first City Commission meeting on March 18, replaced former Mayor Ty Penserga, who was term-limited after three years as a commissioner and three years as mayor.
Also sworn in that night were reelected Commissioner Thomas Turkin, who defeated challenger Dom Vargas, 58% to 42%, and Commissioner Angela Cruz, who was automatically reelected when no one filed to run against her during the election qualifying period in November.
Residents have high hopes for the new mayor, as evidenced by the lengthy standing ovation Shelton received at her first meeting.
“She’s the most wonderful person in the world,” longtime Boynton Beach resident and fellow Realtor Susan Oyer said after the meeting. “She’s the nicest, kindest, most genuine person.”
Oyer, who helped with Shelton’s campaign, said the new mayor is a campaign strategist who has helped many local politicians and jurists get elected to office over the years.
Shelton always has time to listen to constituents, Oyer said, and she will work to overcome the perception that the City Commission is not open to what residents have to say.
Mayor Penserga strictly enforced the three-minute limit on speakers at commission meetings — and that the topics be on city-specific matters — which led to verbal altercations and evictions of audience members at more than one commission meeting in the past year.
“Transparency is one of her big things,” Oyer said. “Code enforcement is another. She wants to beautify and clean up the city.”
Originally from East Palestine, Ohio, Shelton has lived in the downtown Boynton Beach area for 20 years. She is a licensed real estate broker and holds certifications in probate and divorce real estate. She has served on the city’s senior advisory board, the board of the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum, and the events committee of AVDA Palm Beach, which aids domestic abuse victims.
Shelton has been a campaign manager and consultant for 14 years.
Another of Shelton’s goals is to work closely with the police, fire and code enforcement departments to help residents feel safe and welcome.
“I will work closely with local law enforcement and code enforcement to enhance community policing initiatives that build trust and collaboration between officers and residents,” Shelton said on her campaign website. “By focusing on proactive crime prevention measures, such as increased patrols and addressing problem areas before issues escalate, we can create a safer environment for everyone.
“Additionally, I will support the development of intervention strategies that tackle underlying issues contributing to crime, ensuring our neighborhoods remain clean, secure, and places where families and businesses can thrive,” she said.
Oyer said she hopes Shelton makes good on her goals to protect the city’s threatened mangrove trees and ensure that new buildings approved for the city’s downtown are not skyscrapers filled with rental units.
“Residents have been asking the city to limit building height to 45 feet for years,” Oyer said. “At what point do we start listening?”
Shelton said she wants to start right away.
“By prioritizing clear communication, active community engagement, and accessible decision-making processes, I aim to build a stronger connection between residents and their local government,” Shelton said. “Together, we can create a more collaborative and accountable future that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our community.”
On a personal note, Shelton — who is not married — said she has rescued six chihuahuas over the last 25 years. For fun, she said, she gardens, roller skates, and does Pilates.
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