By Jane Smith
In the race to reclaim their City Commission seats in the March 11 election the two Delray Beach incumbents have collected more than half of their campaign war chests from one main group: development interests.
Seat 4 incumbent Angeleta Gray raised $30,260 including $16,500 from development interests — real estate, developer, construction, attorney, architect or property management. That amounts to nearly 55 percent of the total money she raised as of Feb. 7, the final reporting deadline before The Coastal Star went to press.
Seat 2 incumbent Al Jacquet raised $33,310 from 72 contributors. Development interests contributed $19,325 or 58 percent of his campaign contributions.
Both incumbents voted in favor of several downtown development projects, including the mega Atlantic Crossing project, with over 150,000 square feet of office, retail and restaurant space and 383 apartments and condos.
Gray’s contributors include the Walsh family, which owns the Delray Beach Marriott and Boston’s restaurant, and Tom Laudani, owner of Seaside Builders. She also has received $100 from an unlikely donor, one of her challengers, Victor Kirson.
Touting her experience as a commissioner, longtime city residency and economic development programs, Gray said her contributors are from all parts of the community, not just the development segment. “Doctors, teachers and business owners have contributed to me,” she said. Gray has owned the Top Notch Beauty Spa and Suites for 21 years.
Challenger Jordana Jarjura has raised $41,590, including a $10,000 loan from herself. She has received $12,600 from development interests or 33 percent of her total. A land-use lawyer, she has received contributions from 16 lawyers. She also received $500 from Commissioner Shelly Petrolia, who often is on the short side of 3-2 commission votes in favor of downtown development, including Atlantic Crossing.
Jarjura said she made an effort not to accept contributions from local developers and businesses, “(unless I had a previous personal relationship with them) and to only accept contributions from residents.” She is a partner in Conrad & Scherer, a law firm based in Fort Lauderdale.
Challenger Kirson, a retired dentist, has loaned himself $13,800 and received another $1,500 from two contributors. “I’m running as an independent candidate. Most of the others belong to power brokers,” he said. “It’s the only way for residents to get a fair shake.”
Challenger Pamela Brinson, whose main issues are education and employment, raised $283 from three contributors. The self-employed consultant is paying for her campaign “out of my own pocket” and is selective about who contributes to her campaign.
“I’m doing it from the heart,” she said. “Money gives you access, but I will take substance over money any day.”
Seat 2 incumbent Jacquet raised more money this campaign from development interests than he raised in all during his first campaign two years ago. That election, he raised $3,295 from development interests, compared to nearly $20,000 so far this election.
Among his contributors: The Walsh family, The Seagate Construction group, which operates the Seagate Hotel and Spa, the Seagate Club and the former Hamlet golf club as well as several law firms involved in government affairs and real estate law.
He could not be reached for comment.
His challengers are Chris Davey and Rick Burgess. Davey, who deals in commercial real estate, raised $11,150, with $900 from development interests. Among his contributions is $500 from City Commissioner Petrolia. Davey could not be reached for comment.
Burgess, who operates a valet parking stand in downtown Delray Beach and works in the auto industry, loaned himself $10,000. He has said that is because no one could accuse him of favoritism if elected. He could not be reached for comment.
Boca Raton as well:
In the Boca Raton campaigns for mayor and two council seats, the 10 candidates raised a whopping $364,795, as of Feb. 7.
The biggest money race is for mayor, where Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie took in $109,131, with more than 40 percent coming from development-related interests.
George Elmore, founder and president of Hardrives Inc., said he donated $250 to Haynie based on her experience. “She’s the best one to keep the city moving forward. Not like in Delray where they are tearing it apart.” Hardrives is a countywide paving contractor based in Delray Beach.
Haynie’s opponent, former City Councilman Anthony Majhess, raised $74,494. He received 13 percent of his total from development-related contributors. He also received more than 150 contributions from firefighters, police officers and their unions. He is a driver/engineer for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.
Al Zucaro, a Majhess backer who donated $200, said he likes the careful and deliberate manner that Majhess has shown at the council meetings. “I feel he would manage the unbridled growth that the other council members seem to favor,” said Zucaro, a former West Palm Beach city commissioner.
Campaign report analysis by Price Patton
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