Lantana voters will choose from two candidates for each of two council seats. The town has no term limits. Term is three years.
Council Group 3
Tom Deringer
(incumbent) Personal: 63; attended the University of Kentucky, but did not graduate; 36-year resident of Lantana; married; two children, seven grandchildren.
Professional: Worked in sales for General Tire and in 1993 started Palm Beach Tire; still owns company.
Political experience: Has served for 15 years on the Lantana Town Council.
Positions on issues: Concerned with which businesses will go into the Water Tower Commons project; interested in preserving the condition of roads in the town; wants to keep taxes down.
Quote: “I want to make sure that new development keeps coming in to give us more of a tax base to clean up the town and that our roads are in good shape. I like smart growth. We don’t need high-rises, like some of our neighboring communities. I’d like Lantana to stay a small town and I want to work toward that goal.”
Edward Shropshire Personal: 64; attended several junior colleges, but did not graduate; 28-year resident of Lantana; married, one child.
Professional: Works for Cemex, a building materials company; works part time as a defensive driving instructor and has served as a local union rep.
Political experience: Alternate on the Planning Commission, but has held no political office.
Positions on issues: Wants controlled development and to maintain Lantana’s small-town ambiance.
Quote: “I want to upgrade Lantana’s town services such as the building department, code enforcement and Police Department. I want to maintain a quality standard of life.”
Council Group 4
Philip Aridas
(incumbent) Personal: 62; graduated from Lincoln Technical Institute in Union, N.J., with a diploma in air-conditioning, refrigeration and heating; 33-year resident of Lantana; divorced; no children.
Professional: Currently a Palm Beach County park ranger since 2012.
Political experience: Current member of the Lantana Town Council; sat on Ocean Reef Task Force; served as chairman of the Lantana Chamber of Commerce.
Positions on issues: Wants the Water Tower Commons project completed responsibly with businesses and amenities that will benefit the town; relocating the Police Department to a larger facility; keeping parks, beaches and public areas and the nature center on Hypoluxo Island updated; street improvements; beach restroom upgrades; road striping.
Quote: “Lantana is one of the last true seaside communities and it’s my goal to make sure it stays that way.”
Suzanne Gordon Personal: 38; graduated from FAU with a degree in business (marketing); Lantana resident for 13 years; married; one child.
Professional: Worked for Regis, a Fortune 500 company, from 2010-2013 as its South Florida district manager; member of the National Association of Realtors from 2013-present; currently a stay-at-home mother.
Political experience: None.
Positions on issues: Safety in the community; bringing in more local businesses; improving the local economy; maintaining local beaches, parks and preserves.
Quote: “I would like to be a voice for our community and help preserve our town.”
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