Ocean Ridge Commissioners Carolyn Cassidy and David Hutchins retained their seats when they filed for reelection and no one filed to oppose them. The qualifying deadline was Nov. 14.
It will be Cassidy’s second term. She was first elected in March 2023 in a bitter race, becoming the top vote getter among three candidates.
Cassidy has made the most of her first term, spearheading the effort for the town to hire a lobbyist to seek state appropriations for its many projects. She received the Gold Certificate of Excellence from the Florida League of Cities.
The commission chose Hutchins, a retired airline pilot, in November 2023 to join the commission after two commissioners announced they would resign because of changes in the state’s financial disclosure requirements. He took office in January 2024.
Hutchins then finished third out of four candidates for three open seats in the town’s March 2024 election. That showing won him a two-year unexpired term on the commission instead of a full three-year term.
Hutchins previously sat on the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
Mayor Geoff Pugh at the Nov. 3 commission meeting — before the filing deadline — said he hoped that the current makeup of the panel could remain intact.
“This is one of the best commissions we’ve had in a very, very long time. ... It’s been a pleasure,” Pugh said.
— John Pacenti
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