Palm Beach County 2023 Municipal Election: What You Need to Know Before You Vote

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida. Elections are held in 17 municipalities in Palm Beach County on Tuesday.

Residents of the following municipalities are being asked to vote on issues affecting their communities: Atlantis, Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Hypoluxo, Juneau Beach, Lake Clark Shores, Lake Park, Lantana, Mangonia Park, Ocean Ridge, Palm Beach Shores, Palm Springs, South Bay and Tequesta.

Voters are being asked to elect municipal leaders to serve on councils or commissions in all countries except Boca Raton and Tequesta, where voting questions are asked.

Sample ballots by municipality

Some of the more controversial races take place in the southern part of the county, where Delray Beach voters vote. asked to elect a new city commissioner and decide whether another commissioner should keep his job.

Current Commissioner Julie Cazale is running for re-election against Rob Long, a former City Planning and Zoning Board member. Throughout the campaign, the two constantly blamed the candidates, often questioning the candidates’ character.

Angela Burns and Angie Gray are vying for the seat vacated by Commissioner Shirley Johnson, who is unable to seek re-election due to term limits.

Cazale often sides with Mayor Shelly Petrolia on city issues and is adamant about maintaining Delray Beach’s “Village by the Sea” charm. Her hesitation in approving development projects, which she sees as uncontrolled growth, is in stark contrast to Long, who has faced ethical complaints for not disclosing potential conflicts as a voting member of the Planning and Zoning Board.

Long and his supporters criticized Casale for voting for terminate the city’s lease with the board that operated Old School Square. The controversial decision was met with many public outcry of residents.

VPTV

Meanwhile, Burns and Gray exchanged barbs in campaign mailings. Burns is a former teacher whose opponents fear that if elected, he would side with Long on development issues. Gray previously served as City Commissioner from 2009 to 2014.

Both have been criticized for their past relationship with the city.

Burns co-owned a bar in Delray Beach. evicted in 2022 after the landlord claimed he was not paying rent for three months. According to the lawsuit, the business received $340,000 from the sale of its liquor license after receiving taxpayer funds from the city’s Community Renovation Agency to fund repairs.

Gray was charged with ethical misconduct in 2014 but was later charged. justified Palm Beach County Jury.

Delray Beach voters are also being asked to approve two bond referendums – $100 million for public safety and $20 million to improve parks and some recreational areas.

In Boca Raton, voters are being asked to amend the city charter to change the terms of office for the mayor and city council members from three to four years.

Miranda Christian / WPTV

Mayor Scott Singer, who ran unopposed for another term, is in favor of change.

Residents of Tequesta have six questions to vote on, more than in any municipality. Among the questions voters are being asked is whether they want to extend council members’ terms from two to three years and set a limit of three consecutive terms.

What do I need on Election Day?

Polling stations are open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on Election Day. All voters waiting in line at 19:00 will have the opportunity to vote.

If you don’t know where to go on Election Day, click here to find your polling place.

To vote, you must provide a Florida driver’s license, ID, U.S. passport, or other signed photo ID.

Only registered voters residing within the boundaries of each respective municipality will be eligible to participate.

The municipal clerk is an observer for each municipal election under the direct supervision of the Palm Beach County election observer.