The City of Delray Beach is back in our Election Spotlight.
Vice Mayor Ryan Boylston is currently serving in Seat 3 on the City Commission but is termed out and running for Mayor, a race we covered earlier this week.
That leaves three candidates vying for this open seat. Anneze Barthelemy says she grew up in Delray. The social worker ran unsuccessfully for the commission in 2017. She says community engagement is something that keeps her busy.
"I'm on the Education Board with the City of Delray Beach. I volunteer with the Police Department. Sometimes you see the police volunteers patrolling the street. Also, I serve as an Advisory Board member for Eat Better, Live Better Delray Beach."
Barthelemy says there are some things that can be improved in the city.
"When you drive to Delray Beach, you can see a huge difference between the Northwest neighborhoods and also the East side of neighborhood."
She feels the Haitian community in Delray is underserved. Barthelemy is of Haitian descent.
Fellow candidate Nick Coppola serves as the Chair of the Delray Beach Code Enforcement Board.
He's a first-time candidate and a retired construction electrician. Coppola lists public safety as a priority and says for the most part Delray Beach is a safe city...
"I noticed, speaking with some communities there are some without naming them feel that that they may need more police patrols. Yes, everything and anything can always be improved on. And I look forward to learning more about even the technology that will be brought in with this G.O. Bond and the new police station."
Delray Beach voters last year approved a $100 million general obligation bond for public safety.
Water quality is another one of his priorities, especially in a city with a recent history of issues with its drinking water supply.
"I've experienced where I've turned on the water...one day it's been crystal clear when they're chlorinating, some days there's been a yellow tinge. And although the city may say it's safe to drink, the eyes say a lot."
A whisteblower in 2023 settled with the city over a water contamination lawsuit. She claimed she was fired from her job as a water inspector for bringing problems with water treatment to the state's attention. Coppola says he's happy that the city is now discussing making improvements.
Juli Casale served on the Delray Beach City Commission from 2020 to 2023 and is also running for this seat. Our attempts to reach her were unsuccessful.
This race and others around the county will be voted on during the Presidential Preference Primary on March 19. Early voting runs from March 9 through March 17 and the deadline to request that a vote-by-mail ballot be sent to you is March 7 at 5 p.m.