One of the most contentious local races is the Republican primary for Palm Beach County Commission, District 1 and that's in our Election Spotlight.
The seat on the county's north end is the only one held by a Republican...Hal Valeche...elected in 2012, the same year Karen Marcus vacated the commission after 28 years on the board.
A judge last month ruled that Marcus is not violating the county charter by running. The candidate addresses political ads claiming she's shirking caps on term limits.
"I did what the term limits law requires. I served, I stepped out and I waited eight years. You only have to sit out one cycle and you can come back. I did vote to put term limits on the ballot."
The ads, placed by a political action committee, also claim that Marcus donates to anti-Trumpers. She wants to know...
"Who's trying to buy this election? This is a almost million dollar campaign against me. There's something obviously at stake and they really don't want me up there because they know I'm an independent thinker. I will do what I think is best for the public."
Palm Beach Gardens Vice Mayor Maria Marino leaves the city council during her first term for this race.
"I am not a career politician. I have come to be known as somebody who is a consensus builder. But I also sit on a lot of county-wide boards and councils, which has introduced me to a lot of our other elected officials in other parts of the county and also many of the elected officials in our north end of the county."
Both candidates also spoke about the business and beach closures...former Tequesta Village Council member Calvin Turnquest says he thinks the current board got some things wrong.
"What I think the county commissioners should have done was give us guidelines. Let us operate under those guidelines and decide how we are going to manage our lives."
Turnquest hasn't gotten as much attention as the other candidates due to a lesser amount of campaign spending, so he's doing a Facebook Live to introduce himself to the voters and answer their questions. It happens on his Facebook page on Saturday at 9 p.m.
There is a write-in candidate in this race, so it can't be officially won outright until November.
Hear from the candidates on various issues in the audio players above as you prepare for the August 18 primary.
Photo: Getty Images