The Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election contenders are set for Indian Trail Improvement District Seat 2 following this week’s primary election.
In the crowded, six-way ITID race, political newcomer Richard Vassalotti II ran ahead of his five opponents. The retired Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue captain got 40.03 percent (2,543 votes), according to unofficial returns from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office.
Incumbent Supervisor Keith Jordano finished second with 22.48 percent (1,428 votes), good enough to earn a spot on the November ballot.
Vassalotti said Wednesday that the more time he spent shaking hands and talking to voters, the more he felt the “heartbeat” of the community. “I had a great feeling that I was going to be successful,” he said.
Jordano said that the crowded field made it a challenge. “I’m disappointed that I didn’t win outright, but with six people in the race, I did not expect anyone to get to 50 percent,” he said. “I am glad that I will be advancing to the next round.”
John Rivera, who owns a locksmith business, finished third with 12.44 percent (790 votes) in his third try for a seat on the board. Longtime ITID resident Lou Colantuoni finished fourth at 11.56 percent (734 votes). His employer-employee relationship with Seat 4 incumbent Supervisor Betty Argue was an issue that Vassalotti said was mentioned to him unfavorably by a number of voters.
Kirk Ljongquist, a frequent critic of district spending, was fifth with 10.52 percent (668 votes), and Stian Oksavik, who works for a telecom company, finished far behind with 2.98 percent (189 votes).
Argue, a two-term incumbent, is facing a challenge from trucker advocate and local businesswoman Natalia Melian Torres in Melian’s first foray into politics. With only two candidates in the Seat 4 race, Argue and Melian automatically advanced to the general election ballot.
Vassalotti said he took the top spot with “a handshake and a smile… [and] a lot of hard work and dedication.”
“People out here know me,” said Vassalotti, who served as PBCFR captain in The Acreage for a number of years. “They know my dedication to my neighbors. They know my involvement with youth sports. They know they can call on me and depend on me.”
Vassalotti said that in talking to voters, he found their major concerns to be increased taxes, a desire for more services and fending off unwanted annexation while not incorporating as a municipality.
Jordano, an insurance agency owner, was surprised by the nasty tone of the race and the money spent by outside groups to influence the election.
“I am glad that enough residents didn’t listen to fake propaganda and gave me enough votes to get to the second round,” he said. “I will work to convince people that I have taken action to keep the taxes down, and I deserve four more years.”
Jordano added that he has often served as a representative on the board, fighting for residents looking to have specific problems solved — people wanting millings for their roads, people who did not want a church built in the middle of a residential street, and most recently, residents wanting to get their culvert replaced.
“When the residents from Santa Rosa Groves wanted their culvert back in, I said that I believe in democracy and I would fight for them, and they are in the process of getting it back,” he said, adding that he voted against funding a road costing $500,000 that he believes the school district should have paid for, and he has represented ITID at numerous community meetings, across Palm Beach County and beyond.
