By Christopher Vargas
The six candidates seeking seats on the Royal Palm Beach Village Council participated in a forum Monday, Jan. 27, sharing their vision for the community and answering questions on an array of topics.
Moderated by retired news anchor Jim Sackett, the forum featured candidates running in the upcoming municipal election on Tuesday, March 11 for the Mayor’s Seat and Group 3 Seat on the council.
The forum was hosted by the Town-Crier with support from the Village of Royal Palm Beach, the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County.
The candidates for mayor include the incumbent, Jeff Hmara, who was appointed to the post following the unexpected passing of former Mayor Fred Pinto last fall, as well as political newcomer Justin Plaza and Vice Mayor Selena Samios. The Group 3 race features Steve Avila, who ran for mayor against Pinto last year, as well as Pinto’s widow, Donielle Pinto, and Sylvia Sharps.
At the start of the forum, the candidates were given a chance for opening statements.
“Last year, after the unexpected passing of Mayor Fred Pinto, my colleagues entrusted me to step into the role as mayor,” Hmara said. “Now, I’m running to complete the remaining year of his term. I’m honored to share my vision for the village. Since being elected to the council back in 2012, I’ve served as vice mayor four times and work tirelessly to build relationships and deliver results for our community.”
Drawing on his experience and community ties, Hmara aims to strengthen public safety while improving transportation and services for senior residents.
Despite being new to politics, Plaza voiced his concerns about the community’s ongoing issues while emphasizing that his campaign is not centered on himself.
“My focus is on the greater good,” Plaza said. “Together, we can ensure that Royal Palm Beach thrives for years to come. I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you. Finally, I want to emphasize that I come to you with no hidden agenda, no ties to corporate entities. To demonstrate to my commitment, and if I’m fortunate to earn your vote, I pledge to donate my mayoral salary to the town’s recreational sports program and other community voted initiatives.”
Samios emphasized her extensive experience in the sports and entertainment fields, nonprofits and the political sphere of Royal Palm Beach. She stressed that she brings a diverse skill set that Samios believes will benefit the community.
“For the last eight years, I have had the honor and privilege of representing the residents of Royal Palm Beach. I am the liaison for our senior citizen ad hoc group, as well as the liaison for the Recreation Advisory Board,” Samios said. “We’ve worked on our senior residents for programs, we have worked with our local businesses, and we have worked on government transparency.”
Moving to the Group 3 candidates, Avila spoke about his roots from his years growing up in Royal Palm Beach and how that gives him an advantage, allowing him to connect more with the people and their needs. He also advocated for more diversity within the council.
“I’m running for this seat because we need representation,” Avila said. “The face of Royal Palm Beach is changing, and our families who are moving in are changing. I’m the son of Honduran immigrants, and the first person in my family to really graduate from college.”
Donielle Pinto, widow of the late mayor, said that she believes her experience from her professional careers can be helpful for the council.
“My professional career is vast,” Pinto said. “I worked at First Federal mortgage company, tv and broadcasting, on-air talent for radio. I have been a part of various nonprofit organizations and spearheaded fundraising. I have been a substitute teacher. I’ve been a mentor for several organizations.”
Sharps, a Florida native, shared her personal background story.
“I know I can be an effective council person for the Village of Royal Palm Beach from the beginning of my term, if elected,” Sharps said. “As a domestic violence survivor, I spend most of my free time working with various organizations and my own nonprofit, cooking and feeding for those in need, as well as advocating for and helping to relocate domestic violence victims and their children to safety. Being committed to a life of service gives me the opportunity to create a legacy that’s comprised of making a difference that can be duplicated in someone else’s life.”
The first question focused on the candidates’ goals if elected.
Hmara outlined his priorities, starting with finding solutions to traffic issues and exploring alternative transportation methods. He also aimed to help all village schools achieve “A” ratings and emphasized the importance of supporting seniors and improving parks.
“If you drive on Southern or Okeechobee in the morning or the evening, you find yourself faced with what is considerably problematic right now,” Hmara said. “And as somebody once told me the other day, when you ask someone, ‘How was your commute today?’ The appropriate answer is that it is as good as it’s going to get, unless we take a different approach. We have some different approaches in mind.”
Plaza responded by expressing his willingness to listen to the residents, emphasizing his commitment to addressing any and all concerns. He believes in giving everyone a chance to voice their opinions via an online platform he has developed.
“This is not a me campaign. This is everyone,” Plaza said. “So, there will be a vote that goes out to all of the residents, that they vote on with a certain threshold and criteria. Whatever the town votes on, that’s what I will be voting on.”
Samios proposed revamping and expanding the village’s recreation programs to offer more engaging and innovative activities for everyone. She also emphasized supporting local businesses, increasing government transparency and finding new ways to address community concerns.
“As far as government transparency, since being elected, I’ve always posted pre meetings, the agenda, how to participate, whether you’re physically in the building or if you would like to do it remotely, as well as a wrap-up with a link to the video, so you can watch in case you missed anything,” Samios said. “We also worked hard to get a public information specialist as a full-time employee of the village. This way, we’re pushing out more of the information so it’s easier to find out what’s going on in the village.”
Avila focused on government transparency and addressing issues in schools.
“We have some schools that are excelling, we have some schools that can be doing a little bit better, and some of that has to do with brain drain,” Avila said. “That’s something I saw firsthand when I was here. Everybody wanted to send their kids to Suncoast or Palm Beach Gardens. I’m a full proponent of school choice, but I want to make sure that our high school is more representative of the residents here in Royal Palm Beach.”
Pinto said she wants to focus on the well-being of the seniors, as well as addressing issues that concern the mental health status within the younger generation.
“Mental health assistance is truly needed,” Pinto said. “Especially with our new administration’s ordinance and with the immigration population, we are looking to have an even more mental health crisis with our younger population, the children who will be missing their parents. This is something that needs to be looked at, and we need a plan. We need to know what the plan is after the breadwinner or someone from their family has been removed, which will cause a financial deficit.”
Sharps also wants to focus on the traffic situation, particularly in regard to State Road 7. Her other main goal was centered around the idea of implementing more forums so that people can manage to voice their thoughts and opinions, leading to a better understanding of all the situations.
“Last but not least, everybody talks about senior citizens, of which I am one now, so it really is important to me to allow them to have more input in their decisions and our decision-makings,” Sharps said. “Having forums with them. We’ve got teachers and legislators that we can be speaking to, and I would love to do that.”
The candidates also answered questions regarding working with the business community, the need for workforce housing, the delayed Tuttle Royale project and more. There was a portion of the forum that included time for questions from the audience, which included one regarding the proposed hotel project at Madison Green.
“The proposal to develop a hotel in a residential area is something I find to be fundamentally incompatible,” Hmara said. “The buildings as they were proposed are three-story buildings, which are much taller than any of the other buildings that we have there, and they are certainly likely to bring additional traffic.”
“I live in that community. I’m fully against it,” Plaza said. “I don’t think putting a hotel in the middle of a residential neighborhood is a good idea. There’s plenty of other locations. There’s no reason to have it in the middle there.”
“It is very touchy because it is in the middle of a neighborhood. Yet the need for a hotel in the village is increasing,” Samios said. “There are options to make it blend in, smaller on the property. The feedback we’ve received from the residents is that they do not want it, and I’ve not received information from residents who say they are for it.”
“I am worried about the effect that it will have, because it’s in a residential area, but it’s something that could continue to be discussed, and I’m open to suggestions. I’m open to all people of Royal Palm Beach to talk about it,” Avila said.
“I believe the hotel is a great idea. The location is a question,” Pinto said. “What are the other alternatives? What are the other options? Let’s review it, let’s assess it, let’s look at it, let’s make a decision, let’s follow through, let’s execute and let’s move forward.”
“I’m interested in all projects. I like doing projects,” Sharps said. “But as a council person sitting at this dais, I’m responsible to the residents of this community. And if the residents in that neighborhood don’t want that project, then I’m not going to vote yes. It’s that simple.”
During closing statements, the candidates made a final pitch to the voters.
“We’ve heard this before, and I think everybody agrees that Royal Palm Beach is a very special place,” Hmara said. “It’s a community that actually is rooted in family values and inclusivity, and a small-town feel, which is an important part of its character. So, as a councilman and now your mayor, I’ve worked really hard to maintain that character while embracing the opportunities that change provides.”
“My goal here is to come in and I’m going to read through the budget, go through every line item,” Plaza said. “I’m going to find money. I promise you that. That money is going to go directly back into the town. No way we’re going to raise any rates or have any additional taxes. With that being said, I love this town. I don’t want it to change… The last few meetings I’ve been in here, there were three people in the room. I want to change that. I want to give the town back to the people. If you vote for me, you will have a platform, you will be engaged, you will be notified, and your voice and vote do matter.”
“I’m proud to have led the way for our seniors, local businesses and for government transparency since I’ve been elected,” Samios said. “I’m a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County and Leadership Palms West. I have a good understanding of how Palm Beach County works and the role that Royal Palm Beach has in it. As mayor, I will preserve the village’s unique character and charm for the future of Royal Palm Beach by continuing to fight to reduce traffic congestion and manage growth responsibly.”
“I really had the opportunity of a lifetime last year to run for office, getting the opportunity to meet so many of my fellow Royal Palm Beachers, and to continue to do that now,” Avila said. “I want to put Royal Palm Beach on the map, and I want people to be proud to say that they’re from Royal Palm Beach, just like I am.”
“My husband and I have prided ourselves on public service, passion for you, passion for our village, for good governance,” Pinto said. “We want to do the right thing by you, and we would welcome your suggestions. Your expertise is truly important. This is our village, and we’re here for you.”
“If you’ve ever completed a box puzzle, the last piece is always the hardest to find,” Sharps said. “It’s usually somewhere in the table mixed in with other things, or it falls off the table, on the floor and you can never find it… I believe that I am that last piece for the puzzle that is missing from the council.”
The entire forum is available to watch online through Royal Palm Beach’s YouTube page or directly at www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mljBK1kOgM.
