Jeff Hmara, who has been serving as mayor of Royal Palm Beach since the unexpected passing of former Mayor Fred Pinto last September, was elected to the position by village voters Tuesday, March 11.
Hmara garnered 1,496 votes (58.32 percent), while Vice Mayor Selena Samios took 928 votes (36.18 percent). Candidate Justin Plaza got 141 votes (5.5 percent). Hmara claimed a one-year term to fill the unexpired portion of Pinto’s term.
In the race for the Group 3 council seat, Sylvia Sharps was narrowly ahead after preliminary results were released Tuesday night. She had 982 votes (40.28 percent), leading Steve Avila with 965 votes (39.58 percent). A total of 17 votes separated them with a handful of mail-in votes still to be counted. Fred Pinto’s widow, Donielle Pinto, placed third with 491 votes (20.14 percent).
In the Town of Loxahatchee Groves, candidate Paul T. Coleman II easily won the race for Seat 4. He took 227 votes (64.12 percent), while Brian William Zdunowski was second with 70 votes (19.77 percent), and Steven Hoffman was third with 57 votes (16.19 percent). Hoffman will replace Councilman Robert Shorr, who did not seek re-election.
A Loxahatchee Groves ballot question allowing the town to use the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board to serve as the town’s canvassing board for local elections was approved, with 227 YES votes (73.70 percent), and 81 NO votes (26.30 percent).
This is a breaking news alert. Look for full stories in the Town-Crier issue out Friday, March 21.
