UPDATE: On Thursday, May 14, Katherine Waldron, a former state representative and port commissioner, filed to run for the District 6 seat on the Palm Beach County Commission as a Democrat. This and other updates will be in our next edition, out May 29.
It has been a good couple of weeks for Santa Rosa Groves resident and Indian Trail Improvement District President Elizabeth Accomando in her bid for the Republican nomination for Palm Beach County Commission in District 6.
Accomando cleared the 1,385 signatures needed to get on the August primary ballot against incumbent Commissioner Sara Baxter, who is serving this year as Palm Beach County mayor.
Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link certified 1,432 signatures on the nominating petitions, according to a letter sent to Accomando on May 6.
Some 1,900 signatures were turned in. “We actually collected more than 2,000 signatures in less than a month,” Accomando said this week.
Accomando also got word that she has received the endorsement of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association for the Republican nomination.
The school district is the county’s largest employer, and the CTA has some 7,000 members.
“We know it takes great courage and commitment to run for public office,” CTA President Gordan Longhofer wrote. “The CTA will recommend your candidacy to our members who live in your district… and urge them to help you achieve victory.”
Accomando was honored to receive the endorsement.
“This tells me we’re going in the right direction — that we’re building momentum,” she said. “The teachers know I have their back.”
Accomando noted that she also has the endorsement of the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast AFL-CIO.
Meanwhile, a third candidate has filed to run as a Democrat in the primary for District 6, which includes most of the county west of State Road 7.
In a press release, Mario Guzman described himself as a longtime Palm Beach County resident with a bachelor’s degree in public administration and Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Florida Atlantic University.
Guzman has served as director of Public Works & Engineering for the City of Boynton Beach, “overseeing multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects and the delivery of critical services” from roads and drainage to sanitation and neighborhood maintenance “with a focus on accountability, efficiency and measurable results,” his press release explained.
A Royal Palm Beach resident, Guzman serves on a number of boards, including the St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation, the Solid Waste Authority Citizens Advisory Committee and in the Scholar Career Coaching program, according to his announcement, which added his campaign is “rooted in a commitment to building a community where families can thrive.”
“I’ve spent my career making government work better — cutting through red tape, fixing problems and delivering results,” Guzman said. “As a father, I think about the kind of community we’re building for our kids. I’m running for county commission to make sure Palm Beach County has a government families can count on; one that’s efficient, transparent and focused on delivering real results every day.”
Acreage/Loxahatchee resident Rudolph “Rudy” Tinker and Mohammad Junaid Akther of Wellington also are seeking the nomination as Democrats.
Tinker already has qualified via petition. Otherwise, candidates must pay $8,200 for their name to appear on the county commission ballot.
With the June 12 filing deadline approaching, no names have appeared yet in the races for three Indian Trail Improvement District seats as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 13.
Accomando, who holds ITID Seat 1, is not seeking re-election as she makes a bid for the county post. She will remain on the board until she is sworn into the commission seat, or a new supervisor is sworn into Seat 1 after the Nov. 3 general election.
ITID Vice President Patricia Farrell has said she plans to file soon for Seat 3. Supervisor Michael Johnson, a former board president who has held Seat 5 for 8 years, is yet to file or make formal statement about his intentions.
Meanwhile, in the race to replace longtime District 6 School Board Member Marcia Andrews, who is retiring, four candidates remain in the race — former Wellington Councilman John McGovern, Donald Persson, Widline Pierre and Wanda Rosario-Schoenfeld. Candidate Barbara Miedema is shown as having withdrawn from the race.
