Businessman Sonny Maken is challenging incumbent Dr. Jean Enright for the Group 3 seat on the Port of Palm Beach Commission.
Maken, who is running without a party affiliation, faces an uphill battle against the Democratic incumbent. The port district tends to elect Democrats. In fact, all five current commissioners are Democrats.
“I just felt like the port needed some help. Enough with the political politicians. It’s time for active citizenry to stand up,” he said. “I’ve never run for office before; this is my first time as a candidate.”
Maken started a commercial real estate company when he was 25 years old that is still in business today. For the past three years, he has been CEO of First Serve, an afterschool program for inner-city children.
“I just felt like it was time to make a change. It’s time for the next generation. It’s time for a leadership change. People have been sitting on the port commission for a long, long time,” he said. “There is someone on that commission who has been in office since 1977. I was 2 years old in 1977, and he’s still there. It’s time to change, and our campaign has been very, very successful considering we aren’t professional politicians.”
His endorsements include a number of chambers of commerce, union groups and elected officials.
Maken has a degree in international economics from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., as well as a certification in international trade and finance from Georgetown.
“I don’t think there’s a better-prepared candidate academically who understands trade, who understands how to negotiate leases. I’ve done so much of that in my professional career, which I started when I was 25,” he said.
The port, he explained, is a landlord-tenant port. International relationships occur every day, and he has extensive experience working with international and landlord-tenant relationships. “I think I am supremely qualified to be a port commissioner,” Maken said.
The top three issues for the campaign, he said, are increasing economic activity, trying to bring in more economic players for better and increased job growth and sustainable development.
“I also don’t want to dredge the port 9 feet. I don’t want to destroy the inlet. I don’t want to destroy Peanut Island,” he said. “I want to make sure that the current ecosystem that exists continues to thrive and only get better, and I want to make sure that everything is done in a transparent manner.”
There should be complete and open accountability, he said.
Maken wants voters to vote for him because he is qualified academically and professionally, and he is not a politician.
His plan, if elected, is to help existing tenants grow, seek better tenants, bring in oversight over financials and encourage other commissioners on the port to seek out things that benefit the entire community, looking beyond financial gains for the port.
One suggestion is having tenants offer paid internships to introduce students to international businesses and entrepreneurship.
The Port of Palm Beach is not up to par with other nearby ports, he contends.
“If you care about competent government,” Maken said, “then I am definitely your candidate.”
For more information, visit www.sonnymaken.com.
Enright, the incumbent, did not return calls for comment. She was elected to the port commission in 2004 and was re-elected unopposed in 2008 and 2012.
