By Joshua Manning
Due to recent changes in state law, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link required all municipalities holding elections on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, to pull back their filing deadlines into November. The Village of Wellington, the Village of Royal Palm Beach and the Town of Loxahatchee Groves complied with the request.
The qualifying period opened this week in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach and will open next week in Loxahatchee Groves, giving incumbents and potential challengers just a short period of time to finalize their election plans.
Wellington — The Village of Wellington will hold an election Tuesday, March 8, 2022, with four-year terms for two council seats up for grabs. These are Seat 2, currently held by Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, and Seat 3, currently held by Vice Mayor John McGovern.
The qualifying period opened at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 2 and closes at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 16. As of now, both incumbents are planning to seek re-election, and there is one announced challenger for each seat.
In Seat 2, Siskind is being challenged by local businessman Tony Nelson, and in Seat 3, McGovern is being challenged by Johnny Meier, a former president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and the owner of My Community Pharmacy. As of Tuesday, Nov. 2, no other potential challengers had come forward.
To qualify, potential candidates must contact the office of Village Clerk Chevelle Addie at (561) 791-4118 or via e-mail at caddie@wellingtonfl.gov.
Royal Palm Beach — Three seats on the Royal Palm Beach Village Council are up for election on March 8, 2022. Those include the Mayor’s Seat, currently held by Mayor Fred Pinto; the Group 1 Seat, currently held by Councilman Jeff Hmara; and the Group 3 Seat, currently held by Councilwoman Selena Samios.
The qualifying period opened on Monday, Nov. 1 and closes on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m.
According to Village Clerk Diane DiSanto, Pinto qualified for the ballot on Monday, Nov. 1, and both Hmara and Samios had contacted her to confirm their intention to seek re-election and qualify for the ballot before the deadline. As of Nov. 1, she had not heard from any potential challengers.
For more information about qualifying for the Royal Palm Beach election, call DiSanto’s office at (561) 790-5100.
Loxahatchee Groves — The Town of Loxahatchee Groves will hold a municipal election on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, with two council seats up for grabs. Those seats are Seat 2, currently held by Vice Mayor Laura Danowski, and Seat 4, currently held by Mayor Robert Shorr.
The qualifying period opens at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 9 and closes at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 16. According to Town Clerk Lakisha Burch, no candidates have come forward to open campaign accounts or make plans to run as of Tuesday, Nov. 2.
For more information about qualifying for the Loxahatchee Groves election, contact Burch at (561) 793-2418.
