Voters eager to weigh in on Boca Raton’s contentious redevelopment plan can now mark an extra date on their calendars.
Instead of what was originally one election early next year, the city is planning two elections — the earliest one set for Jan. 13 and the other held on March 10.
Civic engagement in Boca Raton has surged this year, largely due to a proposal known as the “government campus redevelopment plan.” It called for overhauling city land near the downtown by adding residences, retail and office space. The city argued it would be a boon to the community. But it sparked an outcry, with a group called Save Boca helping rally many residents against it.
The plan had originally proposed more than 1,100 apartments, a hotel, 250,000 square feet of office space, 85,000 square feet of retail on about 31 acres near the intersection between West Palmetto Park Road and Dixie Highway.
But it has been adjusted a few times since, most recently about a week ago, when developers said the project’s development — now a proposed 769 residences, 186 condominiums, a 150,000-square-foot office building and a hotel — would be consolidated to less than 8 acres all east of Northwest Second Street near the Brightline Station.
New renderings illustrate a modified plan for the Boca Raton government campus redevelopment project. The revised proposal includes a revitalized Memorial Park and development consolidated on less than 8 acres of land near the Brightline station. (Courtesy/One Boca via City of Boca Raton)
Amid all the discussion, several referendum questions have made their way to the ballot for both elections. In addition, voters will decide who’ll serve on the City Council next year, with some Save Boca members seeking to run for office, too.
Here’s what’s known about the upcoming elections and the candidates.
The January election
The City Council members recently decided to participate in a special primary election on Jan. 13.
This primary was scheduled so voters could select a new state representative for House District 87, which was previously held by Mike Caruso. In August, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Caruso to Palm Beach County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller position after Joseph Abruzzo, who formerly held that position, became Palm Beach County’s new administrator.
The Jan. 13 ballot will have two referendum questions on it:
— Whether voters would approve a charter amendment that would require the city to host an election for any selling or leasing of more than half an acre of city-owned land.
— Whether voters would approve an ordinance amendment with identical language.
Both amendments were presented by the Save Boca movement, a group of residents who want voters to have a greater say on decisions about city land. It was spurred by opposition to the government campus redevelopment project.
The City Council members agreed to put the charter and ordinance amendments on the Jan. 13 ballot, but some had reservations about what might happen if they are approved.
As Save Boca’s proposed amendments have progressed, city officials have expressed concerns about how the requirement to conduct elections could be time-consuming and expensive. Thus, future councils could then be deterred to move projects forward.
“I am all for getting this in front of all the voters as soon as possible,” Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas said at a recent city meeting. Nachlas is one of the mayoral candidates. “The voters have a right to vote for the projects. But our job up here is to protect the entire city of Boca Raton.”
Council member Marc Wigder, who is running for reelection, called the ordinance and charter amendments “broad” and “poorly written.” However, if they pass, Wigder said he would be willing to make modifications to make them more sustainable.
“We agree that projects that are large should be voted on by the people. I’m not against that conceptually,” Wigder said during the meeting. “I see this charter amendment potentially prohibiting the city from from doing a lot of the great things that it does.”
Save Boca members view the issue differently.
Residents would approve future projects that benefit the public, they have argued, and thus people should vote to approve the charter and ordinance amendments.
Mayoral and City Council member candidates
The city’s March 10 election will follow the Jan. 13 election, and residents will choose a new mayor and cast votes for council member seats. The election qualifying period for the candidates who filed to run currently is underway and will end at 5 p.m. Nov. 12.
Mayor Scott Singer will be termed out. Singer first became mayor in 2018 and was reelected again in 2020 and 2023.
Five candidates have filed to run for the mayoral spot:
— Josh Joffe, a resident.
— Bernard Korn, who’s unsuccessfully run several times for City Council, including last year.
— Mike Liebelson, a resident.
— Fran Nachlas, who is serving her second term on the council.
— Andy Thomson, who also is serving his second term on the council.
Beyond the mayor’s seat, candidates also are running for three openings: council Seats A, B and D.
City Council Seat A currently is held by Nachlas, who will be termed out. Three candidates filed to run: Korn, Christen Ritchey, who used to serve on the city’s planning and zoning board, and Michelle Grau, who supports the Save Boca movement.
Candidates may file to run for more than one seat. In this election, Korn has filed to run for mayor and Seat A. But after a qualifying period ends, candidates must pick just one seat to compete in.
Three people also are running for City Council Seat B, which currently is held by Wigder. He is running for reelection as his first term comes to an end. Wigder is running against city resident Meredith Madsen, and Jon Pearlman, Save Boca’s founder.
The third set of candidates filed to run for council Seat D, which currently is held by Thomson. If Thomson were to lose the mayoral election, he will keep his post. But if he’s elected mayor, the Seat D spot will go to the March ballot winner.
The four candidates are: Robert Weinroth, a former council member, Jessica Gray, who served on the city’s environmental advisory board, Larry Cellon, the city’s planning and zoning board vice chair, and Stacy Sipple, who also supports the Save Boca movement.
This election will come about six months after the new City Manager Mark Sohaney began his role.
The March election referendum questions
Accompanying the selection of a new mayor and council members, the March 10 ballot also will have two referendum questions for voters to consider.
In September, City Council agreed to move forward with a referendum question that will ask residents whether they support moving forward with the government campus redevelopment project as proposed by Terra and Frisbie.
New renderings illustrate a modified plan for the Boca Raton government campus redevelopment project. The revised proposal includes a revitalized Memorial Park and development consolidated on less than 8 acres of land near the Brightline station. (Courtesy/One Boca via City of Boca Raton)
Because Save Boca’s proposed charter and ordinance amendments address more than just the government campus project, the council members wanted to have a referendum question specifically addressing just the proposal.
The second referendum question on the March ballot will pertain to whether the city should spend $175 million in bond funds on a new police station.
Registered voters will be able to cast their votes at the Jan. 13 and March 10 elections either by requesting a mail-in ballot or by voting in-person on either Election Day.
