Name: Judy Mollica
Office sought: Delray Beach Commissioner, Seat 2
Campaign website: www.judymollica.com
Date, place of birth: 12/18/1960 Lima, Ohio
Do you agree or disagree that too much bickering and personal animosity exists on the Delray Beach City Commission? How would your presence help?
Yes absolutely, the level of vitriol on the Delray Beach City Commission is unacceptable and honestly embarrassing for our city. I’m an honest person and can be blunt at times, but I will never devolve to the level of bickering that’s we’ve seen in recent years on the dais. I want to work respectfully and collaboratively to find creative solutions and build consensus. I also pride myself on being a good faith broker who can work to create compromise. I’ve had plenty of practice at that as a mother of a child with cancer who had to present calm and positivity when there was none, in my career as a real estate broker, and in my roles on the Delray Beach Planning and Zoning Board, the Mae Volen Senior Center board, and more.
Assess the quality of leadership of Mayor Tom Carney. What does he do well and not so well?
I think Mayor Carney is doing a fine job. He does exceptionally well with keeping the community informed and working to make our city more transparent. He welcomes community opinions and that’s essential for anyone leading a city. The place where I think he struggles is keeping control of Commission meetings, and I feel that a lot of the bickering discussed in the last question could be quieted if he took stronger control.
Do you support or oppose the leadership of the city Downtown Development Authority and would you support or oppose shrinking the DDA’s geographic boundaries or changing its taxing authority?
I absolutely support the leadership and work of the Downtown Development Authority. The DDA has done an excellent job advocating for people and businesses within the tax district and I think it serves as a strong example of what other cities can do to bring energy to their communities. I’ve been very involved in conversations about the future of the DDA, and there is a strong appetite for the area West of Swinton Avenue to have their own taxing district to better fit the specific needs of residents and businesses there. I support that effort because I think it will allow historically under-resourced areas to get proper attention. I do not support the DDA’ s involvement with our cultural art’s center, Old School Square. While I appreciate their rescue, it takes resources away from their mission to our businesses.
The Legislature is considering proposals to reduce or eliminate property taxes. Do you agree they are too high, and what tax cut proposals do you support?
The legislature’s leading proposals to eliminate property taxes are a disaster. Ad valorem taxes are the best way to ensure those with larger properties pay their fair share towards city services. I’m worried that the proposals coming out of Tallahassee will have horrible effects on our first responders (in some proposals, fire and police departments are exempted but EMTs are not), ability to provide baseline city services, and possibility of maintaining a functional budget. The city would be forced to lay off workers and cut services drastically. Replacing those funds with a sales tax would be unfair and regressive while hoping that the state will come up with some other source of funding is an exercise in insanity. We are in a statewide affordability crisis, but there are many other ways to address those issues that won’t have such negative effects on our municipal governments.
City Manager Terrence Moore will mark five years of city employment in June. What is your overall assessment of Moore’s performance?
I’ve been generally favorable about Mr. Moore’s performance. When I’ve spoken to department directors, everyone says he’s doing a great job and acts as a positive manager. I look forward to working with him.
What most distinguishes you from your opponent(s)?
My experience. I’ve been showing up in service of Delray Beach for many years because I care about this community and I want to see it thrive. I’ve been active on the Planning and Zoning Board as well as the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. I am a board member of the Mae Volen Senior Center and the Rotary Club of Delray, and I’ve also been active with neighborhood activism efforts, especially with the Set Neighborhood Coalition, which has endorsed my campaign.
I also realized a few years ago that our residents didn’t have a fair source of news about the city and a way to get real analysis about what happens in city hall. So together with a few likeminded people, I started Friends of Delray, which has grown to be an extremely active news source and community activism project. Our videos and articles are seen by tens of thousands of Delray Beach residents, and I truly think we’ve had an impact on helping people keep track of what’s going on in our city. When I’m knocking on doors and making phone calls as part of this campaign, I’m finding that people already know me because of my long-term involvement with various organizations and my videos from Friends of Delray. I’m not begging people to support me; people are asking me to lead.
List in reverse chronological order, starting with most recent, colleges and universities attended with years of attendance and degrees held.
University of Central Florida 3 years attendance. I did not complete my degree requirements due to my daughter’s illness.
Seminole Community College 2 years attendance. Associates of Arts Degree
List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 10 years.
Broker/Owner of Ocean East Properties, a small boutique Real Estate Firm since 2014.
Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details and disposition.
No, I have not been party to lawsuit other than being a plaintiff in a small claims action. No bankruptcy or foreclosure.
Have you ever been charged or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates and terms of sentence.
No.
