Name: Marc Wigder
Office sought: Boca Raton City Council Seat B
Campaign website: marcforboca.com
Date, place of birth: 1972, New York, NY
Generally speaking, is Boca Raton on the right track or the wrong track, and why?
Generally, considering the national and state issues that impact us we are on the right track, but
that does not mean we can rest on our laurels as there is always more work to be done. Boca Raton is a leader in South Florida for corporate headquarters and companies continue to look at our city as a great choice, because of our established neighborhoods, A-rated schools and school choices, wonderful parks, our culture and entertainment, and our proximity to major airports and business centers. Having a stable corporate sector that accounts for 50% of our tax base has allowed the city to keep the tax rate low and our growth rate at less than 1%. Over the last 10 years, we have not increased the millage rate and kept our budget stable even though fully half our properties are capped as homesteaded properties, making balancing the budget a balancing act.
As part of our comprehensive budget and capital improvement programs we have enterprise funds for reserves of major initiatives. These are funds my opponent wants to raid for one-time spending, which I am adamantly opposed to. We have funded critical infrastructure projects, such as our utility pipe and road replacement initiatives (called iSIP), funded our police and fire departments and the necessary equipment they need, passed the city’s first attainable housing ordinance which requires 10-15% of the units in most new projects to have a reasonable reduced rents for our workforce, such as cops, firefighters, teachers, nurses, and tech workers). Allowing our workforce to live in the city they work in is better for recruitment and retention and will reduce traffic. Installing AI traffic signals has started as a pilot program but will be expanded with downtown and Palmetto Park Road first, to improve traffic flow. We have begun replacing critical sea walls in the east sector, and will continue to survey and replace bridges, sea walls, and bulk heads in our waterfront based areas of the city. We continuously look at ways to improve our customer service, try to help the homeless while getting them off the street, and reduce red tape, and maintain and beautify our beaches and parks. This complicated but comprehensive municipal management can be a lot to digest at times, but it’s worth it to maintain our quality of life.
How will you vote on ballot question No. 1, and why? (police headquarters, public safety improvements)
I am in favor of Ballot question 1 for many reasons. The current police station was built before Hurricane Andrew, is not impact rated, and is far beyond its expected lifespan – having been built almost half a century ago – with significant maintenance issues. It was also built at a time when the city was geographically much smaller. As such, the station needs to evacuate during a hurricane warning, and does not satisfy the needs of residents, nor would the present structure meet current police standards. Additionally, the location adjacent to the train is not optimal for emergency vehicle egress and ingress and other storage and operational needs.
The new planned police station on Spanish River Blvd., will be more centrally located in the city, retain room for growth, be fully impact rated, and include critical modern technology needed for police services such as cybercrime and forensics. The bond initiative is a requested maximum to be responsibly conservative, but it will be value engineered to reduce its cost. It is the further intent to build and retain a substantial police substation in the present downtown district to ensure exceptional public safety throughout Boca Raton.
How will you vote on ballot question No. 2, and why? (Lease of downtown land, public improvements, Memorial Park)
I will vote yes, and again recommend the public to adopt the ballot measure. The initiative has evolved since its original submission after significant public input and is now proposed to be 75% smaller than the original submission and fully preserves and helps significantly improve Memorial Park. The proposed land is now not only generally vacant, it consists of obsolete parking fields and old buildings slated for demolition. None of it is proposed on park land. This means that the only redevelopment – as already envisioned in our voter-approved downtown plan – will happen in the railroad station corridor and will create a small mixed-use area which provides not only significant economic benefits – anticipated at $4 billion -to the city, a new source of revenue at a time where Tallahassee is looking to reduce local spending, and an important job creator for our local economy. It also provides a funding source for a pedestrian bridge connecting the train station to Mizner Park which would both increase safety and reduce traffic. These financial benefits will greatly help the city offset the much-delayed work of rebuilding city hall, community center, and Memorial Park, which reduces tax burdens on residents.
Are you satisfied that the ballot language approved by the City Council accurately reflects the details of the ballot questions?
Many in the community wanted the $4 billion in financial benefits to the taxpayers included, but I supported the more conservative language in the final question. The ballot measure is a compromise to reflect the details of the project, but also its requirements, that Memorial Park be preserved and enhanced, the municipal buildings be improved, and that our veterans should be properly honored as part of Memorial Park.
The Florida Legislature is considering proposals to reduce or eliminate property taxes. Do you agree the taxes are too high, and what tax cut proposals do you support?
As a councilman working to pass a balanced budget without a tax rate hike in the midst of significant national inflationary pressures over the past three years, I have found that our budget, without millage rate increases, responsibly covers the services of the city, our capital needs, and the high expectations of our residents. As such, some of the proposals in Tallahassee for large scale cuts do not seem practical as the city would have to cut services. We have not raised the tax rate in the last several years, and I refuse to cut public or life safety, or necessary infrastructure projects. Likewise, our municipal services, sanitation services, parks services, and building department services provide important services to our residents that will be extremely challenging if required to be reduced.
I have testified at the Capitol that there are structural problems with taxation which we all appreciate; namely, people on the same street that pay totally different taxes despite houses of a similar size – all dependent solely on when they moved there. The proposals in Tallahassee to date do not fix these structural inequities. Nonetheless, I am strongly in favor of tax reform which controls or cuts the growth of future revenue, like reducing assessment growth or caps on millage increases, or phasing in re-assessments for new homeowners.
What most distinguishes you from your opponent(s)?
Unlike my opponent, I have a long-term commitment to Boca Raton, the real-world experience to make responsible decisions, and have a proven record of bringing this community together. My opponent – who has never voted in a Boca Raton city election, is using Save Boca as his own personal play toy to the point it is the subject of multiple complaints by the Florida Election Commission, and is simply lying about the most basic issues facing our city – and is trying to tear apart our community to win an election. Even his biggest allies originally are no longer supporting him. As a business attorney and job creator with 30 years of experience, I have been fortunate that my background has been vital in creating and implanting good policy and sound fiscal decisions for our residents over the past several years. Starting a company here more than 15 years ago and raising my children here also gives me deep experience as to the services that people need and depend on like improving traffic, addressing the cost of living, and investing in infrastructure and our world class park system. I am always willing to listen and learn more about the issues, which is why I served on the Community Advisory Panel and Bike and Pedestrian Committee for 5 years before being elected. Having this deep experience with law, policy, finances, and the sound operation of the city significantly sets me and makes me the best qualified person for this position.
List in reverse chronological order, starting with most recent, colleges and universities attended with years of attendance and degrees held.
Yale University School of Management, 2015-17, MBA with sustainability subfocus
New York Law School, 1994-97, JD
State University of NY at Albany, 1990-94, BA philosophy and economics
List in reverse the chronological order your work history for the past 10 years.
Boca Raton City Councilman, 2023-present
Community Redevelopment Agency Chair, 2025-present & 2023-2024
Greenhouse Companies, 2012- Present
CEO of national multisector real estate portfolio focused on infusing sustainability into
commercial real estate and small business.
Marc D. Wigder PA, 2010- Present
real estate and business attorney, Licensed in NY, NJ, & FL
Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details and disposition.
Yes, auto accident related, or property casualty claims related to my company’s property management business. Any such matters were handled by insurance carrier and there are no active claims. There has never been a 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
