Name: Meredith Madsen
Office sought: Boca Raton City Council Seat B
Campaign website: www.madsenforboca.com
Date, place of birth: NYC, NY 05/23/1974
Generally speaking, is Boca Raton on the right track or the wrong track, and why?
Boca Raton was moving in a good direction but now finds itself at a new critical crossroads. We have excellent schools, public safety, parks, and a community-minded culture that makes Boca feel like a town despite being a city with world-class amenities. These are some of our real strengths and greatest assets. We are a jewel in the crown that is South Florida. We need to protect that. Our ordinance 4035 which governs our downtown development will sunset in just two years. That means we are at a rare inflection point. Decisions made right now don’t just affect one project; they will shape what downtown can become for decades. This is exactly the moment when we should slow down, plan comprehensively, and protect public land and long-term flexibility, perform comprehensive traffic analysis and put existing residents first while still plan flexibly for our future residents.
How will you vote on ballot question No. 1, and why? (police headquarters, public safety improvements)
I support investing in public safety, but I believe the bond amount is too large if it is used only
just for a police headquarters. We are not the size of Fort Lauderdale and it exceeded even theirs.
How will you vote on ballot question No. 2, and why? (Lease of downtown land, public improvements, Memorial Park)
I will vote NO on Ballot Question No. 2.
This referendum asks whether the City should lease just under 8 acres for 99 years to a private developer. My concern with this measure is that it effectively permanently cedes control over public land in the heart of Boca Raton for a very long term, 99 years, the entirety of the age of Boca now, and effectively takes it out of public decision-making for generations to come. It is too long. That downtown land is finite and irreplaceable, and the place that should be our historical and cultural hub. The benefits will not be realized for another generation and we are able to build basic infrastructure like parks and city offices without a P3 for land. Once control of it is locked away for nearly a century, future residents have little leverage if conditions change.
Are you satisfied that the ballot language approved by the City Council accurately reflects the details of the ballot questions?
No, I am not fully satisfied but am happy to have gotten a vote on the downtown project as that was unfortunately hard fought. Ballot language should be neutral, plain-spoken, and fully transparent about what voters are being asked to approve especially when public land and long-term obligations are involved. In this case, the language minimizes the permanence and scope of the decisions being made, particularly with respect to the length of the lease and the loss of future flexibility. Voters deserve ballot language that makes the consequences unmistakably clear, so they can make informed decisions not just technically correct ones.
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?
I do not support eliminating property taxes. Property taxes are a primary funding source for essential local services, particularly public schools, public safety, and infrastructure. Eliminating or dramatically reducing them without a reliable replacement would shift the burden elsewhere or result in serious service cuts, which would ultimately hurt residents and families. That said, affordability matters. I support targeted, responsible relief such as expanding homestead exemptions, protecting seniors and long-term residents from being priced out, and improving government efficiency before asking taxpayers to pay more. Broad, unfunded tax cuts that destabilize local budgets are not fiscally responsible, and I would oppose them.
What most distinguishes you from your opponent(s)?
I am running as an independent moderate because I don’t believe Boca Raton residents should have to choose between extremes. I bring real-world experience as a small business owner, a PTSA vice president, and a longtime community leader who has worked collaboratively across differing viewpoints. I am not beholden to developers, special interests, or political machines and I am not interested in inflaming residents for personal power. I’m not running to represent developers or personality-driven movements. I’m running to provide transparency, stability, and a return to normalcy for residents like myself. I am a moderate and I focus on outcomes and putting existing residents first. I listen, I do the groundwork, and I’m willing to stand up and say no when something isn’t right even when it’s unpopular.
List in reverse chronological order, starting with most recent, colleges and universities attended with years of attendance and degrees held.
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) – Lean Six Sigma Green Belt 2011
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) — Project Management Professional (PMP) 2011
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) – Masters in International Business (MBA) 2010
School Of Visual Arts (SVA) – Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) 1999
List in reverse the chronological order your work history for the past 10 years.
For the last 8 Years I have served as the CEO of my company Sunshine & Glitter www.sunshineglitter.com
And prior to that as the CEO of a boutique advertising agency Madsen Advertising.
Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details and disposition.
NO
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
