Two weeks from Election Day, the lines of the Delray Beach City Commission race have become clear.
Delores Rangel is the candidate of former Mayor Shelly Petrolia’s faction. Rangel’s latest campaign finance report shows a $250 donation from Petrolia and $1,000 from Carolyn Patton, long a Petrolia ally.
Further evidence emerged when the South Florida Sun Sentinel endorsed Rangel. Petrolia’s proxy on the current commission is Commissioner Juli Casale, and the Sun Sentinel has been reliably pro-Casale. Soon after, the Delray Gazette touted the endorsement and parroted the editorial’s criticism of fellow candidates Judy Mollica and Andrea Keiser for taking contributions from developers.
Though the Gazette is anonymous, I’ve heard from many people that it’s the work of Kelly Barrette, another Petrolia-Casale ally. Among Rangel’s donations is $1,000 from Barrette’s husband. Another $1,000 comes from Alan Zeller, still another Petrolia-Casale ally who has served on city boards.
One day later came a clue about Keiser. The Delray Guzette criticized the Sun Sentinel, saying that Rangel would be Casale’s “sidekick” and claiming that Casale “sideswipes, blindsides and kneecaps Mayor [Tom] Carney at every turn to block his progress.” Rangel, the Guzette said, claims to want commission harmony but would align herself with Casale, whom the Guzette called “the source of the discord.”
Like the Gazette, the Guzette is anonymous. I’ve heard from many people that it’s the work of Mary McCarty, the former city and county commissioner who went to prison on public corruption charges. The Coastal Star reported recently on texts between McCarty and Carney that suggest McCarty is advising the mayor on many issues.
McCarty and Carney are Republicans. Two years ago, they leveraged high GOP turnout in a presidential primary year to get Carney and his slate—that, ironically, included Casale—on the commission. If they intend to use partisan politics again in this supposedly nonpartisan city race, Keiser likely is their pick.
Keiser is part of the family that founded Keiser University. The family has a long history of donating to Republican candidates. Keiser’s latest financial report includes $500 from former GOP state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff and $1,000 from Dale Hedrick. He owns a West Palm Beach construction company and is another longtime Republican donor.
Neither has any seeming connection to Delray Beach. Indeed, most of Keiser’s $31,000 in contributions from Jan. 1 to Feb. 6 came from outside the city. Some donors are lobbyists and state political action committees. Keiser previously had loaned her campaign $102,000. Her donations total $154,000.
That leaves Mollica as the candidate appealing to Democratic voters. Her donations include $150 from Anne Gannon. A Delray Beach resident, Gannon is a Democrat and the county’s tax collector. In this report, Mollica added $16,500, for a total of $75,000. Her contributors included downtown landowner Steve Michael and his wife.
Though Rangel worked in the city manager’s office for almost 30 years, Mollica has her own long record of community involvement and currently serves on the planning and zoning board. Mollica also would appear to be the only candidate not linked to a sitting commissioner and thus most capable of being politically independent.
Rarely do any city issues break down along partisan lines. Yet in Delray Beach and Boca Raton, nonpartisan city elections have become more partisan. Some Republican legislators want to make them partisan. This shift risks putting in power candidates who know little about the city but a lot about politics.
Jonathan Pearlman campaign fundraising tops $250K
Speaking of money in local politics, Save Boca founder Jonathan Pearlman is at a quarter-million and counting.
Pearlman is challenging incumbent Councilmember Marc Wigder for Seat B on the city council. His 2026 campaign finance report shows that Pearlman has given himself $60,000. Before Jan. 1, Pearlman had given his campaign $2,400.
In addition, Pearlman gave $80,000 to Save Boca during the period from Jan. 1 to Feb. 6. Though Save Boca is endorsing other council candidates, the group now functions primarily to promote Pearlman. Previously, Pearlman had given Save Boca $69,000 in direct and in-kind contributions.
Finally, Pearlman gave $34,500 to committees that sought to put a proposed charter amendment and ordinance on the ballot. A judge found that those proposals were unconstitutional.
That totals almost $246,000. As I have reported, Pearlman has refused to answer questions about the source of his money. According to the Sun Sentinel, Pearlman was the only candidate not to return the paper’s questionnaire or participate in a candidate interview. This from someone who regularly states that the council should be more transparent.
Fundraising for Andy Thomson’s mayoral bid
Speaking of money and the Boca Raton election, mayoral candidate Councilmember Andy Thomson raised another $15,500 between Jan. and Feb. 6, bringing his direct contributions to $132,000.
Thomson’s donors included Buffy Tucker, the vice president of Save Boca. She gave $400. Former Delray Beach City Commissioner Jordana Jarjura gave $1,000. Another $1,000 came from the Realtors’ political action committee.
The city had not received Thomson’s latest report with those of other candidates. Thomson’s committee has raised another $290,000.
Boca to discuss freestanding ER ordinance
On the agenda for tonight’s city council meeting is a proposed ordinance for where Boca Raton would allow freestanding emergency rooms.
According to the staff memo, the ordinance would establish these ERs—that are not part of brick-and-mortar hospitals—as a conditional use. The facilities would be allowed, but subject to council approval.
In a change from the original version, the current proposal would allow the ERs in the light industrial research park (LIRP) neighborhood near Yamato Road and Interstate 95. It would define “freestanding emergency facility” and provide regulations, such as minimum parking requirements. There would have to be separate loading and unloading areas for ambulances. The ERs must allow “direct access” to main roads and can’t go next to single-family neighborhoods.
This issue has drawn many speakers even before the ordinance was drafted. I’ll have more after the meeting.
Delray Beach to discuss proposed noise ordinance
On the agenda for today’s Delray Beach City Commission meeting is the proposed noise ordinance.
In addition to updated standards for sound levels in the entertainment district, the ordinance would allow technological monitoring by city code enforcement officers using meters. After a workshop meeting, staff made changes to limit noise from lawnmowers and leaf blowers and to say that complaints about animals can come after 10 minutes, as opposed to 20.
Delray to tackle Subculture Coffee controversy
Also on the agenda is an item related to Subculture Coffee, which has become a political flashpoint in Delray Beach.
Neighbors have complained that Subculture has too little parking for the business it has become. Before the commission is a proposal to reconsider the decision in 2023 for Subculture to have eight parking spaces rather than the required 13.
In her memo, City Attorney Lynn Gelin said Subculture is not operating as the “grab and go” coffee shop owner Rodney Mayo promised. Mayo had promised that most customers would be in the store no longer than 15 minutes. Instead, Subculture hosts events that draw people for far longer.
Casale regularly complained that the city wasn’t being aggressive enough. Former Commissioner Rob Long had been Subculture’s main advocate on the commission; he is now in the Florida House. Gelin makes clear that she considers Mayo in violation.
