Andy Thomson got a late boost from the Florida Democratic Party (FDP) in his barely successful campaign to become Boca Raton’s mayor.
According to his most recent campaign finance report, Thomson received $16,500 worth of in-kind contributions from the state party between Feb. 21 and March 5. Five days later, Thomson defeated Mike Liebelson by five votes in a race that went to a hand recount.
The party helped Thomson with phone banks, mailers, digital ads and text messages. Thomson also received a late $1,000 contribution from the Service Employees International Union; it represents Boca Raton’s blue-collar workers and tends to support Democrats.
Local elections in Florida are technically non-partisan. In recent years, however, partisan involvement has been rising. We saw it in dramatically Delray Beach two years ago.
The March race for mayor and two city commission seats fell on the day of the statewide presidential primary. For Democrats, it was a non-event. The FDP had declared that only President Joe Biden would appear on the ballot. For Democrats, the vote was a formality. It did not draw voters who otherwise would not participate in a city election.
Republicans, though, had the chance to vote for Donald Trump. Gov. Ron DeSantis also was on the ballot. The Republican Party of Florida encouraged a big turnout that did draw first-time and irregular voters in local races.
Tom Carney, who was running for mayor against Ryan Boylston, is a Republican. Carney and his allies leveraged that GOP turnout, and Carney won.
That example, though, shows the risk of injecting party politics into local elections where few of the issues are partisan. Carney led a slate that included Juli Casale and Thomas Markert. They were linked only by opportunity and timing. That new majority now regularly quarrels among itself on the dais and through competing emails.
Liebelson also made direct appeals to Republicans. Sounding like GOP state legislators, he campaigned for tax cuts, even though Boca Raton has one of the lowest property tax rates in the county.
Perhaps next year, when something as controversial as the Terra/Frisbie downtown redevelopment project isn’t on the ballot, partisanship will recede. But Republicans keep talking about making local races partisan—social media posts have speculated that Thomson won because Republicans split their votes between Liebelson and Fran Nachlas.
Another late contribution to Thomson
In other notable contributions, Thomson got $3,000 late from Rosemurgy Properties, the Boca Raton-based real estate/development firm. Final campaign finance reports for all candidates should be available soon.
Mayor Singer turns focus to congressional bid
Fresh off the resounding defeat of that Terra/Frisbie project he championed, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer is turning to his congressional campaign.
Last week, a Singer email touted support from several current and former local officials in District 23. He’s running in the GOP primary, and the winner will take on Jared Moskowitz, the incumbent Democrat.
Two of those officials in the primary are from Deerfield Beach. Another is from Weston. Still another is from Hillsboro Beach, the affluent, 2,000-resident oceanfront enclave south of Deerfield Beach.
Singer is trying to show support from the south because most of District 23 is in Broward County. Moskowitz is from there. So is George Moraitis, who also is seeking the Republican nomination. Moraitis is a former state legislator from Broward and his wife, Heather, is a former Fort Lauderdale city commissioner.
One official says of Singer, “He understands that collaboration at all levels of government is required to get things done for his constituents.” That comment will amuse Terra/Frisbie’s critics who for months accused Singer of being unwilling to collaborate.
The mail noted that Carney “also added his endorsement.” No quotes were attached.
Total dysfunction in Tallahassee
Kelly Skidmore has spent almost three decades in Tallahassee as a staff member or legislator. She currently represents a House district that includes West Boca Raton.
On Monday, Skidmore told me that this year’s regular session was “the worst ever” in her experience. The level of dysfunction was so high that legislators didn’t even start on passing the budget, which is their one annual requirement.
Among other things, that means continued uncertainty about Tri-Rail. According to the agency’s director, the commuter service will run a $30 million deficit by the end of the year. After the state cut funding last year, Tri-Rail could run out of money by July 2027.
Yet the Republican-dominated Legislature did find time to pass bills that would restrict voting rights and further restrict the ability of cities and counties to hold activities tied to what critics call diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Skidmore voted against both, but her bigger gripe is that even the sponsors of those bills couldn’t answer basic questions about them.
Regarding the voting bill that would require proof of citizenship—something Florida already requires—Skidmore said that supporters claimed that anyone with Real ID could cast a ballot. “Is that really true?” Skidmore asked. She noted that the bill makes no mention of who would ensure it and no money to make it happen. Election supervisors of both parties urged the Legislature to reject the bill.
Regarding the DEI legislation, Skidmore said the language does not make clear whether, say, a St. Patrick’s Day parade would be legal. “Is it religious?” she asked. “It’s certainly Catholic.” With many other events, it could come down to “whether it’s culture or cultural.”
Not even the staff analyses of the two bills supply answers. But the voting bill is a state version of the so-called Save America Act that Trump is pushing. Anti-DEI legislation is another national Republican priority.
Addressing Florida issues have been less of a priority. Of course, general inaction means that Republicans have been unable to agree on proposals to cut local property tax revenue.
For now, DeSantis has called the Legislature back on April 20 for a special session to further gerrymander congressional districts. (Singer will be paying attention.)
Near that date must be a session to approve the budget. If anyone still cares about responsible legislating.
Mizner Plaza approved
By a 4-1 vote, the Boca Raton City Council on Monday approved the Mizner Plaza hotel project. I’ll have much more in my Thursday post.
