16-05-2025
Palm Beach Atlantic professor is latest to declare candidacy for West Palm Beach commission
A Palm Beach Atlantic University professor has become the latest candidate for a seat on the West Palm Beach City Commission.
Stephen Sylvester, a physical therapist and professor of health and human performance, filed on May 7 his intent to run for the District 5 commission seat, representing the city's south end. The election is in March 2026.
The seat is currently held by Commissioner Christina Lambert. Sylvester ran unsuccessfully against Lambert in 2020, campaigning on the platform that he would do more to heed developers from trampling over residents' concerns about overdevelopment.
Lambert has filed her intent to run for mayor in March 2027 but has not filed for reelection to her seat in the 2026 race.
'I've seen our city at its best times, and its worst,' Sylvester said in a news release announcing his candidacy. 'My historical knowledge, practical experience, and track record of community service have prepared me to be a Commissioner that will fight for our neighborhoods, support our residents, and ensure transparent, ethical service.'
Sylvester is the fourth person to file for the March 2026 commission elections.
In April, incumbent City Commissioners Christy Fox (District 3) and Cathleen Ward (District 1) both filed for reelection.
In January, Martina Tate-Walker filed to run against Ward in District 1. Tate-Walker has run for the seat in the past four elections and was defeated handily by Ward in 2022.
Andrew Marra is a reporter at The Palm Beach Post. Reach him at amarra@
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: PBAU professor Stephen Sylvester files to run for West Palm commission
