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Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lake Worth Beach should elect Carla Blockson and Reinado Diaz
On March 11, the voters of Lake Worth Beach should consider making a change to spur its commission to revive its city government so that it can better address projects and proceed to make key improvements in services. Known for its thriving arts district, Lake Worth Beach could use a more collaborative city commission in dealing with ongoing challenges, whether it's finding new tax revenue from commercial development to developing more reasonably priced housing opportunities for city residents. A fulltime city manager to do that work would help, too. To help make that happen, The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board recommends voters elect Carla Blockson to the District 2 seat and re-elect District 4 Commissioner Reinaldo Diaz in hopes of taking Lake Worth Beach in a better direction. This is not Blockson's first rodeo. This contest between Blockson and incumbent Christopher McVoy marks the third time the two have faced each other for the right to represent Lake Worth Beach's District 2. This time, though, voters should make sure Blockson wins the race. After considering her position on the city's chief issues, the Post Editorial Board believes right now she's the better choice. Palm Beach Post Editorial Board endorsements for March 11 municipal elections Blockson, 68, understands the issues facing the city. Since 2021, she has served on the Lake Worth Beach's Community Redevelopment Agency and as chair, she has overseen several grants and key projects along the city's Dixie Highway corridor -- including the proposed Weiner Museum of Decorative Arts. If elected, she would bring a pro-business approach to the dais in support of attracting more commercial development to boost city tax revenue and make the city more of an attraction. She'd also work to improve traffic congestion along 10th Avenue North in her northwest district. Commissioner McVoy is the district's current commissioner. His status quo-stance on the city manager's position strikes the board as counterproductive. For that reason and more, voters should choose Blockson for the District 2 seat. Incumbent Lake Worth Beach Commissioner Diaz represents the city's southeast quadrant, which includes Lake Worth Beach's only oceanfront tract. The Post Editorial Board recommends voters re-elect him to another term, with the following caveat: Lake Worth Beach needs a full-time city manager, a task the next city commission must address sooner rather than later. In his first term, Diaz, 41, has tried to bring administrative changes to City Hall, in hopes of putting the city in a better position to address ongoing legal and development issues. He has also been thrust into the ongoing immigration controversy, threading the needle in protecting the city's growing Hispanic population, continuing to attract revenue from Tallahassee while abiding by punitive state deportation laws and federal dictates. If re-elected, Diaz would like to establish a more effective growth policy that would put the city in a better position to review and track ongoing projects. Still, the commissioner's take on leaving Jamie Brown, Lake Worth Beach's current public works director, to somehow balance that job with working as the city's "interim" manager, is well, troubling. Diaz believes Brown is doing a better job than his predecessor that the commission removed in 2024. Fine. So start the process that leads to Brown being hired to the job on a permanent basis. There are many projects that need a full-time city manager's attention, and a full-time public works director, including the city's long unused pool that sits near the beach in the commissioner's district. Greg Richter, a 69-year-old Realtor, is also running for the seat. He is running as a change candidate, but the Post Editorial Board believes that Diaz's performance to date makes him the better candidate in the race. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lake Worth Beach voters should choose Blockson and Diaz | Endorsements
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vote Glas-Castro, Michael Hinsley and Judith Thomas in Lake Park elections
Imagine a game of Musical Chairs in which contestants compete for four seats. Once the music stops, the scramble for a chair begins, ending with the seated winners and standing losers. The analogy fits the upcoming Lake Park municipal election. On March 11, voters will choose one of six candidates, and the top four will go on to serve three-year terms. Lake Park, a community of about 9,000 residents squeezed between North Palm Beach and Riviera Beach, may be small. But, like many of its surrounding communities in this part of Palm Beach County, it faces the same problems of that come with growth and development — traffic congestion, and the demand for new residential and commercial projects that ultimately have the potential to change and reshape the very nature of the town. The Post recommends three incumbents who are hoping to either be re-elected or elected to a full term in office. Their experience, knowledge and commitment to the job gives them the edge over three candidates who didn't accept The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board's invitation to interview — former Commissioner John Linden, former Mayor Michael O'Rourke and Commissioner Mary Beth Taylor. The Post won't recommend even seemingly experienced candidates if they don't show up to present their views. Post Editorial Board endorsements: Palm Beach Post Editorial Board endorsements for March 11 municipal elections Kimberly Glas-Castro, 60, has been on the commission for four terms. She's seeking re-election because she believes the commission and town administration are finally at the point where they can make progress after ending a time of bickerng at commission meetings and financial difficulties that almost put the town in bankruptcy. If re-elected, she would push to establish a plan for the U.S. 1 corridor that would allow for greater housing density. She would be open to making Park Avenue more pedestrian-friendly, and would maintain ad valorem rates while prioritizing services to take advantage of new tax revenue to address town expenses. Michael Hensley, a 44 year-old middle school teacher and a former high school football coach, was appointed to the commission eight months ago when former Commissioner Linden stepped down from the dais. He is seeking his first full term as commissioner, and on March 11 voters should give it to him. In his short stint, Hensley has initiated a number of community events to draw more Lake Park residents into town government affairs. If re-elected, he would work to enhance public safety and infrastructure. He'd also work to complete ongoing projects, like the aquatic and community centers. Judith Thomas, 54, brings the experience of being an urban planner and former Riviera Beach planning and zoning administrator to her role as town commissioner. That on top of a 12-year stint as a volunteer member and board chair of Lake Park Planning and Zoning Board, along with her time on the dais as an elected official. If any candidate has the qualifications to help a community grapple with growth and development, it's Thomas. If re-elected, Thomas would try to retain the town's small time charm by encouraging the growth of small businesses, particularly along the town's Park Avenue corridor. She would also work with young residents and help boost schools in Lake Park as well as work to improve community engagement with the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office and other county agencies. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lake Park voters choose Glas-Castro, Hinsley and Thomas | Endorsements
