Delray Beach elections: City will have a new mayor for the first time in six years
DELRAY BEACH — Residents of the “Village by the Sea” will have much to consider on their ballots, including selecting a new mayor for the first time in six years.
Three races are up for grabs for Delray Beach’s 40,412 voters with public safety, overdevelopment and management of the city's budget at the forefront of the candidates' priorities.
Ryan Boylston, Tom Carney and Shirley Ervin Johnson are all running for mayor, or Seat 5, replacing Shelly Petrolia, who has served in that position since 2018.
For Seat 3 on the commission, Anneze Barthelemy, Juli Casale and Nick Coppola are on the ballot. The winner replaces Boylston, who has served on the commission since 2018 and whose vice mayor term will expire.
For Seat 1 on the commission, Jim Chard, Tennille DeCoste and Tom Markert will compete to replace current City Commissioner Adam Frankel, whose term is expiring.
Here's a more detailed look at the candidates:
Mayor's race: Ryan Boylston, 41, is a sitting commissioner
Background: Boylston, a lifelong Floridian, holds a business degree in marketing and mass communication from the University of Central Florida. He is the founder and CEO of 2TON Creative Agency, formerly Woo Creative, a marketing agency based in South Florida. He has lived in Delray Beach for 18 years.
Public service: Boylston has served as a city commissioner in Delray Beach since 2018, as vice mayor in 2020 and later in 2023, as a board member for the Community Redevelopment Agency, as a member and chairman of the Downtown Development Authority, as a representative on the State Affordable Housing Advisory Board, as a member and chairman of the Southeast Regional Water Treatment Plant Board and as a member of the Pineapple Grove Arts District Board.
Priorities: Public safety, lowering housing costs, effectively managing the budget, listening to residents, protecting the Village charm and history and ensuring infrastructure projects are funded and put in motion.
What he's saying: "I bring over a decade of diverse, impactful experience to the table. As a commissioner and vice mayor, I've initiated projects that fed thousands during the pandemic, saved historic landmarks and managed the budget responsibly. More importantly, the residents, businesses and organizations in our city believe in my ability to lead Delray Beach."
Campaign finances: Boylston's campaign budget is $175,000.
Website: BoylstonforMayor.com
Mayor's race: Tom Carney, 70, is a former mayor and commissioner
Background: Carney, born and raised in North Miami Beach, holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Spring Hill College, a JD degree from Boston College Law School and a master of laws degree in taxation from Georgetown University Law School. He has served as a partner at law firm Carney Stanton P.L. and as principal at Crystal Title & Escrow Company, Inc., a title insurance company. He has lived in Delray Beach for more than 30 years.
Public service: Carney has served as mayor and commissioner of Delray Beach, as chairman of the Delray Beach Housing Authority, as vice chairman and board member of the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, as a member of the Old School Square Board, as president of The Arts Garage, as a member of the New Hope Charities Board, as a member of Delray Beach Kiwanis, as a member of Delray Beach Elks and as a board member of his neighborhood's homeowners association.
Priorities: Overdevelopment and the traffic congestion that comes with it, public safety, fiscal responsibility, reductions in property taxes, protecting Delray's quality of life, and making city hall user-friendly.
What he's saying: "As a former mayor and commissioner, I know what the job entails. I delivered on pocketbook and quality of life issues for the residents when I was on the commission. In addition, I believe my professional experience is most relevant in dealing with the issues Delray Beach will soon be facing. We have a new police station, a new fire station and a water treatment plant that will be financed with tax-exempt bonds. I was involved for ten years as an underwriter's counsel on numerous revenue bonds and water control bonds."
Campaign finances: Carney's campaign budget is $100,000.
Website: TomCarneyforMayor.com
Mayor's race: Shirley Johnson, 77, is a former vice mayor and CRA Board chair
Background: Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in government and political science from Howard University. She has a background in management and analytics, after spending 30 years with IBM Corporation.
Public service: Johnson served as a city commissioner from 2017 until 2023. She has also previously served as chair of the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, as a Delray Beach community activist and she is a member of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church.
Priorities: Climate change, accelerating the upgrade of the city's water treatment plan, establishing a new city hall/sports complex and improving communications between the City of Delray Beach and the community.
What she's saying: "I'm a people person, I'm a community activist. I'm not a politician, I'm really not. Although I love politics, at the local level. You must love your community, you must love the people. My campaign is about getting rid of single-use plastic and talking about the environment because we just finished one of the most heated summers that has ever been recorded. Our ocean is full of microplastics. They're breaking down and they're destroying our fishery, our food. That is something that we cannot take lightly."
Campaign finances: Johnson did not disclose campaign finances to The Post.
Website: Johnson does not have a campaign website. She can be reached by email at Johnson4Mayor24@gmail.com.
Seat 3 race: Anneze Barthelemy, 46, is a social worker
Background: Barthelemy holds a master's degree in social work from Barry University. She has a 23-year background in social work. In the last decade, she has worked at Aware Recovery Care, the Drug Abuse Foundation of Palm Beach County, Community Partners of South Florida, Multilingual Psychotherapy Center, Inc., Community Connections for Life — a community mental health center — and Golfcrest Healthcare Center. She has lived in Florida for more than three decades.
Public service: Barthelemy has served as a social services consultant to former state Sen. Daphne Campbell, as a member of Impact 100 Women, as a member of Florida Rising, as a member and small group leader of Journey Church and as an advisory member of the Eat Better Live Better Board.
Priorities: Lowering property taxes, neighborhood safety, providing assistance to people in need, enhancing city services and improving infrastructure.
What she's saying: "As a social worker with a legacy to serve my fellow citizens and a creole-speaking long-time resident of Delray Beach, I feel that there is a lack of representation in the city's commission. With my skills and expertise in serving diverse populations, I feel that I can assist in bridging the gap, to bring about the unity and civility that the city desperately needs."
Campaign finances: Barthelemy's campaign budget is $50,000.
Website: AnnezeBarthelemy.com
Seat 3 race: Juli Casale, 55, is a former commissioner
Background: Casale holds an associate in arts degree from Harvard Extension School. She previously served as a city commissioner and deputy vice mayor from 2020 until 2023. Casale has lived in Delray Beach for nearly two decades.
Public service: Casale served as a board member for the Community Redevelopment Agency, as a member and secretary of the South Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Board, as a member of the Delray Beach Planning and Zoning Board, as a member of the Delray Beach Preservation Trust Board, as a member of the Delray Beach Historical Society, as the second vice president of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Delray Beach and as a member of the Harvard Club of the Palm Beaches.
Priorities: Better management of the city budget, neighborhood safety, cleaner streets, preserving green space, supporting a new Atlantic Avenue Historic District, using technology to improve traffic and building more workforce and affordable housing.
What she's saying: "Voters should choose me for office because I have their best interests at heart and I work tirelessly for them. As I former commissioner, I have a record of devoting myself to the betterment of our city with the principal goal of keeping Delray a safe, vibrant and welcoming community with a small-town feel. The impact of so much development is fast transforming our city. The residents need someone on the dais to be their voice, and my voting record shows I have consistently been that person."
Campaign finances: Casale's campaign budget is between $40,000 and $50,000.
Website: JuliforDelray.com
Seat 3 race: Nick Coppola, 58, is a political newcomer
Background: Coppola holds an associate's degree in labor studies and a bachelor's degree in human services from SUNY Empire State. He also holds a certificate in building construction management from New York University. He is retired, but has a background as a certified journeyman electrician. He is an eight-year resident of Delray Beach.
Public service: Coppola has served as chair of the Delray Beach Code Enforcement Board, as treasurer and chair of the Compass Community Center, as vice president and treasurer of the Sherwood Park Civic Association, as secretary of Impact 100 Men of Palm Beach County and as a board member and president of Pines of Delray Home Owner Association.
Priorities: Supporting first responders, mitigating traffic congestion and addressing parking, protecting Delray's water quality, managing growth and fiscal responsibility.
What he's saying: "I am running for Delray Beach City Commission, Seat 3, to bring a new and unique perspective to City Hall. I am committed to representing the interests of all Delray Beach residents and bringing a collaborative approach to city decision-making. I currently serve as the Chair of the Delray Beach Code Enforcement Board. In this capacity, I work with fellow board members to ensure that reported violations are legitimate and that people who receive violations are treated fairly and held responsible for the condition of their properties."
Campaign finances: Coppola's campaign budget is $100,000.
Website: NickforDelray.com
Seat 1 race: Jim Chard, 79, is a former vice mayor
Background: Chard holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Pomona College and master’s degrees in city planning and business administration from Harvard University. He has a background in business development and has worked at startups AlertSite and JumpStart Wireless. He has lived in Delray Beach for more than two decades.
Public service: Chard has served as vice mayor and commissioner of Delray Beach, as chair of the Delray Historic Preservation Board, as a member of the City of Delray Beach Site Plan Review and Appearance Board, as vice chair for advocacy and economic development of the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, as a founding member of the Community Greening Board, as co-founder of Friends of Delray, as a member and treasurer of the Old School Square Center for the Arts Executive Committee, as chair of the Delray Chamber Education Fund, as chair of Human Powered Delray, as a member of the Parking and Curb Management Task Force and as a member of the Task Force for Congress Avenue.
Priorities: Expenses management, improving education, promoting civic engagement and having clean and safe beaches, parks and downtown.
What he's saying: "I have the experience, education, performance and broad knowledge of Delray developed over 20 years that neither of my opponents share. I have broad and deep knowledge of neighborhoods, schools, housing, environmental protection, transportation, historic preservation, economic development, not-for-profits, culture, public safety and governance."
Campaign finances: Chard did not disclose campaign finances to The Post.
Website: ElectJimChard.com
Seat 1 race: Tennille DeCoste, 46, is a community leader
Background: DeCoste holds a bachelor's degree in public administration and a master's degree in human resources development and administration. She also holds a certification in employee relations, investigations and employment law from Cornell University. She has held various human resources roles throughout South Florida, including in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Miramar, Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach County. DeCoste has lived in Florida for nearly three decades.
Public service: DeCoste served as a member of the Broward County Human Rights Board, as a member of the Government Management Pension Board, as a member of the Delray Beach Liaison Police and Fire Pension Board, as a member of the Homeless Task Force, as a member of the Sober Task Force, in recidivism programs and as a youth mentor.
Priorities: Affordable housing, traffic and parking, repairing and replacing local infrastructure, growing the local economy, addressing coastal flooding, protecting taxpayers and lowering taxes, enhancing quality of life and helping with stray dogs and cats in the community.
What she's saying: "We do not have any elected official that has municipal experience. I am known to be a change maker. My extensive government experience, coupled with my personal life lessons and overcoming adversity, can resonate with voters who value resilience and diverse perspectives. Working at different municipalities for over 22 years has taught me the importance of having the skill set to ensure policies are set based on our resident’s needs."
Campaign finances: DeCoste's campaign budget is $70,000.
Website: TennilleDeCoste.com
Seat 1 race: Tom Markert, 66, is a former corporate CEO
Background: Markert holds a bachelor's degree in English literature from St. Lawrence University. Currently, he is president of InfraGard, a partnership between the FBI and members of the private sector for the protection of U.S. critical infrastructure and the American people, he said. He has also served as the chief marketing officer of Office Depot, as the president of Nielsen Canada, as the CEO of Nielsen Australia/New Zealand and as a board director of True Value, a hardware and home improvement company. He has written two business books, published globally by HarperCollins in multiple languages and has lived in Delray Beach for 14 years.
Public service: Markert is a member of the Police Advisory Board in Delray Beach and a member of InfraGard's Board of Directors. He has served as chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce while living in Australia, hosting dozens of senators and congressmen, as well as presidents Bush and Clinton. He has also served as a member of the Young Presidents Organization in the U.S., Canada and Australia.
Priorities: Public safety, fiscal responsibility, responsible development, clean water, protecting Delray's remaining tree canopy, maintaining the golf course, accelerating sea level rise planning and assistance, finding solutions to traffic congestion and listening to residents.
What he's saying: "I am a fresh new voice for Delray, which our community needs right now. The members of the city commission today and the candidates that are running all have the same background. They are all entrepreneurs or small business owners. I have experience running large organizations domestically and internationally. I am able to effectively manage large budgets and complex problems. Delray needs and deserves new perspectives right now."
Campaign finances: Markert did not disclose campaign finances to The Post.
Website: TomforDelray.com
Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Delray Beach elections: Three vying for vacant mayor's spot
