Lake Worth Beach election: Mayor's race headed to runoff between Betty Resch, Andy Amoroso
LAKE WORTH BEACH — Incumbent mayor Betty Resch will face challenger Andy Amoroso in a runoff election April 2 in her quest for another term for the 42,000 coastal residents.
Resch received 48% percent of the vote while Andy Amoroso received 31%, but winning by less than 50% of the vote automatically triggers a runoff. Alex Cull received 14% and William Joseph 6%.
Meanwhile, in District 1, Sarah Malega, 48, won her second three-year term for District 1 City Commission while Mimi May unseated incumbent Kim Stokes in District 3.
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The mayor annually is paid $29,500 and serves a three-year term. The five commission members are paid $24,500 annually and serve staggered three-year terms. All receive an additional $500 a month car allowance.
The City Commission comprises five members who serve staggered three-year terms and are elected on a nonpartisan basis by city residents. The mayor is elected by a city-wide vote to serve a three-year term as the presiding officer at meetings and as the official head of the City of Lake Worth Beach for legislative and ceremonial purposes.
Resch, 73, has been a resident of Lake Worth Beach since 1989. She serves on the Legislative Committee, Land Use and Economic Development, of the Florida League of Cities and serves on the board of directors of the Florida League of Mayors. She is also a member of the Lake Worth Beach High School Community Leadership Council and a member of the Downtown Jewell Neighborhood Association.
Resch campaigned on the promise that progress on the Gulfstream Hotel is needed. Resolving the future of the city’s beachfront pool, closed since 2016, is a priority, she said. Resch wants to focus on developing downtown properties, as well as increasing affordable housing in the city. She wants more police presence in city parks, especially Bryant Park.
Amoroso, 59, served as a Lake Worth Beach commissioner and vice mayor between 2011-20. He has been a resident of the city for about 45 years.
A graduate of Lake Worth High School, Amoroso has a bachelor’s degree in travel and tourism from Palm Beach State College. He has owned and operated several businesses in the city, and now owns the Tacky Tourist novelty shop on Lake Avenue.
Reducing crime is a top issue with voters, Amoroso said. Homelessness, prostitution and drugs are all part of the crime problem and the city needs “wraparound services” to combat them, he stressed. Another priority is improving the efficiency of City Hall, especially the code enforcement division. Amoroso wants to work more with the city’s 200 neighborhood associations to promote business and social interaction.
The City Commission includes five members who serve staggered three-year terms and are elected on a nonpartisan basis. The mayor is elected by a city-wide vote to serve a three-year term as the presiding officer at meetings and as the official head of the City of Lake Worth Beach for legislative and ceremonial purposes.
District 1: Incumbent Sarah Malega wins a second term
Sarah Malega, 48, a Lake Worth Beach resident for 12 years, received 57% of the vote ahead of challenger Melvin Pinkney.
Malega has said she wants to encourage investment throughout the city along with more infrastructure investment and affordable housing. She said she wants to formalize a strategic plan to protect city-owned properties and would encourage more “quality of life” programs with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office, such as the PALS program. She wants a solution to the future of the city’s beachfront pool.
District 3: Mimi May unseats incumbent
In District 3, Mimi May, 49, received 55% of the vote, defeating Kim Stokes, 42, who was seeking her second three-year term. Stokes received 45% of the vote.
May is a longtime public school teacher who has been active in her neighborhood associations. She has been a Lake Worth Beach resident for about seven years.
May has said she wants a “streamlined” code compliance permitting process that eliminates frustration for homeowners and contractors. To improve public safety, she wants more city engagement with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The city should hire a park ranger to maintain city parks. Multi-language education materials should be provided to help residents navigate the homeownership process.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lake Worth Beach election: Mayor's race headed to April 2 runoff
