Wellington election: What you need to know about the races for mayor, Village Council
WELLINGTON — A two-term Wellington Village Council member is facing a resident making his second run for public office in the race for the village mayor's seat.
Vice Mayor Michael Napoleone is competing against Bart Novack, a frequent critic of village governance, to replace longtime mayor Anne Gerwig, who is leaving office because of term limits and is running for the Florida House of Representatives.
Three of the five seats on the Wellington council are up for grabs in the March 19 election as term limits also require Napoleone and Michael Drahos to leave their council seats.
Village residents will see a total of 11 candidates on their ballots. Besides the two candidates for mayor, four are running for Seat 1 and another five are competing for Seat 4.
The newly elected officials will be tasked with voting on a variety of residential and commercial development proposals for Wellington, which is facing growth pressures. Some of the projects call for construction near the equestrian preserve, on the K-Park property and Wellington Green Park and possibly redevelopment of the village's largest commercial site, the Mall at Wellington Green.
In Wellington, the mayor and councilmembers serve four-year terms and are limited to two consecutive terms in each office.
Polling places across the county will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day, when Florida's presidential primary elections also will occur.
For more information about the March 19 vote, contact the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office at (561) 276-1226 or at votepalmbeach.gov.
Wellington mayor: Michael Napoleone vs. Bart Novack
Michael Napoleone, 53, is the sitting council member for Seat 4. He grew up in Boca Raton and has lived in Wellington since 2013.
Background: Napoleone holds a bachelor's degree in criminology from the University of Florida and a law degree from St. John’s University. He has worked as an attorney for the past 26 years, including the last 5 as a partner at Day Pitney LLP where he practices business, real estate and probate litigation.
Public service: He is a member of the Palm Beach County Transportation Planning Agency and the Palm Beach County League of Cities and a former board member for the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County. He also served as president of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, and as chair of The Florida Bar’s Constitutional Judiciary Committee.
Priorities: Keeping our neighborhoods safe, preserving our quality of life and character of our community, managing the budget responsibly, protecting and preserving parka and green space, investing in needed infrastructure, and mitigating traffic concerns, especially at our schools.
What he's saying: "Wellington is a great hometown. We need to continue to focus on what we do well — and then keep doing it better — so that future generations will want to call Wellington home.”
Campaign finances: Napoleone has raised about $97,600 as of Feb. 23.
Website: napoleoneformayor.com
Bart Novack, 68, a Brooklyn, New York, native has lived in Wellington for over 20 years with his family. He is known as a frequent critic of the village council and is pursuing his second run for office.
Background: Novack has a high school degree. He is retired after working as an electrician for over 30 years.
Public service: He coached youth soccer teams for eight years in Wellington.
Priorities: Lowering taxes and keeping the village’s budget low; improving roadways to ameliorate traffic; slowing down commercial activity in the village to keep Wellington a bedroom community.
What he's saying: "I never sugarcoat things. I have no hidden agenda and would do anything for my family."
Campaign finances: Novack hadn't accepted any contributions as of Feb. 23.
Endorsement: Palm Beach Post Editorial Board: Endorsements for Wellington council races
Wellington Seat 1: Bob Margolis, Marcella Montesinos, Amanda Silvestri, Jay Webber
Four candidates are competing for Seat 1 currently held by Drahos.
Former Wellington Mayor Robert “Bob” Margolis, 72, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved with his family to the village 40 years ago.
Background: Margolis holds a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University. He worked as an accounts manager for Procter and Gamble for 25 years and is the president of Margolis Group Solutions, a consulting firm. He currently works as director for marketing and economic development for the Young Singers of Palm Beach County.
Public service: Margolis was elected as Wellington's Mayor in 2012 and served on the council. He has sat on the board for the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and the Wellington Blue Ribbon Committee and was the first chair of the village’s parks and recreation advisory board.
Priorities: Keeping neighborhoods safe; preserving parks and green spaces; expanding senior and sports programming for children and adults; and protecting the equestrian preserve.
What he's saying: “Wellington is at crossroads. Whether it is the dismantling of the Equestrian Preserve, the future annexation of land across Southern Boulevard, the sale of K-Park, the sale of land next to the mall, the future of the mall and the possibility of some budget shortfalls. I believe my qualifications far surpass my opponents'.”
Campaign finances: Margolis has raised about $12,870 as of Feb. 23.
Website: votebobmargolis.com
Marcella Montesinos, 45, is a Palm Beach County native. She is Hispanic and has lived in Wellington since 1987.
Background: Montesinos has a master’s degree in business management from Nova Southeastern University. She is the director of the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College of Palm Beach State College, where she has worked for 20 years.
Public service: She is a vice-chair of the village’s Education Committee and is a volunteer at the nonprofit Wellington Cares. She is the chairwoman of the Neil S. Hirsch Boys and Girls Club of Wellington and is on the advisory council of Binks Forest Elementary School and Wellington Landing Middle School.
Priorities: Protecting Wellington’s equestrian community and wetlands; advocating for the senior and veteran community; supporting first responders and the village’s small businesses; and collaborating with schools to provide the best learning environment.
What she's saying: “I am part of the next generation of homegrown community leaders who are ready to step up and fight for our community’s best interest and do what is right for taxpayers. I am the candidate that best represents the future of Wellington, one that says we can do both, set our village on a prosperous path and preserve our sense of community.”
Campaign finances: Montesinos has raised about $18,780 as of Feb. 23.
Website: votemarcella.com
Amanda Silvestri, 39, was born in North Carolina but has lived in Palm Beach County since she was 19. She has been a Wellington resident for 14 years.
Background: Silvestri owns an insurance agency with her husband, Silvestri and Associates Insurance. Last year, she unsuccessfully ran for a school board district seat.
Public service: She serves in the advisory council of Wellington Landings Middle School.
Priorities: Public safety; stopping overdevelopment and overcrowding to reduce traffic; reducing housing costs; keeping taxes low; preserving parks and green space; and supporting local businesses.
Campaign finances: Silvestri has raised about $18,685 as of Feb. 23.
Quote: "Wellington is special. You can count on me to keep it that way.”
Website: voteamandasilvestri.com
John “Jay” Webber, 53, a Connecticut native, is the chair of the Wellington's Education Committee and has lived in the village for the last 15 years.
Background: Webber hold a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Connecticut and a law degree from Fordham University. He has worked in the legal field for over 20 years, including his work as an attorney for Billing, Cochran, Lyles, Maduro & Ramsey, a personal injury firm in Palm Beach Gardens, over the last seven years.
Public service: He serves as the chair of the village’s Education Committee, is a coach for the Wellington Little League and is also the chair of the Palm Beach County Bar Association Law Related Education Committee. In the past, Webber has served on the advisory council at Binks Forest Elementary School and Wellington Landings Middle School.
Priorities: Supporting local schools; reducing taxes improving economic conditions for the village’s small businesses; and ensuring Wellington’s equestrian community continues to thrive.
What he's saying: “I will continue Wellington’s unique commitment to education through the Keely Spinelli Grants, which ensure that our local schools have additional resources for our students,. As chairman of the Wellington Education Committee for the past seven years, I have seen firsthand how our students benefit from this investment.”
Campaign finances: Webber has raised about $27,270 as of Feb. 23.
Website: webber4wellington.com
Wellington Seat 4: Shelly Albright, Maria Antuňa, Carol Coleman, Karen Morris-Clarke, Michael Partow
Four first-time candidates are vying for Seat 4, currently held by Napoleone.
Shelly Lariz Albright, 54, a Florida native with Hispanic roots, has lived in Wellington for over 20 years.
Background: Albright has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Florida. She works at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church as the youth programming director and is a consultant to nonprofits. Last year, she unsuccessfully ran unsuccessfully for a Florida House seat.
Public service: She is on the village’s Education Committee. She is president of the Women’s Foundation of Florida and is part of the board of directors for the EMPOWHER nonprofit. She was the chair of the village's Interfaith Committee from 2016 to 2019.
Priorities: Protecting environmentally sensitive lands; supporting transportation initiatives to relieve traffic; reducing taxes; and ensuring all village schools remain A-rated.
What she's saying: “I have lived in Wellington for over 20 years. During that time, I have served on numerous boards and committees to better our community. I am running to bring that invaluable experience to the Village council.”
Campaign finances: Albright has raised about $17,170 as of Feb. 23.
Website: shellyalbright.com
Maria Antuña, 68, who was born in Cuba and raised in West Palm Beach, has lived in the village for over 45 years. She is a first-time candidate.
Background: Antuña has a high school degree and is a certified mentor for small businesses. She worked for 45 years in banking and has been the CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for the last eight years.
Public service: She serves as the vice-chair of the village’s Architectural Review Board. She has been appointed Palm Beach County Infrastructure Oversight Committee and the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission. She sits on the boards for the Good Samaritan Medical Center, the Forum Club and the Urban League.
Priorities: Protecting the village's equestrian community; supporting local businesses; reducing traffic and stopping overdevelopment; preserving parks and green spaces; lower taxes; and investing in public safety.
What she's saying: “I have seen Wellington change through my own eyes. I have the history and experience of living in Wellington. I am a strong leader with good business skills and a good balanced level head.”
Campaign finances: Antuña has raised about $48,900 as of Feb. 23.
Website: mariaantuna.com
Carol Coleman, 76, is an equestrian who went from being a seasonal Wellington resident to a full-time one in 1999.
Background: Coleman holds a master’s degree in speech pathology, audiology and learning disabilities from Temple University. She has served as a United States Equestrian judge and a Canadian Equestrian judge for more than 40 years. Coleman owns a business named Stud Tree, which makes horseshoe studs for the equine industry.
Public service: Coleman has served on the village’s Equestrian Preserve Committee and as the chair for the Planning Zoning and Adjustments Board. She has also served on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and as the president of the Wellington Gardening Club and as the district director for the Federation of Florida Gardening Clubs.
Priorities: Preserving the equestrian preserve, economic stability; keeping taxes low; safety; smart growth development; and transparency.
What she's saying: “I am an equestrian. I bring an aspect that doesn’t exist. There has never been an equestrian on the Council and yet so many issues that come before the Council concern the equestrian industry, which is the major economic driver in Wellington, which affects all residents.”
Campaign finances: Coleman has raised about $22,900 as of Feb. 23.
Website: votecarolcoleman.com
Karen Morris-Clarke, 61, a Jamaican native, has lived in the village for over 22 years and is pursuing her second run for office.
Background: Morris-Clarke holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida Atlantic University. Over the last 10 years, she has worked as a Realtor for Keller Williams Realty. Morris-Clarke lost her 25-year-old son, Chris, in a crash seven years ago when his vehicle was hit by another in a dimly lit road entering Wellington.
Public service: She is an ambassador for the Urban League, is a member of the Woman League and a volunteer for the Palm Beach Food Bank.
Priorities: Road safety; growing Wellington’s economy to support local businesses; and investing in infrastructure for the village’s growing population.
What she's saying: “I am a small business owner, entrepreneur and believe the community’s major decisions should be collective ones. I am ready to be that voice.”
Campaign finances: Morris-Clarke has raised about $20,240 as of Feb. 23.
Website: karenmorrisclarke.com
Michael Partow, an equestrian, is pursuing his first run for office.
Background: Partow holds a bachelor's and master degree in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in business. Before retiring, he was the vice president of global engineering at Pfizer.
Public service: He has volunteered for Shriners International, driving children to the organization's hospitals for medical treatment and surgery.
Priorities: Public safety; taxes and budget control; education; business climate; traffic; and housing.
What he's saying: “I am running for the Council Seat 4 because I feel passionate about the rapid pace of change that our town is experiencing and its impacts on our daily lives. These challenges require laser-focus attention to details and the ability to analyze alternatives which can provide the best results for our town.”
Campaign finances: Partow has raised about $5,500 as of Feb. 23.
Website: mikepartow.com
Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Wellington election: What you need to know about the races for mayor, Village Council
