A shake-up ahead for Palm Beach County Commission? Many candidates are now in the running

This year’s elections could bring big change to the Palm Beach County Commission, where nine candidates are now in the running for three County Commission seats.

They’re among the many competitors seeking various county offices this year. Some candidates will face off during a primary election on Aug. 20; others in the general election on Nov. 5.

Here’s a closer look at some of the upcoming contests.

County Commission

An incumbent commissioner Maria Marino recently won reelection unopposed as a qualifying period recently ended. Marino will retain the seat for District 1, representing certain areas in northern Palm Beach County, including Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter.

The seats still up for grabs represent districts 3, 5 and 7.

Seeking the Commission District 3 seat are Michael Barnett, a Republican who was appointed to the post in January 2023, and his challenger, Joel Flores, a Democrat and former Greenacres mayor. District 3 represents communities that include Greenacres, Palm Springs and Lake Clark Shores.

For District 5, the county’s current mayor, Maria Sachs, a Democrat, is running against Republican John Fischer, who according to his campaign website is a former paramedic firefighter captain. District 5 represents parts of West Boca and West Delray.

The District 7 seat has drawn a larger number of candidates. They are:

— Bobby Powell Jr., a Democrat who has served as a state senator representing the greater West Palm Beach area since 2016.

— Richard Ryles, a Democrat who currently works as a managing partner with a personal injury and wrongful death firm and formerly worked as a West Palm Beach city commissioner, according to his campaign.

— Leonard Serratore, a Republican who worked in airport management in Broward and Palm Beach counties, according to qualifying candidate documents.

— Also in the running are write-in candidates Boaz Fleurena, of Boynton Beach, and Javonta Jerome Taylor, of Riviera Beach.

The District 7 race will first go to the Aug. 20 primary to determine which of the two Democratic candidates, Powell or Ryles, will move forward to the general election. District 7 represents various municipalities including Riviera Beach, Mangonia Park and Lake Park.

The District 7 position is currently held by Mack Bernard. He will go on to become the state senator for District 24, replacing Powell, after running unopposed.

None of the other County Commission races will need to go to the Aug. 20 primary first because there is one Republican and one Democratic candidate in each race. Those races will head directly to the Nov. 5 election.

Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller

The office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller is also up for election, with incumbent Joseph Abruzzo running against Samuel Thompson, who previously ran to be the county sheriff.

Abruzzo, who was first elected in November of 2020, is a Democrat, and Thompson is a Republican, so that race will go directly to the Nov. 5 election.

Abruzzo said he is running for reelection because the past four years as the clerk “has been one of the greatest responsibilities of my life,” he said.

“It’s as simple as I’m proud to have the job. I’m honored to represent all those residents of Palm Beach County. We want to continue the mission moving forward,” Abruzzo said.

Thompson could not be reached for comment on Tuesday afternoon.

Supervisor of elections

Two candidates are also competing to be the new supervisor of elections, which is currently held by Wendy Sartory Link.

Link, a Democrat, is running against Jeff Buongiorno, a Republican.

School Board

Two county School Board seats are also up for grabs.

Matthew Jay Lane, Page Lewis and Francesca Wernisch are running for the District 1 seat. Meanwhile, Gloria Branch, Mindy Koch, Mike Letsky, Suzanne Page and Charman Postel are running for the District 5 seat.

Races in August or November?

Races with more than one candidate running under the same political party first go to the August primary election.

The Democrat and Republican winners from those elections will then go on to the November election. If a race does not have more than one Democrat or more than one Republican, then the race will skip the August primary and go straight to the general election.

Key dates

For the primary, the deadline to register to vote or to change one’s party is Monday, July 22.

Early voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Aug. 10 to Aug. 18.

The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the primary is Aug. 8, by 5 p.m.