Pompano Beach mayor’s race too close to call; 5 others win commission seats
The first Pompano Beach mayor’s race in 11 years appeared too close to call Tuesday night — while the winners of the five other City Commission seats represented mostly victories for the city’s political establishment.
Election-night totals showed Commissioner Rex Hardin had just a whisker more than the margin that would trigger an automatic recount. He had 0.52 percent more votes than Commissioner Michael Sobel. A margin of 0.50 percent or less triggers an automatic recount. Neither candidate could be reached for comment late Tuesday.
Hardin, 57, who has served on the commission for 13 years and who owns a Pompano printing business, ran on the city’s progress that began in 2008.
Sobel, 62, had accused him of having too many ties to developers’ and city contractors’ interests through his campaign financing. Sobel pledged not to take donations from city contractors and developers. He was first elected in 2016.
The other candidates in the race were Cyndy Floyd, 51, and Debresia LeSane, 33.
Results from the five other City Commission seats up for grabs represented mostly victories for the city’s political establishment. Much of the contrast between the candidates in every race pitted those who were pleased with the results of tens of millions of dollars for new amenities against those who were not. The five winners were: District 1: Andrea McGee, 35, a real estate broker. She was the pick of the city’s political establishment. She credited the current majority on the commission with the strides the city has made toward becoming a beach destination.
District 2: Rhonda Eaton, 58. She is a consultant and home remodeler — and was the outgoing commissioner’s hand-picked successor in District 2, a friend to 11-year Commissioner Charlotte Burrie.
District 3: Thomas McMahon, 36. He is an operation manager at a motorsports company.
District 4: Beverly Perkins, 59, a teacher. She is the incumbent commissioner, and has been a frequent “no” vote on items that have won a majority votes on the City Commission.
District 5: Barry Moss, a two-term incumbent. The commissioner won re-election to a third term, handily.
McGee won in District 1, the city’s easternmost section that runs from Federal Highway to the Atlantic Ocean. She bested John Geer, 74, who finished second, and John Cavanaugh, 46.
In District 2, Eaton beat Tom Terwilliger, 73, a semiretired investment banker, to represent the district that runs from Atlantic Boulevard north to Sample Road. In District 3, McMahon, a representative for the city’s political establishment, defeated self-employed businessman Michael Skversky, 53.
In District 4, Perkins won her fourth showdown with two-time commissioner and challenger Ed Phillips, who owns an insurance agency. Carmen Jones, 63, finished third.
Perkins voted against the recent increase in the city’s tax rate and its fire fee. She also voted against asking voters to approve $181 million in spending for new fire stations, road improvements and parks.
In District 5, Moss, a retired real estate appraiser, ran on the emerging success of the existing commission’s efforts. He ran as the pick of the city’s establishment in the four-person race. He defeated David Miller, 34, who finished second, Leila Moavero, 62, and Luciene DePaula Gomes, 53.