Newcomers face experience

Three political first-timers, a former commissioner and an incumbent are running for two Delray Beach commission seats in the city’s March 13 elections.

Former commissioner Adam Frankel faces newcomers Eric Camacho and Richard Alteus for Seat 1, while Commissioner Mitch Katz is seeking re-election against local business owner Ryan Boylston.

The incoming commissioners will have to pick up where the current administration is leaving off — continuing to shed the city’s label as the center of South Florida’s opioid epidemic and fixing millions of dollars of crumbling roads, all while having a limited staff and high turnover among city employees. he said is a benefit.

“I think that when you’re new to a city, you have a fresh perspective,” said Camacho, who moved from the Northeast.

He said he entered the race hoping to bring a tone of “harmony and unison” to city politics.

Camacho plans to push for adult education for residents and to start a recycling program with local businesses.

Alteus said he would focus on building up the West Atlantic Avenue neighborhoods, reducing crime and bringing more affordable housing into Delray.

He cited his experience as a Riviera Beach police officer, which required him to talk with neighbors about the community’s problems.

“I’m not a politician,” Alteus said at a recent candidate forum. “My goal is to lead the city in a different and new direction.” adding more affordable housing, bolstering the city’s nonprofits and building up the city’s West Atlantic Avenue district.

Boylston, who owns Woo Creative and previously owned the downtown Pineapple Newspaper, tried to run for a commission seat in 2015. He sued the county after he failed to get enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Boylston, 35, sits on Delray’s education board and has led the Downtown Development Authority.

Boylston wants to use that experience to improve the city’s schools in order to attract families and businesses to town.

He has also touted his experience as a business owner, creating jobs and managing people as the cure for the city’s frequent turnover in staff.

“I want to follow what the community provides us for the direction we need to go,” Boylston said.