Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Marino stops Marcus’ comeback attempt
Longtime Palm Beach County commissioner Karen Marcus saw her comeback attempt fall short as Palm Beach Gardens Vice Mayor Maria Marino surged past her to win Tuesday’s District 1 primary race.
Tequesta councilman Calvin Turnquest finished a distant third in the race for the Republicandominated district in northern Palm Beach County.
With only a write-in candidate on the ballot in November’s general election, Marino is essentially guaranteed the seat being vacated by current commissioner Hal Valeche, who is term-limited after being elected in 2012.
First elected in 1984, Marcus served 28 years on the commission before stepping aside in 2012 due to term limits. She was able to run again for the seat since she wouldn’t be serving consecutive terms. A former professional golfer on the LPGA Tour, Marino was first elected to the Palm Beach Gardens City Council in 2016.
Both Republicans, Marino and Marcus had considerable financial resources at their disposal, with each candidate raising over $240,000. Marino edged Marcus in campaign funds, drawing over $293,000 to Marcus’ $250,000.
Turnquest, who was also on the ballot, raised just $13,000 during the campaign.
The District 1 seat was the lone county commission race on Tuesday night. In the November’s general election, the seats for Districts 3, 5, and 7 also will be on the ballot.
Alexandria Ayala, 27, defeated fellow Democrat Virginia Savietto and Republican David Di
Crescenzo for the District 2 seat, which was vacated after Chuck Shaw announced his retirement.
An aide to county commissioner Robert Weinroth, Ayala will be the youngest member on the School Board, representing the Greenacres and Lake Worth Beach area.
Ayala collected a strong campaign war chest and received the backing of numerous key Democratic officials. Ayala nearly tripled Savietto in funds, raising over $70,000 to Savietto’s $25,000. DiCrescenzo garnered over $10,000 in contributions.
A Puerto Rico native, Ayala was also supported by the Democratic establishment in Florida, receiving endorsements from Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services commissioner Nikki Fried, former congressman Patrick Murphy and Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner, among others. She also had the backing of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association.
In District 1, incumbent Barbara McQuinn defeated challenger Bonnie Jo Pettinga. Spending was considerably lower in the race for the north county seat, with two candidates drawing a combined $13,000. Board Chairman Frank Barbieri defeated Suzanne Page for the District 5 seat, which includes Boca Raton. While Barbieri was outspent $9,100 to $3,400, the incumbent was able to retain his seat. First elected in 2008, Barbieri won his fourth consecutive term on the School Board.