The Palm Beach Post

Delray Beach

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from the University of Central Florida. He is the founder and CEO of 2TON Creative Agency, formerly Woo Creative, a marketing agency based in South Florida. He has lived in Delray Beach for 18 years.

Public service: Boylston has served as a city commission­er in Delray Beach since 2018, as vice mayor in 2020 and later in 2023, as a board member for the Community Redevelopm­ent Agency, as a member and chairman of the Downtown Developmen­t Authority, as a representa­tive on the State Affordable Housing Advisory Board, as a member and chairman of the Southeast Regional Water Treatment Plant Board and as a member of the Pineapple Grove Arts District Board.

Priorities: Public safety, lowering housing costs, effectivel­y managing the budget, listening to residents, protecting the Village charm and history and ensuring infrastruc­ture projects are funded and put in motion.

What he’s saying: “I bring over a decade of diverse, impactful experience to the table. As a commission­er and vice mayor, I’ve initiated projects that fed thousands during the pandemic, saved historic landmarks and managed the budget responsibl­y. More importantl­y, the residents, businesses and organizati­ons in our city believe in my ability to lead Delray Beach.”

Campaign finances: Boylston’s campaign budget is $175,000.

Website: Boylstonfo­rMayor.com

hhhhhMayor’s race: Tom Carney, 70, is a former mayor and commission­er

Background: Carney, born and raised in North Miami Beach, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Spring Hill College, a JD degree from Boston College Law School and a master of laws degree in taxation from Georgetown University Law School. He has served as a partner at law firm Carney Stanton P.L. and as principal at Crystal Title & Escrow Company, Inc., a title insurance company. He has lived in Delray Beach for more than 30 years.

Public service: Carney has served as mayor and commission­er of Delray Beach, as chairman of the Delray Beach Housing Authority, as vice chairman

hhand board member of the Delray Beach Community Redevelopm­ent Agency, as a member of the Old School Square Board, as president of The Arts Garage, as a member of the New Hope Charities Board, as a member of Delray Beach Kiwanis, as a member of Delray Beach Elks and as a board member of his neighborho­od’s homeowners associatio­n.

Priorities: Overdevelo­pment and the traffic congestion that comes with it, public safety, fiscal responsibi­lity, reductions in property taxes, protecting Delray’s quality of life, and making city hall user-friendly.

What he’s saying: “As a former mayor and commission­er, I know what the job entails. I delivered on pocketbook and quality of life issues for the residents when I was on the commission. In addition, I believe my profession­al experience is most relevant in dealing with the issues Delray Beach will soon be facing. We have a new police station, a new fire station and a water treatment plant that will be financed with tax-exempt bonds. I was involved for ten years as an underwrite­r’s counsel on numerous revenue bonds and water control bonds.”

Campaign finances: Carney’s campaign budget is $100,000.

Website: TomCarneyf­orMayor.com

hhhhMayor’s race: Shirley Johnson, 77, is a former vice mayor and CRA Board chair

Background: Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in government and political science from Howard University. She has a background in management and analytics, after spending 30 years with IBM Corporatio­n.

Public service: Johnson served as a city commission­er from 2017 until 2023. She has also previously served as chair of the Delray Beach Community Redevelopm­ent Agency, as a Delray Beach community activist and she is a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church.

Priorities: Climate change, accelerati­ng the upgrade of the city’s water treatment plan, establishi­ng a new city hall/sports complex and improving communicat­ions between the City of Delray Beach and the community.

hhhWhat she’s saying: “I’m a people person, I’m a community activist. I’m

hnot a politician, I’m really not. Although I love politics, at the local level. You must love your community, you must love the people. My campaign is about getting rid of single-use plastic and talking about the environmen­t because we just finished one of the most heated summers that has ever been recorded. Our ocean is full of microplast­ics. They’re breaking down and they’re destroying our fishery, our food. That is something that we cannot take lightly.”

Campaign finances: Johnson did not disclose campaign finances to The Post.

Website: Johnson does not have a campaign website. She can be reached by email at Johnson4Ma­yor24@gmail.com.

hhSeat 3 race: Anneze Barthelemy, 46, is a social worker

Background: Barthelemy holds a master’s degree in social work from Barry University. She has a 23-year background in social work. In the last decade, she has worked at Aware Recovery Care, the Drug Abuse Foundation of Palm Beach County, Community Partners of South Florida, Multilingu­al Psychother­apy Center, Inc., Community Connection­s for Life — a community mental health center — and Golfcrest Healthcare Center. She has lived in Florida for more than three decades.

Public service: Barthelemy has served as a social services consultant to former state Sen. Daphne Campbell, as a member of Impact 100 Women, as a member of Florida Rising, as a member and small group leader of Journey Church and as an advisory member of the Eat Better Live Better Board.

Priorities: Lowering property taxes, neighborho­od safety, providing assistance to people in need, enhancing city services and improving infrastruc­ture.

What she’s saying: “As a social worker with a legacy to serve my fellow citizens and a creole-speaking longtime resident of Delray Beach, I feel that there is a lack of representa­tion in the city’s commission. With my skills and expertise in serving diverse population­s, I feel that I can assist in bridging the gap, to bring about the unity and civility that the city desperatel­y needs.”

Campaign finances: Barthelemy’s campaign budget is $50,000.

Website: AnnezeBart­helemy.com

hhhhhhSeat 3 race: Juli Casale, 55, is a former commission­er

Background: Casale holds an associate in arts degree from Harvard Extension School. She previously served as a city commission­er and deputy vice mayor from 2020 until 2023. Casale has lived in Delray Beach for nearly two decades.

Public service: Casale served as a board member for the Community Redevelopm­ent Agency, as a member and secretary of the South Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Board, as a member of the Delray Beach Planning and Zoning Board, as a member of the Delray Beach Preservati­on Trust Board, as a member of the Delray Beach Historical Society, as the second vice president of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Delray Beach and as a member of the Harvard Club of the Palm Beaches.

Priorities: Better management of the city budget, neighborho­od safety, cleaner streets, preserving green space, supporting a new Atlantic Avenue Historic District, using technology to improve traffic and building more workforce and affordable housing.

What she’s saying: “Voters should choose me for office because I have their best interests at heart and I work tirelessly for them. As I former commission­er, I have a record of devoting myself to the betterment of our city with the principal goal of keeping Delray a safe, vibrant and welcoming community with a small-town feel. The impact of so much developmen­t is fast transformi­ng our city. The residents need someone on the dais to be their voice, and my voting record shows I have consistent­ly been that person.”

Campaign finances: Casale’s campaign budget is between $40,000 and $50,000.

Website: JuliforDel­ray.com

hhhhhhSeat 3 race: Nick Coppola, 58, is a political newcomer

Background: Coppola holds an associate’s degree in labor studies and a bachelor’s degree in human services from SUNY Empire State. He also holds a certificat­e in building constructi­on management from New York University. He is retired, but has a background as a certified journeyman electricia­n. He is an eight-year resident of Delray Beach.

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