DELRAY BEACH — Former mayor and commissioner Tom Carney will represent residents of the “Village by the Sea” as the new mayor, Delray Beach’s 65,781 voters decided Tuesday.
Carney defeated Ryan Boylston and Shirley Ervin Johnson, who were all running for mayor, or Seat 5, replacing Shelly Petrolia, who has served in that position since 2018. Carney gained 52% of the vote, to Boylston’s 38% and Johnson’s 10%, according to unofficial results published on the county elections website.
For Seat 1 Tom Markert, a political newcomer and former corporate CEO, was leading former vice commissioner Jim Chard and Tenille DeCoste. Markert gained 39% of the vote, over Chard’s 37% and DeCoste’s 24%. He would replace current commissioner Adam Frankel.
Former commissioner Juli Casale held the lead for the Seat 3 race, which will replace Boylston. Casale gained 42% of the vote, over Nick Coppola’s 37% and Anneze Barthelemy’s 21%.
Also on the municipal ballot this year was an amendment to eliminate the city’s Board of Adjustment, which considers and decides appeals and variances to the city’s land development regulations. Voters did not approve the amendment, with 59% of voters against it.
Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide
Carney has served as mayor and commissioner of Delray Beach and has plenty of experience in the city.
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He’s served as chairman of the Delray Beach Housing Authority as vice chairman and 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.
In his campaign, he stressed concerns about 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.
Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.
