By: Dale M. King
BOCA RATON – Several citizens leveled angry blasts against the mayor and three City Council members at the March 27 meeting for outwardly endorsing incumbent Councilman Anthony Majhess’ challenger in the March 13 city election.
Mayor Susan Whelchel and colleagues Susan Haynie, Constance Scott and Mike Mullaugh did not respond to the comments either during the public requests section of the meeting nor at the end, when council members normally give their reports.
Majhess, who won re-election despite the remaining council members’ lack of support, did speak at the end of the meeting, urging those in the crowd to put the election behind them. “As I said in the newspapers, I don’t hold any grudges, and I hope you can do the same.”
“I want to move on,” said Majhess.
Residents who spoke said the endorsement of Frank Chapman by Whelchel, Haynie, Scott and Mullaugh drew many people to the polls who had not voted in years.
“Thank you for getting me off the couch,” said Sue Trombino. “To my shame, I hadn’t gotten involved in city elections. But with what I saw and what I heard, I felt I should get involved.”
Andrea O’Rourke said that “people living in the city were heartbroken and shocked by what happened.” The several people who spoke cited TV commercials showing Chapman with the mayor and the three other council members. Also, a commercial was aired depicting Majhess as Pinocchio, and his nose grew every time he spoke, indicating he was allegedly telling lies.
At meeting’s end, Majhess thanked everyone for congratulating him, adding, “I didn’t ask for this.” He did repeat one of his election stances, that he is not a negative influence on the council. He said all five city leaders voted together in 95 percent of the votes taken in the past three years.
Commenting on what the mayor and three other council members did, Majhess said, “I don’t think it was healthy.”
As the lengthy meeting continued, residents also addressed other concerns, among them, that Majhess had been depicted as anti-development when he isn’t. Louise Camarata complained about “overdevelopment” and said Majhess was the only councilman to call for a delay in a vote on the controversial Archstone apartment project on Palmetto Park Road.
“We want buildings on a human scale,” said O’Rourke, pointing out that no buildings in nearby Delray Beach are taller than five stories.
Two women wearing “Re-elect Majhess” t-shirts also addressed the crowd. One called the TV commercial endorsing Chapman “offensive and childish.” She said the actions by the mayor and three council members during the campaign “were questionable. “I don’t know if they were ethical or poor judgment.”
She urged the council to “give Anthony the respect he deserves. If you dis him, you are dissing us. Act like grown-ups.”
There was reaction from the community of contractors. Jeffrey Lynne, a former assistant city attorney in Boca, praised the city manager, city attorney and deputy city manager for keeping developers in line. “Contractors build your homes, your schools, your kids’ homes. If you don’t like developers, build your own homes, don’t go to their malls. I have traveled around the world, but I will stay [in Boca Raton] because of the leadership the city has shown.”
Offering a thumbs-up to the council was Joe Petolino, who congratulated both Majhess and Scott, who was returned to office without a challenge. “I thank you for your hard work. We have the right people in the right places at the right time.”