By: Dale M. King
BOCA RATON – The positions of Palm Beach County Commissioner in Districts 1, 3 and 5 will be decided in November’s election.
But two names seen on the ballot every four years for the past two or more decades in Districts 1 and 5 won’t be there in 2012.
District 5 Commissioner and powerhouse Democrat from West Boca, Burt Aaronson, will complete his 20-year tenure when his term is over later this year. The same for District 1’s Karen Marcus, who has served about 27 years.
A Supreme Court ruling forced the pair to accept term limits and leave the county’s governing panel.
In the meantime, three Democrats will face each other in the Aug. 14 primary for the District 5 seat: Mary Louise Berger, Steven H. Meyer and Rick Mark Neuhoff. The winner will face Republican Paul Tocker in the November balloting.
In Marcus’ district, three Republicans are in the running – Daniel Amero, Harry Goboian and Hal Robert Valeche. GOP hopeful Albert Kay has withdrawn. The top vote getter in the primary will face Democrat David Levy in November.
The redrawing of district lines throughout the state this year has created a number of new contests. The battle of two incumbents for a single state Senate seat is probably the one to watch. Former District 25 Republican incumbent Ellyn Bogdanoff and former District 30 Democratic office holder Maria Sachs will butt heads in hopes of nailing the new Senate 34 seat in November. This assumes that newcomer Michael Lameyer, also a Republican, doesn’t knock off Bogdanoff in the primary.
U.S. Rep. Allen West moved from District 22 to District 18 to seek a second term on the hill. That opened the door to former state Rep. and House Majority Leader Adam Hasner to switch from a U.S. Senate run to a bid for the congressional seat in 22. West is being challenged by Patrick Murphy in 18, and Hasner can wait until November to face the winner of the August Democratic primary between Lois Frankel and Kristin Jacobs.
Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher is being challenged by three in this nonpartisan race – Delray Beach Mayor Nelson S. “Woodie” McDuffie, Maxo Marc and Caneste Succe.
Former state Rep. Kevin Rader, who lost a 2010 race for Florida Senate, was running for a new Palm Beach County state Senate seat. But at the last minute, he bowed out of that contest to challenge state Rep. Steve Perman in District 81, the former District 78. The two Democrats battle in the August primary, with the winner taking on Republican James Ryan O’Hara.
The following candidates have also qualified for political office this year:
State Representative, District 82
• Carl J. Domino, REP
• Beverly Joy Hires, WRI
• MaryLynn Magar, REP
• Jonathan W. Milton, REP
• Jonathan W. Pasqualone, REP
• Calvin D. Turnquest, REP
State Representative, District. 85
• David Lutrin, DEM
• Pat Rooney Jr. (I), REP
State Representative, District 86
• Tami L. Donnally, REP
• Mark Pafford (I), DEM
State Representative, Dist. 87
• David Kerner, DEM
• Mike Rios, DEM
State Representative, Dist. 89
• Pamela Goodman, DEM
• Bill Hager (I), REP
State Representative, Dist. 90
• Lori Berman (I), DEM
• Sean Michael Kasper, REP
State Representative, Dist.
Irving ‘Irv’ Slosberg, DEM – Wins without opposition.
Property Appraiser
• Gary R. Nikolits (I), NPA
• Charles Henry Stahman, NPA
• Robert S. Weinroth, NPA
Sheriff
• Ric Bradshaw (I), NPA
• Kevin Patrick Coleman, NPA
• Joe Talley, NPA
• Cleamond Lee Walker, NPA
Clerk & Comptroller
• Sharon R. Bock(I), DEM
• Lisa Epstein, DEM
State Attorney
• Dave Aronberg, DEM
• Robert Gershman, NPA
• Dina A. Keever, REP
Tax Collector
• Peter Carney, DEM
• Anne M. Gannon (I) DEM
• Allison R. Schuler, WRI