Ed. Note: The video above was provided by Hometown! Key West and the Florida Keys. It is unedited and contained within each section of the feature are timestamps readers can easily fast forward to find the sections that interest them. It was a great evening and I encourage readers to watch the entire video in its entirety. I would also like to thank Hometown! and Todd German for providing this invaluable service to the community. I apologize that this feature is too long for email length, but I believe you will find it informative.
A wide field of candidates for mayor, city commission and other local offices addressed a packed crowd Monday night at Salute on the Beach at Higgs Beach during Hometown!’s Call for Candidates forum, signaling the start of what could become one of the most competitive municipal election cycles in recent memory.
More than two dozen candidates — ranging from Congress to the Keys Energy board — took the microphone during the two-hour event. But the sharpest contrasts and the largest audience reaction centered on Key West’s mayoral race and three contested city commission seats.
Organizer Todd German told the audience the event is designed to give both declared and prospective candidates an early platform before the formal qualifying period begins.
“This is where you get to meet the announced candidates,” German said. “But something unique about this event is that if someone’s just thinking about running, we allow them to speak too.”
German joked that he asked current appointed District V commissioner Greg Veliz, Jr. if he were planning on running, to which German joked, “He took a swing at me.”
Mayoral Race Emerges as Referendum on Transparency at City Hall
Timestamp: 00:37:56
The race for mayor appears poised to become a referendum on transparency, taxes and the direction of City Hall.
Incumbent Danise Henriquez offered brief remarks defending her administration and asking voters for another term.
“When I was sworn in I inherited a number of challenges from our previous administration,” Henriquez said. “We have been addressing those issues and we are continuing to move forward with a positive attitude.”
Henriquez told the audience she was proud of the city’s progress and hoped to continue serving.
“I am very proud of what we have done, what we have accomplished and what we are going to do in the future,” she said.
Unfortunately, Henriquez failed to cite specific policy initiatives or accomplishments during her first term — mirroring her recent State of the City Address.
Moments later, challenger and current District II Commissioner Sam Kaufman delivered one of the evening’s most pointed speeches, arguing the election is fundamentally about restoring transparency in city government.
Timestamp: 00:39:42
“There’s a hunger in our community for change,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman said major city decisions are increasingly being made outside public view and pledged to dismantle what he described as a culture of backroom governance — one that has seemed to have returned to the Island City.
“We need honest leadership. We need a mayor who will lead,” he said. “That means no more back-room deals.”
Kaufman cited several recent city decisions that he believes demonstrate the problem, including the cancellation (then mangling) of the city’s water-quality monitoring contract and the suspension of the Duval Loop transit service.
“Whether it’s cutting off our water quality contract, whether it’s suspending the Duval Loop, or whether it’s raising taxes, giving the city manager a $340,000 salary, we’ve got a lot of things to change,” he said.
Kaufman warned residents to closely watch the city’s upcoming budget cycle.
“Wait till you see this budget in July. Please come to the meeting in July. It’s going to be outrageous.”
He argued that rising taxes and municipal fees are pushing working residents out of Key West. Kaufman also expressed concern for the city possibly losing funding via homestead property taxes which would cause even deeper city cuts.
“The working people are going to pay the price for these tax increases,” he said.
Kaufman pledged to run an open-door mayor’s office and ensure the public knows about major policy decisions before they are finalized.
“Every single person is going to be invited inside my office,” he said. “And there’s not going to be a decision made that you don’t know about in advance.”
District II Race Pits Emerging Candidate Against Former Commissioner
Timestamp: 00:44:16
With Kaufman running for mayor, the District II commission seat is open.
Bobi Lore told the audience he is running to represent working residents and improve fiscal accountability at City Hall.
“I’m running for City Commissioner of District II because I want to support you all — the residents, the families, the working people,” Lore said.
Lore — a resident of the iconic Garrison Bight House Boat Row — said affordability and transparency would be central to his campaign.
“We have an affordability crisis in this town, and I aim to help hold the city accountable to how much taxes we all pay and how that money is spent,” he said.
He also proposed expanding opportunities for residents to participate in public comment during commission meetings.
“I would really like to see an expansion of how we have public comment at City Hall,” he said.
Former commissioner Mark Rossi, who served more than a decade on the commission, emphasized experience and past infrastructure work.
Timestamp: 00:47:35
“Proven leadership — that’s what I’m doing,” Rossi said.
Rossi cited projects completed during his previous tenure, including construction of City Hall and Fire Station No. 1.
“I was instrumental in Bayview Park, City Hall and Fire Station Number One,” he said.
He also said protecting working residents and expanding emergency services would be priorities if elected.
“It’s very important for me to make sure the working-class people can afford to live here,” Rossi said.
District IV Race Highlights Transparency Debate and Local Identity
Timestamp: 00:51:40
Three candidates addressed the crowd in the District IV race, presenting sharply different approaches to city governance.
Community activist Sarah Compton framed her campaign around transparency and civic engagement, pointing to her recent involvement in monitoring city commission agendas and contracts.
“If you’ve been paying attention for the last six months, I’ve already shown you how I’ll work,” Compton said.
She said she regularly reviews agenda items, contracts and ordinances before commission meetings and explains them publicly so residents understand the implications before votes occur.
“My instinct is always the same — bring everything into the sunshine,” she said.
Compton argued that restoring public trust requires earlier access to information and better communication between City Hall and residents.
“When residents are paying attention, asking questions and showing up, that isn’t an inconvenience — that’s a healthy city,” she said.
She also cited several practical concerns facing the city, including flooding, growth pressures and infrastructure planning.
“The issues that shape our daily lives here at the end of the road are pretty simple — flooding, housing, responsible growth and how our tax dollars are spent,” Compton said.
Compton also used a local example to illustrate what she described as a lack of preparation in city decision-making.
“We want leadership that is prepared enough to answer simple questions like why there still isn’t a roof on our kids hockey rink,” she said.
Retired military veteran and former law enforcement officer Juan Llera emphasized public service and leadership experience.
As opposed to Compton, who is a grass roots candidate, Llera is the clear choice of the Chamber of Commerce and the business community.
Timestamp: 00:54:32
“Think about… are they the best candidate to represent us?” Llera said.
He encouraged voters to evaluate candidates based on their service to the community and their ability to work across political divisions.
“What have they done for our community?” he said.
Artist and lifelong Key Wester Wayne Garcia offered one of the evening’s most personal remarks, describing his deep connection to the island and the cultural identity of Key West.
It was from the soul.
Timestamp: 00:55:46
“This island is my heart, is my passion,” Garcia said.
Garcia said his family has deep roots in the community and that his perspective as a lifelong resident shaped his decision to run.
“I’ve played out on this beach, and I’ve been around Key West my whole life,” he said.
Garcia shared an anecdote about a visit to Havana for an art exhibition that helped crystallize his thinking about civic responsibility. During the trip, he said a Cuban tour bus driver described his love for his homeland by referring to it as his “mistress,” a place he would return to when he needed clarity.
He said the story stayed with him.
One night while wrestling with the idea of running for office, he grabbed a sleeping bag and pillow and went outside to lie on his porch to think about the future of the island.
“I sat out there in my sleeping bag thinking about Key West,” Garcia said.
His wife, he joked, overheard him and asked what he was doing.
“I told her I was going to lay with my mistress,” Garcia said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
She told him to take the sleeping bag, the pillow and the dog.
Garcia said the moment reinforced his love for the island and his belief that its future is worth fighting for.
“I love this island,” he said.
Garcia acknowledged the city faces serious issues, including transparency concerns and political divisions, but said the community’s shared identity offers a path forward.
“There’s always been corruption in Key West,” Garcia said, before adding that longtime residents, newcomers and business owners must work together to guide the city’s future.
“I think we can all work together for a better Key West,” he said.
District V Race Highlights State Politics and Cultural Policy Divide
Timestamp: 01:00:32
The District V race revealed sharp differences about fiscal policy, transparency and the growing influence of state politics on local governance.
Former Last Stand President Chris Massicotte centered his campaign on accountability and independence from city contractors.
“Our campaign slogan is ‘Make City Hall Make Sense,’” Massicotte said.
Massicotte said city government must focus on fiscal discipline and transparency.
“It means responsible, fiscally responsible decisions and the willingness to ask tough questions,” he said.
But his remarks focused heavily on legislation moving through the Florida Legislature that he said could directly affect Key West’s cultural events and festivals.
Massicotte referenced proposed legislation — Senate Bill 1134 and House Bill 1001 — that would restrict municipalities from using public funds or facilities to support programs defined by the state as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
According to Massicotte, such restrictions could affect longstanding Key West cultural events.
“That means Black History Month. That means Goombay. That means Pride,” Massicotte said.
He told the crowd that the Key West City Commission recently considered sending a letter opposing the legislation but declined to do so in a split vote.
“The commission voted four to three not to send that letter,” he said.
Massicotte argued that allowing the state to dictate which cultural celebrations a city can support undermines Key West’s identity.
“Tallahassee shouldn’t get to decide who we celebrate or what we celebrate — not on my watch,” he said.
Waste Management executive Greg Sullivan focused his remarks on infrastructure and operational management.
Timestamp: 01:04:04
“The city owns a tremendous amount of assets, and we need to put plans in place to take care of those assets,” Sullivan said.
He said his logistics and maintenance experience would bring a practical approach to city government.
“I’m an ops guy — get it done,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan also proposed expanding internship opportunities to encourage local students to pursue careers in municipal government.
“We should grow our own,” he said.
Mosquito Control Candidates Emphasize Public Health and Environmental Balance
Two incumbents seeking reelection to the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District board used the forum to highlight the importance of mosquito control to both public health and the Keys tourism economy.
Timestamp: 00:22:37
Commissioner Phil Goodman, a chemist by training who has served on the board since 2011, said mosquito control remains essential in a subtropical environment surrounded by wetlands.
“We live in a tropical climate. We have mosquitoes a lot,” Goodman said.
Goodman emphasized the district’s ongoing investment in new technology and monitoring tools.
“We’re currently in a technology boom right now in the Florida Keys for mosquito control,” he said.
He also noted that two-thirds of Monroe County lies within the Everglades ecosystem, making mosquito control a constant challenge.
“Mosquito control is extremely important for the quality of life we have here,” Goodman said.
Timestamp: 00:24:37
Incumbent Commissioner Bette Brown, who was appointed to the board by Gov. Ron DeSantis following the death of longtime District V commissioner Tom McDonald, said she is seeking election to continue learning and contributing to the district’s mission.
“I want to continue learning about mosquito control,” Brown said.
She said the district’s work directly affects tourism, public health and disease prevention.
“That’s why our tourists are happy. That’s why we don’t get too much disease.”
A Blue Challenge in the Reddest Congressional District
Timestamp: 00:01:59
The forum opened with remarks from Phil Ehr, a retired U.S. Navy officer challenging Republican incumbent Carlos Giménez for Florida’s 28th Congressional District seat.
Ehr, a Democrat from Miami-Dade who frequently travels to the Keys, framed his campaign around environmental stewardship, affordability and stronger federal accountability to island communities.
“It is great to be here,” Ehr told the crowd. “Are you ready for hometown?”
Ehr criticized what he described as environmentally insensitive federal spending decisions in the district, citing a $2 million earmark for a parking/commercial driving school project for the College of the Florida Keys in critical Key deer habitat on Big Pine Key that he said should have involved greater local consultation.
“That’s the type of thing that I would have consulted with,” Ehr said.
He also pointed to rising costs for residents, particularly housing and health care, asking the audience how many had seen their health insurance premiums increase.
“Who’s health care has gone up twice or maybe triple?” Ehr asked. “Who is concerned about the evacuation plan from Monroe County?”
Ehr said the lack of progress on evacuation planning reflects failures across multiple layers of government.
“Why has that not been addressed?” he said. “Because all layers of government have shirked their responsibilities.”
Drawing on his Navy background, Ehr said his experience living and working in remote communities shaped his views on affordability and housing pressures facing younger workers.
“I cannot stand to have another young person come to me and say, ‘I’m a professional, I work two jobs and I’m still struggling to make the rent,’” Ehr said.
He also argued that party control in Washington could influence how effectively the Keys are represented.
“You’re going to want someone who is in the majority party next time working for us.”
County Commission Candidates Tout Experience and Continuity
Timestamp: 00:05:04
Two Monroe County incumbents used the forum to defend their records and frame the county’s central governing challenge as balancing environmental protection, economic vitality and quality of life for residents.
County Mayor Michelle Lincoln, who represents District II, said she is seeking reelection on essentially the same platform that first brought her into office.
“I looked at my notes and realized it’s the exact same platform that it was when I ran the first time,” Lincoln said. “It’s to make this the best place to live, to work, to raise a family, to go on vacation and to run a business.”
Lincoln said that mission requires maintaining equilibrium between the Keys’ fragile environment, its tourism-driven economy and the needs of full-time residents.
“It takes a balance of our environment with our tourist-driven economy and with the quality of life for the people who call the Keys home,” she said.
Lincoln also highlighted her continued civic involvement, pointing to her work with Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, Guardian ad Litem, Take Stock in Children and the Juvenile Justice Board.
“I truly care about this county,” Lincoln said. “I care about the people who live here.”
District IV Commissioner David Rice emphasized his long history in the Keys and the persistent nature of the region’s challenges.
Rice said he moved to the island chain with his wife in 1973 and quickly fell in love with the community.
“I fell in love with the Keys,” Rice said. “And I’m still in love with the Keys.”
But he warned that the same pressures facing the islands decades ago remain unresolved today.
“We love the Keys,” Rice said. “Too many people love the Keys, as you well know. Try driving the road today.”
Rice pointed to traffic, transportation and affordability as ongoing concerns.
“It doesn’t help us much to read the paper and realize there is no affordable living anywhere, hardly in this country anymore,” Rice said.
He also warned that environmental threats such as offshore drilling continue to resurface despite decades of opposition from Keys residents.
“We’ve given a message on that so many times,” Rice said. “But it keeps coming up.”
Housing and Student Services Dominate School District Race
Timestamp: 00:10:50
The District I school board race brought together incumbent Darren Horan and former Monroe County Schools Superintendent Theresa Axford, creating a contest between current board leadership and a veteran education administrator.
Axford has yet to officially announce and does not have a website.
Horan, the current vice chairman of the school board, said his first campaign centered on securing housing for teachers and support staff.
“When I ran four years ago, I ran strictly on one main principle,” Horan said. “And that was to find housing for our teachers and our support staff.”
He said the district is now close to delivering on that promise.
“We are now a few short months away from breaking ground for housing for our teachers and support staff,” Horan said.
Horan also addressed a recent controversy surrounding student meals, saying the district would not allow children to go unfed.
“We will always feed our children, even if they can’t afford it,” Horan said.
Looking ahead, he said his next priority will be pushing the state to cover meals for younger students.
“My next four years, my main platform will be making sure the state feeds our kids at no cost,” he said. “I promise I will give you every bit of energy I have making sure that our kids K through eight are fed.”
Former superintendent Theresa Axford, who worked in Monroe County schools for 38 years, said serving on the board would be a natural continuation of her career.
“For me it seems like a logical step to continue to serve,” Axford said.
Axford highlighted the district’s academic standing and financial stability during her tenure.
“We are an A-rated school district,” she said.
She also noted that the district brought in $8.5 million in additional state funding during her leadership.
“That is above and beyond what Monroe County residents put into the school system,” Axford said.
Axford said Monroe County schools maintained a strong financial position when she left office, including an $18 million fund balance.
But she warned that education nationwide is entering a period of major change.
“The next five years we are going to reinvent American education,” Axford said.
Axford said her experience working with school board governance and policy could help guide the district through those changes.
“I feel that I could lead in the area of developing good policy that the schools can follow,” she said, adding that the district needs “the humane kind of governance that the school district needs and the children need.”
A Generational Connection to the Schools
The open District IV school board seat vacated by John Dick drew interest from Louis Gonzalez, a Marathon business owner with deep family ties to the Monroe County School District.
He has yet to formally announce and does not currently have a website.
Gonzalez, a Key West High School graduate who later moved to Marathon, said his family remains closely connected to the district through teaching and student involvement.
“My two older boys are teachers at Marathon High School,” Gonzalez said. “My daughter is a nurse at Marathon High School.”
He added that several of his grandchildren attend Monroe County schools and that he remains actively involved in school advisory committees and athletics programs.
“I am in the schools on a daily basis,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said his goal would be to work with the current board and district leadership to strengthen Monroe County schools.
“I’m looking forward to serving on the Monroe County School District and helping achieve the goal of making Monroe County schools the best school district in the state of Florida,” Gonzalez said.
Public Education Versus Ideological Contrast
In District V, incumbent Sue Woltanski and challenger Chalene Shaw offered sharply different visions for the direction of the Monroe County School District.
Woltanski, a retired pediatrician first elected in 2018, described herself as a public education advocate focused on maintaining strong schools.
“My main goal is to make sure every kid has access to a safe, strong, high-quality public school,” Woltanski said.
She pointed to improvements across the district during her tenure, including higher graduation rates, learning gains and the return of the district’s A rating.
“More importantly to me, our kids have more access to art,” Woltanski said. “They take more field trips, they have more access to advanced academic courses and we have expanded our career and technical programs.”
Woltanski also highlighted expanded mental health support for students, including federal grants that placed social workers in every school.
“Kids who are struggling can get the services that they need to be successful,” she said.
Woltanski argued the district’s focus should remain on teachers and students rather than ideological disputes.
“The greatest need students have is to have a great teacher in front of their classroom,” she said.
Challenger Chalene Shaw, a Key Largo resident, presented herself as a conservative alternative focused on accountability and financial oversight.
“I am a staunch advocate for every child and their family in Monroe County,” Shaw said.
She said she would serve as a bridge between families and the school district and promised an open-door approach to public input.
“I will have an open-door policy for your feedback,” she said.
She also emphasized fiscal responsibility and governance.
“You will have accountability, skilled financial stewardship and lawful governance,” Shaw said, adding that she would bring “conservative values” to school board decision-making.
Judicial Candidates Outline Experience for Circuit and County Bench
Several judicial candidates used the forum to introduce themselves to voters ahead of upcoming races in the 16th Judicial Circuit.
Timestamp: 00:27:31
Circuit Judge Bonnie Helms, who has served on the bench since 2015, said her work has focused heavily on family law, probate and guardianship cases.
“My position is nonpartisan, and I make difficult decisions every day with the guidance of the law,” Helms said.
Helms noted that she previously served two terms as chief judge for the circuit and helped establish a pro bono legal clinic program to provide free legal services to residents in need.
“I’m working very hard for Monroe County and the 16th Circuit,” she said.
The county court race drew two candidates seeking to replace Judge Mark Wilson, who is running for the circuit court position being vacated by the retiring Mark Jones after an illustrious career spanning more than three decades.
Chief Assistant Public Defender Kevin McCarthy highlighted his 14 years with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office and his experience handling cases ranging from misdemeanors to capital offenses.
“I’ve handled thousands of cases,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy said he has worked in every courtroom in the circuit and is among the few attorneys qualified under Florida rules to handle death penalty cases.
His opponent, Dave Van Loon, a private attorney with more than two decades of experience practicing in Monroe County courts, focused on his background in civil and commercial litigation.
Van Loon said county court is often the public’s first point of contact with the justice system, handling landlord-tenant disputes, small claims cases and misdemeanor criminal charges.
“It is the most statistically busiest court in the state of Florida,” Van Loon said.
Van Loon said he has litigated thousands of cases in county and circuit courts and also serves as a special magistrate for the Monroe County value adjustment board.
Keys Energy Board Race Focuses on Transparency and Utility Oversight
Candidates also addressed races for the board of Keys Energy Services, the municipal utility that provides electricity from Key West through the Lower Keys.
Timestamp: 01:07:33
Incumbent Mona Clark, who has served on the board for more than two decades, emphasized reliability, environmental responsibility and maintaining stable electric rates.
“I’m truly honored to have been committed to serving our community and Keys Energy Services for the past 21 years,” Clark said.
Clark highlighted two upcoming infrastructure initiatives — advanced meter infrastructure and battery storage projects — that she said will strengthen the grid and improve resilience.
Challenger Jim Marquardt, general manager of The Gardens Hotel, criticized what he described as a lack of transparency at the utility.
Timestamp: 01:10:05
“Utility board meetings are not streamed live like the city or the county,” Marquart said.
Marquart also raised concerns about a long-term lease agreement involving the city’s Duval Street parking garage.
“Twenty years is a long time,” he said, arguing that long-term decisions require greater public oversight.
Another candidate, Tim Urbanski, said his experience in federal program management and logistics could help guide the utility’s infrastructure planning.
Timestamp: 01:14:53
“I bring leadership, program management, budgeting and supervision,” Urbanski said.
Urbanski also argued that the board needs representation from throughout the Lower Keys service area, not just Key West.
Final candidate Javier Garrido offered a brief but memorable introduction that mixed humor with a broader message about civic participation and responsible governance.
Timestamp: 01:18:45
Garrido introduced himself as a University of Florida graduate and longtime resident raising a family in the Keys before pivoting to a lighthearted list of personal habits meant to illustrate his character.
“I stop at crosswalks. I use my turn signal. I pull out chairs. I open doors,” Garrido said.
He joked that while traditional campaign rituals might include kissing babies, the post-pandemic era has changed that.
“After COVID, I’m not kissing babies — that’s a little weird,” he said.
Despite the humor, Garrido said the role of utility board member remains important to local governance, even if it lacks the visibility of other political offices.
“It’s not a very exciting seat, but we do need it,” he said.
Garrido said he decided to run because he wants to ensure responsible oversight of the public utility while raising his family in the community.
“I live in the Keys. I’m raising my family here in the Keys. I love this place,” he said.
German said Hometown! plans to host a formal Meet the Candidates
forum in June once qualifying closes and the final ballot is set.
The size of the crowd and the number of candidates suggested the coming election season could reshape the city’s political landscape.
