Ladies and Gentlemen… Let’s Get Ready to Rummmbbbble!
Here are Above the Fold’s picks for the ballot in the City of Key West races for Utility Board and the battle for the soul of 1300 White St.
Ed. Note: This content is not affiliated with, authorized by, endorsed by or produced on behalf of any candidate, campaign or political committee in Monroe County. It is solely the opinion of the journalist based on more than 25 years of covering politics in the Florida Keys and Key West, interactions with individual candidates and observations during political forums.
Yesterday we took a look at Above the Fold’s endorsements for countywide races. Today, we get down to the one contest everybody has been waiting for: The KEYS energy Utility Board.
Just kidding.
This morning we are going to take a look at the races that will define not only the Utility Board and KEYS Energy, but three races that will determine the direction of City Hall for the next four years, and one for mayor that will chart the course for the next two years.
So grab you coffee with Bailey’s or your mimosa.
Without further ado, here we go.
UTILITY BOARD SEAT A
Mona C. Clark vs. Jim Marquardt
I was only partially joking about the Utility Board. Having covered Keys government off and on over a span of three decades, this is the one race that has always sort of slid under the radar.
Frankly, it has always been kind of a dud.
2026 seems a little different.
Incumbent Mona C. Clark has served on the Utility Board since 2004.
It shows.
Clark holds the distinction of being the first elected female Board member in the Utility’s history. By virtue of her 2018 election, she also holds the distinction of being the first Board member elected by all voters within KEYS service area (Key West to the Seven-Mile Bridge). Previously the Utility Board was elected only by residents of the City of Key West. In 2020, she became the first female and first African American to serve as Chair of the Utility Board.
Jim Marquardt is a longtime Key West resident. I first met him in the radio business nearly 30 years ago; today he is the General Manager for The Gardens Hotel and is passionate about alternative energy sources — something that has been sorely lacking on the board.
He recognizes not only the fiduciary responsibility that the board has but also employee safety; he is also in favor of term limits and has no intention of staying around for decades on a board.
In terms of transparency, Marquardt supports not only streaming or broadcasting board meetings publicly (they are not currently) but also allowing public comment throughout the meeting on individual agenda items rather than at the end of meetings.
For those reasons, Jim Marquardt is the right pick for Seat A.
UTILITY BOARD SEAT D
Javier Garrido vs. Tim Urbanski
Both Garrido and Urbanski are competing to replace Vice Chair Robert Barrios, who has served since 2018. Barrios was the first Board member residing outside Key West city limits due to a change in the bylaws.
Tim Urbanski is a Big Pine resident and Army veteran who served in Vietnam in 1968-69. After his return, he worked for the US Navy/DoD as a civilian employee retiring in 2007, continuing his work career in the private sector managing programs in machine vision, digital photography and facility security. He has worked as a mechanic, technician, military and apprentice instructor, supervisor and program manager in the electrical, electronics, communications and computer disciplines with collateral experience in union negotiations, facilities management, asbestos abatement, OSHA inspection and security. His campaign donations have been mainly self-funded, with other grassroots donations from residents of Big Pine and the surrounding areas, totaling $13,407.83.
Garrido, who lives in Big Coppitt, has little if any experience on municipal boards or in the utility space, and the majority of his campaign contributions have come from Ed Swift and companies, relatives or employees affiliated with him, including Fred Varela, Historic Tours of America, Tropical Shell and Gift, totaling $9,676.32. This will become a common thread as we advance through the ballot.
For that reason, Tim Urbanski is the pick to bring new energy to the Utility Board.
DISTRICT II CITY COMMISSION
Bobi Lore vs. Mark Rossi
This race is a tossup for me. I genuinely like and respect Bobi Lore and Mark Rossi both personally and professionally.
Fundraising wasn’t an issue, as neither accepted money from the “usual suspects.”
Both operate successful, world-class businesses within the City of Key West; Lore operates one of the premier all-men’s guesthouses in the world. Rossi operates one of the most popular bar complexes in the world — competing on a daily basis with iconic watering holes like Sloppy Joe’s and Capt. Tony’s Saloon. I genuinely believe that both have the City’s best interests at heart — albeit I believe they have very different ideas about how to accomplish them.
And the two probably ran the most collegial race out any group of candiates county-wide.
Although I have never agreed with Rossi about his view on cruise ships, if I owned a city block that slung $9 drinks 18 hours a day, I likely would.
But his previous experience on the dais, his relationship with the military (which seems badly needed right now courtesy of a series of blunders by the City Manager) and Mark’s involvement in trying to help establish a world-class hospital in the Lower Keys are too much to ignore.
This was probably the toughest pick of all, but given everything the Southernmost City has been through in the last two years, Mark Rossi should get your vote for District II.
DISTRICT IV CITY COMMISSION
Sarah Compton vs. Wayne Garcia vs. Juan Llera
This is an interesting race for several reasons.
First, all three are running to replace embattled Bubba Bozo player the (finally) outgoing Lisette Carey. The Grand Jury that uncovered the corruption at 1300 White Street recommended Carey resign from the dais. Instead, she was rewarded by first being named Vice Mayor by Danise Henriquez, only to be demoted to remain in her seat while thumbing her nose at Lady Justice.
This is the only three-way race at 1300 White Street, and could be the only one that ends in a runoff in November.
But I do not believe that it will.
Juan Llera, who clearly was handpicked as a candidate for the Chamber of Commerce and special interests and leaned heavily on his experience in the military and as risk management specialist for KEYS Energy, never really seemed to get out of the gate. He raised a total of $19,832 in campaign contributions from special interests like Arnold’s Towing, Toppino’s Rockland Recycling, The Hemingway House, the Dade County Police Benevolent Association, Waste Management of Florida, Lay Management (La Trattoria and Virgilio’s) and Linda K. Turek (Hank’s Hair of the Dog, Garbo’s, Mac’s Place, The LTK Group). To date, he has only spent $7,583.34.
It almost seems like he is not trying.
Sarah Compton started out strong as one of four members of the Clean Slate (Kaufman, Lore, Compton and Massicotte.) She had multiple small dollar donations with a few notable $1,000 donations including one by world-renowned author, Key West resident and First Amendment advocate Judy Blume.
Compton has been very thoughtful in producing advances keeping the public informed about upcoming issues at Commission meetings, something she will hopefully continue should she be elected.
Honesty and transparency have been at the core of her desire to enter public service — particularly in the wake of the Bubba Bozo indictments by the Grand Jury.
In her P2 campaign filing, however, Compton listed four $1,000 donations from Charles, Carter and Clark Robertson and Kristin Becher of Essex, Conn., along with a $516 donation from Carol Robertson of Old Saybrook, Conn.
Those names may not sound familiar to you, but they should. The Robertson family owns American Cruise Lines. They are the preferred “small ship” alternative to massive cruise ships like those that visit Pier B.
Charles is the CEO, while brothers Carter and Clark are executive vice presidents at the boutique cruise line. Kristin Becher is married to the CEO, and Carol Robertson is mother to the three boys.
Like other special interests mentioned here, political donations appear to be a family affair.
Compton does a significant amount of business through her concierge site Discover Your Key West with American Cruise Lines, while also offering services to other cruise lines that dock at Pier B.
When confronted by supporters of not only her campaign but the City’s One Ship Policy and the optics of accepting donations from cruise ship companies, Compton reportedly told them that if the funding could be replaced, she would return the donations from ACL. She also allegedly told them she would recuse herself if any ACL business came before the City Commission.
But her most recent filing saw no money returned to ACL’s owners and if the candidate can’t agree that the financial strings aren’t a good look, how is it possible to know what she will do should ACL want to dock additional ships at Mallory Square or mega-cruise ship interests come calling at the Outer Mole?
The only person who doesn’t seem to be beholden to special interests in the District IV race is Wayne Garcia. In addition to being a lifelong Key West(er) and well-respected contractor, Garcia has taken a page out of “Walkin” Lawton Chiles’ playbook, wearing out his shoe leather and hitting the pavement, canvassing his district and asking questions — demonstrating that he is willing to work towards concrete solutions whether it involves the major flooding issues in the district, dangerous sidewalks for children and elderly residents or the overgrown canopy and siltation filling in the Riviera Canal.
Garcia is concerned about the quality of life on the rock for not only his family and friends — but all of the residents in District IV.
A treasured Key West artist in the vein of Mario Sanchez, Garcia even hand-painted some of his campaign signs.
For those reasons, Wayne Garcia has earned the chance and privilege of representing everybody in District IV.
DISTRICT V CITY COMMISSIONER
Chris Massicotte vs. Greg Sullivan
This one is closer than it really should be.
One candidate represents what Last Stand of the Florida Keys embodies and has demonstrated a grassroots effort receiving thousands of dollars of small donations from residents of his district.
The other represents the Chamber of Commerce and other special interests (starting to see a recurring theme here?) like Historic Tours of America, Toppino’s Rockland Recycling, Planning Board member and shadow PAC supporter Michael Browning and Spottswood Management and the Dade County Police Benevolent Association.
Greg Sullivan is the Senior District Manager for Waste Management for Monroe County and is known in Chamber and Rotary circles as the hardest working guy in Key West. He is likely about to be working even harder on Friday, July 24 when Haitian TPS status ends for a significant part of his workforce.
Vote with your conscience in District V, but Chris Massicotte is the right person to represent that neighborhood.
KEY WEST MAYOR (City-wide)
Danise Henriquez vs. Sam Kaufman
And now, for the Main Event.
It’s the matchup that everyone has been waiting for: Incumbent Danise Henriquez vs. District II City Commissioner Sam Kaufman.
No ropes. No ring. No referee’s call. Just one long walk out of City Hall.
In three decades of following and covering Keys politics, I have never witnessed such a vitriolic campaign cycle — and to be honest it has all one-sided.
Between the shadow PAC Families & Friends for the Keys founded by Conch athletic supporter Jack Niles, to the incumbent mayor’s thirst for accepting $1,000 donations from one special interest after the other — there has never been anything like it in modern Key West politics.
Henriquez has been nuzzling into the cash-rich trough of not only the Chamber of Commerce but special interest after special interest to the tune of $147,617.17 (the ultimate irony being her husband’s jersey number is #17)
The mayor has taken 141 $1,000 donations from the likes of Ed Swift and his relatives, companies, associated entities and employees as well as companies including Hydrothunder and its affiliated Land & Sea Sports (which also put campaign bumper stickers on each of its rental vehicles), the Spottswood Companies and its family members, employees and affiliates, Race World Offshore, at least nine from billionaire hospitality magnate and Pier B owner Mark Walsh and his family or affiliates.
The list goes on: Arnold’s Towing, at least six from Sunset Key resident Linda K. Turek and her associated properties like Hank’s Hair of the Dog, Garbo’s, Mac’s Place and others…
Makes one wonder why they are all so excited about keeping the mayor in power.
Then there are the lies.
The mayor has been making the rounds claiming she got The Lofts at Bahama Village built. False narrative. That would have been the previous administration she is so fond of blaming her administration’s problems on.
Then there was the community center. Hmm… I remember covering the groundbreaking for that… it was started long before her and was — you guessed it — the previous administration.
John Jones Transitional Center? Yeah that was one of her accomplishments, right? Oh wait. I was at the groundbreaking for that as well. Seems that was former Mayor Teri Johnston and Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman; again the previous administration that spearheaded those efforts.
Henriquez might have “opened” them, but last time I checked, ribbon cutting was not an accomplishment unless you are a member of the British Royal Family.
How about some real accomplishments like, let’s say killing water testing. Yep. The mayor cast the deciding vote.
Oh, oh, I know: What about abandoning the LGBTQ+ community and the rainbow crosswalks! Yes. That one definitely tracks!
Entering into a 287(g) agreement that the majority of Key West residents opposed? Let’s unpack that!
That had to be her proudest moment.
Let’s contrast that with her opponent, Sam Kaufman.
He was Vice Mayor under Teri Johnston in the previous administration.
In addition to all the things the mayor is trying to take credit for that were actually the result of elbow grease of the previous administration she loves to dog, Kaufman has been leading advocacy to secure 166 new workforce housing units at Sigsbee Park while also working to help advance Garden View Apartments, Poinciana permanent supportive housing, and The Lofts rental and homeownership workforce housing units; sponsored the renewal of funding for the Homebuyer Assistance Program; and has consistently advocated for inclusion of affordable housing in major redevelopment projects.
With regard to environmental concerns, he advocated for cleaner water, stronger environmental protections, and thoughtful investments that preserve our island for future generations, including sponsoring the City’s ordinance requiring water quality testing, working to fund an increase in harbor water testing (which the current mayor killed to appease special interests) and sponsoring the creation of the Plastic Free Key West Program.
Kaufman has also worked to improve healthcare for Key West residents by advocating for greater accountability, better services, and long-term planning that puts patients, healthcare workers, and our community first by founding the Commissioner’s Lower Keys Medical Center Task Force; leading the effort resulting in the Hospital District issuing an RFP for future hospital operations; and advocating for improved local healthcare services and accountability.
He has also been instrumental in giving voters and residents a stronger voice in our community by creating the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board; hosting numerous town halls and neighborhood meetings; consistently supporting meaningful public participation and calling for transparency and open government; and encouraging neighborhood input before major redevelopment decisions.
Commissioner Kaufman has also proven to be a responsible steward of taxpayers’ money.
He has voted against property tax increases each year as a Commission member; called for an Independent Auditor; consistently questioned unnecessary spending and long-term debt; and worked to ensure City-owned properties generate fair market value for taxpayers.
In addition, for the past 27 years, he has been involved in the Key West community helping others as a mentor for the Take Stock in Children Program, supporting student success and opportunity. He has served as an Executive Board Member of the Key West Art & Historical Society, helping to preserve and celebrate local culture and also as a Board Member of the Florida Keys SPCA, advocating for animal welfare and humane care.
For 20 years he has served on the board of the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, helping individuals and families in need of housing, food, and recovery services.
In sum, Mayor Henriquez likes to stand on the shoulders of those that came before her and take credit for their accomplishments.
And if I were Clayton Lopez, Billy Wardlow or Jimmy Weekley, I would probably be just about sick and tired of hearing how everything was our fault right about now.
She has few if any real accomplishments to hang her hat on, unless you count ignoring and thumbing her nose at the recommendations of a Monroe County Grand Jury that signed their names to their report or giving special interests the most bang for the buck.
Those two things?
She is really good at.
At this point — and I know this comes as a shock to those who have been following along over the last year — it is time for a change.
And simply put, Sam Kaufman is the right person to fix all of the issues left behind by the Henriquez administration.
This may not be your perfect ballot, and it was tough to come to these conclusions. But the candidates endorsed here, I believe, are capable of coming together and working for positive change.
And frankly, I don’t care who you vote for as long as you VOTE!
See you at the polls on Aug. 18, 2026.