Photo: JimVallee / iStock / Getty Images
We're kicking off our Election Spotlight series with THE Palm Beach County Commission race.
That's right, there are three seats on the 7-seat Commission that are up for a vote this year, but only one August primary.
Two Democrats face-off for the right to fight Republican Leonard Serratore and two write-in candidates in November.
State Senator Bobby Powell had two years left in his current term, but instead wants to complete what would be a seat swap with outgoing County Commissioner Mack Bernard, who is termed out. Bernard ran unopposed in a special election for Powell's District 24 Senate seat.
Powell is an urban planner who previously worked for the City of West Palm Beach and now works in the private sector. He touts his work in the Legislature, which began in 2012.
"25 new laws have been created with my name on them since I've been in the Legislature and I've received, or helped to get more than $130 million in projects back here in Palm Beach County."
In the Democrat primary, Powell will face former West Palm Beach City Commissioner Richard Ryles. The attorney tells us about one of his biggest concerns about Palm Beach County.
"The cost of real estate and rent is just gone through the roof and most people can't make ends meet on a host of levels. The price of car, auto and home insurance has rendered many people who own their homes incapable of insuring them."
Hear from both candidates on a host of issues and why each one says he is the best option to be the next Palm Beach County Commissioner in District 7 in the audio players above.