Photo: CBS 12
The Lake Worth Beach City Commission race in District 2 is in our Election Spotlight this morning.
Incumbent Christopher McVoy faces a familiar challenger. Carla Blockson is the Chair of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, served two years on the City Commission and last ran against McVoy in 2021 unsuccessfully. But the city now holds single-district voting and Blockson believes that will make a difference this time around.
She works for the nonprofit "For The Children," which provides education and mentoring to low-income students.
The city recently received an unsolicited proposal by developers who want to place a hotel on the beach, build a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course among other things. Blockson says she's been talking to constituents about this.
"There are many people who are above putting a Hyatt hotel on the beach. They're saying they're against that. They like the Jack Nicklaus golf course, the people that I've talked to. They like the Olympic-sized pool that they're willing to put on the Northwest ball field. But as with any unsolicited proposal, the citizens will have a voice and be able to say 'I want this, I don't want that.'"
She says she's open to hearing more about the proposal and the city is required by state law to do so.
McVoy is an environmental scientist and we asked him about the proposal.
"What staff has told me and told the commission is that that proposal would require at least four, probably more changes to our Charter. And the only way you can change the Charter is have a citywide referendum, a vote on it. I'm skeptical on (a) hotel at the beach. People are not very enthusiastic about more private development at the park."
McVoy insists the Commission needs to be more transparent with residents when it comes to the things the city spends money on and he pledges to always be available to people who need to speak with him.