• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Palm Beach Commission Chairman Masilotti Won't Seek Third Term

Posted on: Tuesday, 16 May 2006, 15:06 CDT

By Josh Hafenbrack, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

May 16--WEST PALM BEACH -- Palm Beach County Commission Chairman Tony Masilotti has announced he will not seek a third term this fall, signaling an end to a tenure marked by bitter political battles.

Masilotti, a Republican, withdrew his candidacy in a letter Monday to Supervisor of Elections Arthur Anderson.

Masilotti said he wanted to spend more time with his family, yet he has been confronting allegations that he had an improper relationship with several real-estate developers.

The remaining District 6 candidates are Gregory Schroeder and Penny Riccio, according to the Supervisor of Election's Web site. The election is in November.

The district covers a huge swath of western Palm Beach County from Wellington and Royal Palm Beach to the Everglades.

In his resignation letter, Masilotti declared he "fulfilled the promises I made when I entered public life." Masilotti said he preserved 40,000 acres of open space, helped pass rules to alleviate overcrowding in public schools and improved drinking water in the Glades.

Prior to winning a commission seat in 1998, Masilotti was Royal Palm Beach mayor.

Known for his combative style, Masilotti often skewered foes from the commission dais and had hostile exchanges with a fellow commissioner from his own party, Mary McCarty.

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

More News in this Category