North County election results: Wheeler is new Juno Beach mayor amid high voter turnout

JUNO BEACH — Vice Mayor Peggy Wheeler is the new mayor of Juno Beach, according to preliminary results from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Wheeler defeated incumbent Mayor Alexander Cooke with about 55% of the vote in the first election where voters directly chose their town's mayor. In the past, the Town Council had chosen one of its members to fill the position.

"Juno Beach is an amazing place with so many wonderful people. Our goal is to always preserve our small quaint seaside town for generations to come," Wheeler wrote in a statement Wednesday. "I am honored to be the first mayor elected in the Town of Juno Beach and look forward to providing respectful, positive leadership for our citizens.”

In the other Juno Beach Town Council race, town Planning Board chair Diana Davis defeated Dean G. Anthon, according to preliminary results. Davis received about 63% of the vote. Anthon was making his first run for town office.

Palm Beach County election results:Click here to learn who won in each municipality

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Turnout was unusually high for a March election, with nearly 1,500 voters — almost half of the town's electorate —turned out to cast ballots.

“I have to be a unifying force on the council,” said Davis, 62, Tuesday night as she celebrated the win at home with her supporters.

Davis said that during her term, she wants to create a master plan and a strategic plan for Juno Beach to “establish benefits” for residents.

This wasn’t her first time running for the post. Davis ran against DD Halpern in 2021 but lost in a runoff.

Two Town Council candidates, Jacob Rosengarten in Seat 3 and Halpern in Seat 4, ran unopposed.

The Town Council campaigns were marked by at least four political action committees that inserted themselves into the races.

They blitzed residents with mailers accusing candidates of various offenses, many centered around their views on growth and development. The PACs' activities rose to the point where some candidates and voters thought they were driving an election usually decided by a few hundred residents.

Lake Park: Michael Hensley wins seat on Town Commission

Michael Hensley, a 17-year Lake Park resident and special education teacher, will take a seat on the five-member Town Commission. For the first time, a majority of its members will be Black.

"I am extremely honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve the residents of the Town of Lake Park. It’s a humbling responsibility," Hensley wrote in a statement Wednesday. "I look forward to working for and with all of the residents of our community in the months ahead!"

Hensley said he wants to enhance safety measures in town, develop a comprehensive park and recreation program, uphold Lake Park's history and establish a strong relationship with local businesses.

In the town, the candidate who garnered the most votes of the four running won the post.

Hensley received about 45% of the vote for the one-year seat. Other candidates in the race were Anne Lynch, a former Town Commission member, Hollis Langer and Rafael Moscoso.

About 15% of Lake Park's 4,000 voters cast ballots in the Tuesday election.

North Palm Beach: Orlando Puyol wins seat on Village Council

Orlando Puyol defeated William Luzuriagga, according to preliminary results, receiving about 72% of the vote.

Four seats on the Village Council were up for election this year, three of them because of resignations from the board in December. Three of them saw candidates run unopposed: Deborah Searcy, the incumbent in Seat 1, and newcomers Kristin Garrison and Lisa Interlandi for Seats 4 and 5, respectively.

About 25% of the village's 9,400 registered voters cast ballots.

Puyol, 70, said the win "feels surreal.” He believes he is the first Cuban American to hold a seat on the village council.

“Until you see (residents) show up to the polls, you don’t know whether you’ve connected with them,” Puyol said. “What I saw tonight was that all the work I put in explaining my position on issues … they believed me.”

He said that he visited a precinct late this afternoon and a steady stream of voters all waved at him.

Puyol previously ran for council, but lost to Darryl Aubrey in 2022.

He said he wants the village to pay attention to the basics: following its master plan, maintaining its infrastructure and helping North Palm Beach Country Club stand more on its own.

Tequesta: Rick Sartory heads to first elected term on Village Council

Rick Sartory, an incumbent council member, defeated Jessica Namath for Seat 5 on the Tequesta Village Council, according to preliminary results.

He received about 60% of the vote, preliminary results show.

"I am extremely excited, honored and privileged that over 60% of the voters showed up to vote for me and to select me for another two years," Sartory said. "(Our community) believes in vision and in fair, honest open communication, and I was that candidate."

Sartory was first elected to the Village Council in April 2023 when he ran unopposed.

He is an advocate for adding walking trails, native vegetation and a pavilion at Remembrance Park, and for growth rules that would require chain restaurants and stores to ask for council approval before opening in certain areas in the village.

Jayson French, a West Palm Beach Fire Rescue firefighter for the past 17 years, ran unopposed for Seat 1.

About 25% of the village's 4,500 registered voters cast ballots.

Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her atmwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism:Subscribe today.