It’s been seven months since three Riviera Beach city council members voted to fire City Manager Jonathan Evans “for cause”, but without explanation. Tuesday’s election will show if voter’s will carry that to the ballot box.
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Two seats for the Riviera Beach city council are up for grabs, including Councilwoman Dawn Pardo’s seat. Pardo was one of three who voted to fire Evans.
Pardo is running against Julia Botel, who entered the race because she wanted change.
“The things are so chaotic over there that you can’t help but become involved and trying to get something done,” Botel said in December.
It’s the first time in 10 years that Pardo faces an opponent in her race for the seat in District 4.
Pardo said she is confident she will win and that her vote to fire Evans will play no role in the election.
“Absolutely no,” Pardo said in January. “Especially here on Singer Island.”
Pardo was confident but voters we spoke to in Singer Island were split, some saying the city manager decision was very important in their vote, other saying they focused more on other issues.
Contact 5 looked at the most campaign contributions on the city's website.
So far $55,000 were spent in the Singer Island race.
The most recent data shows Pardo has raised $30,000. She spent almost $22,000.
Among her contributors were several local, county and state groups representing fire fighters who donated $2250 to her campaign.
Also among her contributors is congressman Alcee Hastings ($250).
Among her expenditures is $1000 to Regina Williams for consulting services.
Regina Williams is Councilman Davis’ aide and served as his campaign treasurer.
Julie Botel raised just under $25,000
Many of her contributors are from the Tiara building on Singer Island, where Botel resides.
In the other race, Keith Golden out-raised Chairwoman KaShamba Miller-Anderson 3-1, based on the data provided by the city.
Golden has raised around $10,000.
Among his contributors are several local groups representing fire fighters who donated $2000 to her campaign.
His contributors include West Palm Beach Commissioner Corey Neering.
Miller-Anderson around $3,000, nearly half of that is her own money.
Some more recent campaign reports by Contact 5 show Botel has now raised $42,000, Pardo close to $50,000, Miller-Anderson around $13,000, and Golden around $12,000.
