February 2, 2026 • 8 mins
Cellon is one of three candidates running for the seat being vacated by Andy Thomson, who is running for mayor.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, Joel Malcolm four WJNO dot com. And my election
(00:04):
spotlight is on the city of Boca Ratone. There, it's
gonna be a busy March tenth in Boca for registered voters.
There are four elections. You've got three for the city
Council and then of course you have the mayoral election
as well. Right now we are focused on CD on
(00:24):
the City Council and there are three candidates there. We
have one of the three right now with us, Larry Salon,
thank you for joining me.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Glad to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Philis. Let's get a little bit of background on you
before we get started. We'll talk about some things around
the city. I know one Boca is the big topic,
but we can cover some others if you like as well.
Talk about your priorities. But first let us know how
long have you been in Boca Ratone.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, I came down here in nineteen seventy nine after
graduating from University of Florida, and I have a degree
in building construction. Worked for a general contractor for about
seventeen years, and then my friend and I were partners
in a commercial construction company for about another seventeen years
before I retired.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
All Right, and so you are retired. Now, what have
you ever run for elected office before?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
No, I never have. But while I was down here
working in the construction business, I was appointed to the
Community Appearance Board of Folk Routone, which monitors all of
the commercial permits that come through the building Department to
make sure that the aesthetics, the landscaping, the signage, all
(01:48):
of that, you know, was kept up marsh standards. And
I was on that board for i popping twenty seven years,
and then was on the Planning Zoning board for another
ten years after that. So I've been engaged in the
process of development for you know, practically all of my
(02:11):
adult life.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
So what is it having never run for office? Obviously
you were engaged with with the city. But what is
it that was, you know, the spark that made you go,
you know what, I want to run for office for
the city council.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, Joel, that's a great question. You know, Boca Atone,
I've been here, you know for a long time, just
does so many things so well. I mean, the citizens here.
We love our police department, our fire department, our libraries,
our parks, you know, the guys who pick up the trash,
(02:50):
you know, we do so much so well, but there's
just the rub is with development, and that creates a
lot of tension in our city. And I feel I
am uniquely suited to guide our city forward, you know,
in the best way for the citizens as far as
this development goes.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
All right, So let's talk about the One Boca project. Now,
this is of course, the I guess, renovation or reconstruction
if you will, of City Hall and some other it's
a whole big too much to mention, I guess right
now to keep it kind of simple. And this is
also going to be on the ballot for this public
(03:34):
private partnership for voters to decide whether or not this
happens the way the city currently wants it to happen,
and just recently voted for it to happen with this
one developer. What are your thoughts on it?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well, first of all, I'm super excited that we're going
to have a chance to vote on it. All the
citizens are, and we can thank and save Boca people
for making that happen. Otherwise that would not have been
the case. They've really done us a great service in
getting the public engaged and energized and getting the vote.
(04:09):
But let me explain what's going on with the Bokratone
government campus. It started off as a great idea. We're
going to get the public private partnership and that private
developer is going to help us pay for some public
buildings that we need. But here's what's really happening. You know,
(04:31):
right after we sold that story, the city council went
out and put the police station out for a referendum
which will be on the March tenth ballot, for one
hundred and seventy five million dollars, which we, the taxpayers,
are going to pay for, not the developer. And then
we went and we bought a seventy thousand square foot
office building for seventeen and a half million dollars. This
(04:54):
is a great deal, but that's for city Hall. So
we have that. And then we still have six five
million dollars left over from the sale of the golf
course earmark for recreation and we can make Memorial Park
the crown jewel of our city. So we've got it
all covered already. We don't need the developer. That's the
(05:14):
bottom line.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Wow, okay yah. One of your priorities on your campaign
website is that you will never accept money from developers.
Is that some of what is going on.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Here, Well, that's just a sense of ethics, you know,
because the developers have all the money and they're the
ones asking favors from the city council for their development,
and I don't want to get, you know, behind that
eight ball. I'm not going to accept any money from developers.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Period. Let's talk about one of your other priorities. You
have a couple other ones. I'll never raise your property
tax rate. That's a I mean, that's a big one,
because you know, we do have in Tallahasse. The governor
wants to eliminate property taxes altogether for homesteaded properties. Uh,
(06:06):
there are a few bills in the works right now.
None of them do exactly what he wants because they,
I believe all include h school taxes, and he wants
he wants all of it. So let's kind of let's
focus on on that. How do you feel about that, Well,
I don't.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Think it's going to come to pass. It still needs
you know, sixty percent vote from the population and the
general you know, in my opinion, you know, I don't
want to reduce city services, and so I'm not I'm
not going to support. You know, cutting those taxes out,
it doesn't make any sense, and I don't think it'll pass. Now.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
When when you say that, you know, we we had
the Florida Doge project go out, and you know, through
Blazing Golia, the state CFO and I don't know about
specifically bok Tone, but I know in Palm Beach County
and the county government and then a lot of other
city and county governments around the state, he's looking at
(07:07):
ways that cities have been overspending and could cut down
from where they are without actually cutting anything. Was your
thought about that.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Well, I agree that we need to take a hard
look at our expenses absolutely, and you know, with AI
coming around, it's going to reduce the need for personnel.
So I'm all in favor of taking that look and
reducing our expenses. And I think both Raton's first of all,
is going to maintain all the services that we currently have.
(07:42):
We're not going to let anything interfere with that. And
there are ways we can cut our expenses.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Too, all right, As I mentioned three candidates in this race,
and my final question is what makes Larry sell On
the best choice.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
I have a long history of engagement with our city
government process. I am one hundred percent for our community
and I'm the best choice to leave us forward.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
All right, Larry, thank you for joining me. Larry Solon
for the City of Boca ratone. He is running for
the council race in cat D. No early voting in
person for this, but one week from today. We're talking
on February second, So February ninth is the last day
(08:37):
to request a vote by mail ballot be sent to you.
Thank you for joining me so well.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Thank you for this opportunity.
Hey, Joel Malcolm four WJNO dot com. And my election
(00:04):
spotlight is on the city of Boca Ratone. There, it's
gonna be a busy March tenth in Boca for registered voters.
There are four elections. You've got three for the city
Council and then of course you have the mayoral election
as well. Right now we are focused on CD on
(00:24):
the City Council and there are three candidates there. We
have one of the three right now with us, Larry Salon,
thank you for joining me.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Glad to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Philis. Let's get a little bit of background on you
before we get started. We'll talk about some things around
the city. I know one Boca is the big topic,
but we can cover some others if you like as well.
Talk about your priorities. But first let us know how
long have you been in Boca Ratone.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, I came down here in nineteen seventy nine after
graduating from University of Florida, and I have a degree
in building construction. Worked for a general contractor for about
seventeen years, and then my friend and I were partners
in a commercial construction company for about another seventeen years
before I retired.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
All Right, and so you are retired. Now, what have
you ever run for elected office before?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
No, I never have. But while I was down here
working in the construction business, I was appointed to the
Community Appearance Board of Folk Routone, which monitors all of
the commercial permits that come through the building Department to
make sure that the aesthetics, the landscaping, the signage, all
(01:48):
of that, you know, was kept up marsh standards. And
I was on that board for i popping twenty seven years,
and then was on the Planning Zoning board for another
ten years after that. So I've been engaged in the
process of development for you know, practically all of my
(02:11):
adult life.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
So what is it having never run for office? Obviously
you were engaged with with the city. But what is
it that was, you know, the spark that made you go,
you know what, I want to run for office for
the city council.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, Joel, that's a great question. You know, Boca Atone,
I've been here, you know for a long time, just
does so many things so well. I mean, the citizens here.
We love our police department, our fire department, our libraries,
our parks, you know, the guys who pick up the trash,
(02:50):
you know, we do so much so well, but there's
just the rub is with development, and that creates a
lot of tension in our city. And I feel I
am uniquely suited to guide our city forward, you know,
in the best way for the citizens as far as
this development goes.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
All right, So let's talk about the One Boca project. Now,
this is of course, the I guess, renovation or reconstruction
if you will, of City Hall and some other it's
a whole big too much to mention, I guess right
now to keep it kind of simple. And this is
also going to be on the ballot for this public
(03:34):
private partnership for voters to decide whether or not this
happens the way the city currently wants it to happen,
and just recently voted for it to happen with this
one developer. What are your thoughts on it?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well, first of all, I'm super excited that we're going
to have a chance to vote on it. All the
citizens are, and we can thank and save Boca people
for making that happen. Otherwise that would not have been
the case. They've really done us a great service in
getting the public engaged and energized and getting the vote.
(04:09):
But let me explain what's going on with the Bokratone
government campus. It started off as a great idea. We're
going to get the public private partnership and that private
developer is going to help us pay for some public
buildings that we need. But here's what's really happening. You know,
(04:31):
right after we sold that story, the city council went
out and put the police station out for a referendum
which will be on the March tenth ballot, for one
hundred and seventy five million dollars, which we, the taxpayers,
are going to pay for, not the developer. And then
we went and we bought a seventy thousand square foot
office building for seventeen and a half million dollars. This
(04:54):
is a great deal, but that's for city Hall. So
we have that. And then we still have six five
million dollars left over from the sale of the golf
course earmark for recreation and we can make Memorial Park
the crown jewel of our city. So we've got it
all covered already. We don't need the developer. That's the
(05:14):
bottom line.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Wow, okay yah. One of your priorities on your campaign
website is that you will never accept money from developers.
Is that some of what is going on.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Here, Well, that's just a sense of ethics, you know,
because the developers have all the money and they're the
ones asking favors from the city council for their development,
and I don't want to get, you know, behind that
eight ball. I'm not going to accept any money from developers.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Period. Let's talk about one of your other priorities. You
have a couple other ones. I'll never raise your property
tax rate. That's a I mean, that's a big one,
because you know, we do have in Tallahasse. The governor
wants to eliminate property taxes altogether for homesteaded properties. Uh,
(06:06):
there are a few bills in the works right now.
None of them do exactly what he wants because they,
I believe all include h school taxes, and he wants
he wants all of it. So let's kind of let's
focus on on that. How do you feel about that, Well,
I don't.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Think it's going to come to pass. It still needs
you know, sixty percent vote from the population and the
general you know, in my opinion, you know, I don't
want to reduce city services, and so I'm not I'm
not going to support. You know, cutting those taxes out,
it doesn't make any sense, and I don't think it'll pass. Now.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
When when you say that, you know, we we had
the Florida Doge project go out, and you know, through
Blazing Golia, the state CFO and I don't know about
specifically bok Tone, but I know in Palm Beach County
and the county government and then a lot of other
city and county governments around the state, he's looking at
(07:07):
ways that cities have been overspending and could cut down
from where they are without actually cutting anything. Was your
thought about that.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Well, I agree that we need to take a hard
look at our expenses absolutely, and you know, with AI
coming around, it's going to reduce the need for personnel.
So I'm all in favor of taking that look and
reducing our expenses. And I think both Raton's first of all,
is going to maintain all the services that we currently have.
(07:42):
We're not going to let anything interfere with that. And
there are ways we can cut our expenses.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Too, all right, As I mentioned three candidates in this race,
and my final question is what makes Larry sell On
the best choice.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
I have a long history of engagement with our city
government process. I am one hundred percent for our community
and I'm the best choice to leave us forward.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
All right, Larry, thank you for joining me. Larry Solon
for the City of Boca ratone. He is running for
the council race in cat D. No early voting in
person for this, but one week from today. We're talking
on February second, So February ninth is the last day
(08:37):
to request a vote by mail ballot be sent to you.
Thank you for joining me so well.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Thank you for this opportunity.
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