February 21, 2025 • 11 mins
Avila is running for the vacant seat in Group 3.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, Joel Malcolm Ford WJNO dot com. My election spotlight
on the village of Royal Palm Beach. And there are
two races in the village. You have a mayoral race
and the untimely death of Mayor Fred Pinto necessitating that,
and village Council Group three, which is an open seat,
(00:20):
and one of three candidates running is man whose name
is familiar to folks following Royal Palm Beach politics because
he's run before in Royal pomp Steve Avila, Thank you
for joining.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Me, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
You ran for mayor.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I believe when we spoke last that is correct. So
last March I ran for mayor.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It was a David versus Golias battle because I was
running against the late Fred Pinto, who had been in
office for twenty years and mayor for eight years. And
I managed to get forty percent.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Of the vote.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So let me ask you this, and this is probably
maybe this is a question you've gotten before, but why
are running for the council instead of the mayor race?
At this point.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
I felt that there were candidates that were much more
experienced the sim A round who would be better suited
for mayor and I wanted to give I wanted to
run for the group three in side.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yeah, we should say that the three just so folks
understand who's running. You have three candidates running for mayor.
We're not focused on that race here, but Jeff and
Mara who is currently serving as the interim mayor appointed
by the council, Selina Samuos, who is a well was
a council member she had to resign to run for mayor.
And then Justin k Plaza, who would be a newcomer
(01:42):
to politics, and we're covering that race as well, but
right now, let's focus on Council Group three. These would
all be three people who have not previously served. One
has run well, I guess I should say two have
run for office before, and then you have the late
mayor's widow as well. One hasn't run for office in Sylvia.
(02:05):
Sharps is not run in Royal Palm but a couple
of times for the County Commission. So let's talk about you.
Let's get your background and what makes you unique?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Sure, so what mix me unique is? I'm actually from
Royal Palm Beach. I grew up here, I went to
Cyprus Trails Elementary School, and I graduated first in my
class from Royal Palm Beach High School. So I'm a
product of Royal Palm Beach and if elected, I would
be the very first homegrown village council member. After I
(02:39):
graduated from Royal Palm Beach High School, I went off
to Dartmouth College, where I majored in Romance studies, so
that I majored in Portuguese and French, and I minored
in Spanish, and I spent I spent five years in China,
where I was a college admissions consultant and an English teacher,
and then I've been continued to do that here as
(03:01):
a college admissions consultant.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Okay, I gave this to one of the other one
of the folks running in one of the other races,
and I figured i'd give you good especially for you
because you've lived there all your life. Name one really
good thing, one thing that you love about Royal Palm Beach.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Our parks. We have twenty three parks.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Well, okay, what makes them different than parks and other municipalities,
or just the fact that you have so many, because
that does seem like a lot. You've had I think
forty thousand residents to have that many parks does sound yep?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, well there and these are all village parks, so
these are not county parks.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
These are not state parks either.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Are all the parks by the village, so that's what
makes it unique. And they have They range from small
little parks to Common Park, which is our biggest park
that's opened a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
I want to say that may have opened as many
as what ten years ago or something like that, because
I remember when going there when it had first opened,
and and before that, I guess the biggest park I
want to say would have been Veterans Right, that's the
one with like the dinosaurs and stuff or is that
a different.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Park, that's correct, that's cract. I think Veterans Park would
be our second largest park.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Royal Palm Beach helped me out. What's the corner. It's
Royal Palm Beach and Royal Publish Boulevard.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Get so it's Southern Boulevard to Troby right, Royal Palm
Beach Boulevard to about Crestwood right.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Right.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Okay, so let's talk about some of the issues and
one of the things that you are touting is and
you mentioned that you had run for last year against
a twenty year mayor. Term limits is something that you're
you you town, tell me the importance of term limits
within I think a lot of folks, me included, would
(05:02):
say we need them in Congress, but for both sides
of the aisle, to be honest, But what you know
on the local level, what's the importance of that.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I feel that it's even much more at the local
level because there's oftentimes there's no bench and so when
there is an untimely death, you have people who have
perhaps no experience in advisory boards or no experience on
the council to to continue that.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
We don't have them. And there's always been this feeling.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
That every four years, I'm sorry, not every four years,
every two years Royal Palm Beach has a referendum on
term moments.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
If you like a candidate, then you will for them.
But that entrench is incumbents.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Because no one was going to want to want to
run against them, and they have the money of developing person,
they have the money of special interests, so it really
does entrench them.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
And how much of that is that that sounds valid?
But what about you know the fact that we have
such low turnout for and I can't speak for Royal
Pond Beach specifically, but I know county wide the turnouts
typically in the maybe the upper single digits, right, Does
that have something to do with it as well?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
That could be something to do with as well.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I don't know what the exact number for Royal Pond Beaches,
but I think that your upper single digit number is correct.
When I ran for me here it was a little
bit higher, but that was because there was a presidential
primary preference on the ballot the time around, there's no apps,
there's no early voting, so it's strictly voting on March
(06:52):
eleventh or vote by mail.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
What is one big issue within the with the village
of Royal Palm Beach that you you say, okay, if
I get elected, you know this is something I want
to fix improve?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Whatnot responsible development? So where right now we're at the crossroads.
We are smacked down between Wellington Acreage, West.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Lake and West Palm Beach.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
And there's a reason why people move out West and
that's because they don't want to become like West Palm Beach.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And right now there's a lot of developments that are.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Increasing the density of Royal Palm Beach, and that's something
that I'm really sensitive about.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Another thing that you talk about is lower property tax is,
how has the village council done with regards to that.
We hear from different municipalities about lowering millage rates. Has
any of that been done in Royal Pond Beach?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Sure well, Royal Pond Beach is actually has done a
very good job with the millage rate because it's one
point nine to two, which is the lowest and lowess
of the thirty nine municipalities that have a that has
a population of over two thousand. But when I say
lower property taxes, I'm talking about perhaps having a discussion
(08:13):
of lowering it even further because of the rising prices
of homes. So even though even though the military is
staying the same, you're effectively seeing more in taxes because
of higher higher.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Housing crisis, there is property values.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
There is a candidate for mayor that's talking about pretty
much doing a whole new thing, revamping how folks how
community members get involved with local politics with regards to
what's going to be decided bandied about by the village council.
(08:51):
Do you feel that the village council listens enough to residents.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I think that they can do a better job and
talking to a lot of talking to a lot of residents.
I have heard instances where they get emailed or they
get contacted and they don't necessarily respond.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So in terms of getting back to residents.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
About issues that they care about, that's something that could
be a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Okay, let me ask you what you know. We do
have three candidates in this race. Why ultimately should folks
vote for you.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
I'm from here, I'm from Royal Palm Beach.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
I've I've been endorsed by multiple elected officials at the
county level and at the local level, and I've been endorsed.
Just yesterday, I was endorsed by the pomp Beach Posts
signaling my signaling my knowledge. So the issues of Thoral
Palm Beach.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I am.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
It's elected, I would be the first person who's actually
from here, and I would for the first time in
the sixty five years of the village. There would also
be the very first Hispanic on the village council board.
As Royal Palm Beach has changed, it's represented, its faith
has changed, and that's a population that's never really had
(10:27):
a voice on the village council.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
All right, anything else for I wrap.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Up, just said I'm extumely this whole process has been
really fun talking to voters and I'm excited for the
marshal level and election and it's it's been an honor
to just be a part of the process.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
All right, Well, thank you for joining us and speaking
to the voters and of Royal Palm Beach. And we
should add it's the Group three race. It is open
to all registered voters living within the villain Jabroil Palm
Beach village limits. Steve Avila, the Village Council Group three,
one of three candidates running in that race and open
seat here on wj and O dot com.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Thanks again, all right, thank you very much
Hey, Joel Malcolm Ford WJNO dot com. My election spotlight
on the village of Royal Palm Beach. And there are
two races in the village. You have a mayoral race
and the untimely death of Mayor Fred Pinto necessitating that,
and village Council Group three, which is an open seat,
(00:20):
and one of three candidates running is man whose name
is familiar to folks following Royal Palm Beach politics because
he's run before in Royal pomp Steve Avila, Thank you
for joining.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Me, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
You ran for mayor.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I believe when we spoke last that is correct. So
last March I ran for mayor.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It was a David versus Golias battle because I was
running against the late Fred Pinto, who had been in
office for twenty years and mayor for eight years. And
I managed to get forty percent.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Of the vote.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So let me ask you this, and this is probably
maybe this is a question you've gotten before, but why
are running for the council instead of the mayor race?
At this point.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
I felt that there were candidates that were much more
experienced the sim A round who would be better suited
for mayor and I wanted to give I wanted to
run for the group three in side.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yeah, we should say that the three just so folks
understand who's running. You have three candidates running for mayor.
We're not focused on that race here, but Jeff and
Mara who is currently serving as the interim mayor appointed
by the council, Selina Samuos, who is a well was
a council member she had to resign to run for mayor.
And then Justin k Plaza, who would be a newcomer
(01:42):
to politics, and we're covering that race as well, but
right now, let's focus on Council Group three. These would
all be three people who have not previously served. One
has run well, I guess I should say two have
run for office before, and then you have the late
mayor's widow as well. One hasn't run for office in Sylvia.
(02:05):
Sharps is not run in Royal Palm but a couple
of times for the County Commission. So let's talk about you.
Let's get your background and what makes you unique?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Sure, so what mix me unique is? I'm actually from
Royal Palm Beach. I grew up here, I went to
Cyprus Trails Elementary School, and I graduated first in my
class from Royal Palm Beach High School. So I'm a
product of Royal Palm Beach and if elected, I would
be the very first homegrown village council member. After I
(02:39):
graduated from Royal Palm Beach High School, I went off
to Dartmouth College, where I majored in Romance studies, so
that I majored in Portuguese and French, and I minored
in Spanish, and I spent I spent five years in China,
where I was a college admissions consultant and an English teacher,
and then I've been continued to do that here as
(03:01):
a college admissions consultant.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Okay, I gave this to one of the other one
of the folks running in one of the other races,
and I figured i'd give you good especially for you
because you've lived there all your life. Name one really
good thing, one thing that you love about Royal Palm Beach.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Our parks. We have twenty three parks.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Well, okay, what makes them different than parks and other municipalities,
or just the fact that you have so many, because
that does seem like a lot. You've had I think
forty thousand residents to have that many parks does sound yep?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, well there and these are all village parks, so
these are not county parks.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
These are not state parks either.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Are all the parks by the village, so that's what
makes it unique. And they have They range from small
little parks to Common Park, which is our biggest park
that's opened a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
I want to say that may have opened as many
as what ten years ago or something like that, because
I remember when going there when it had first opened,
and and before that, I guess the biggest park I
want to say would have been Veterans Right, that's the
one with like the dinosaurs and stuff or is that
a different.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Park, that's correct, that's cract. I think Veterans Park would
be our second largest park.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Royal Palm Beach helped me out. What's the corner. It's
Royal Palm Beach and Royal Publish Boulevard.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Get so it's Southern Boulevard to Troby right, Royal Palm
Beach Boulevard to about Crestwood right.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Right.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Okay, so let's talk about some of the issues and
one of the things that you are touting is and
you mentioned that you had run for last year against
a twenty year mayor. Term limits is something that you're
you you town, tell me the importance of term limits
within I think a lot of folks, me included, would
(05:02):
say we need them in Congress, but for both sides
of the aisle, to be honest, But what you know
on the local level, what's the importance of that.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I feel that it's even much more at the local
level because there's oftentimes there's no bench and so when
there is an untimely death, you have people who have
perhaps no experience in advisory boards or no experience on
the council to to continue that.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
We don't have them. And there's always been this feeling.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
That every four years, I'm sorry, not every four years,
every two years Royal Palm Beach has a referendum on
term moments.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
If you like a candidate, then you will for them.
But that entrench is incumbents.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Because no one was going to want to want to
run against them, and they have the money of developing person,
they have the money of special interests, so it really
does entrench them.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
And how much of that is that that sounds valid?
But what about you know the fact that we have
such low turnout for and I can't speak for Royal
Pond Beach specifically, but I know county wide the turnouts
typically in the maybe the upper single digits, right, Does
that have something to do with it as well?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
That could be something to do with as well.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I don't know what the exact number for Royal Pond Beaches,
but I think that your upper single digit number is correct.
When I ran for me here it was a little
bit higher, but that was because there was a presidential
primary preference on the ballot the time around, there's no apps,
there's no early voting, so it's strictly voting on March
(06:52):
eleventh or vote by mail.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
What is one big issue within the with the village
of Royal Palm Beach that you you say, okay, if
I get elected, you know this is something I want
to fix improve?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Whatnot responsible development? So where right now we're at the crossroads.
We are smacked down between Wellington Acreage, West.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Lake and West Palm Beach.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
And there's a reason why people move out West and
that's because they don't want to become like West Palm Beach.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And right now there's a lot of developments that are.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Increasing the density of Royal Palm Beach, and that's something
that I'm really sensitive about.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Another thing that you talk about is lower property tax is,
how has the village council done with regards to that.
We hear from different municipalities about lowering millage rates. Has
any of that been done in Royal Pond Beach?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Sure well, Royal Pond Beach is actually has done a
very good job with the millage rate because it's one
point nine to two, which is the lowest and lowess
of the thirty nine municipalities that have a that has
a population of over two thousand. But when I say
lower property taxes, I'm talking about perhaps having a discussion
(08:13):
of lowering it even further because of the rising prices
of homes. So even though even though the military is
staying the same, you're effectively seeing more in taxes because
of higher higher.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Housing crisis, there is property values.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
There is a candidate for mayor that's talking about pretty
much doing a whole new thing, revamping how folks how
community members get involved with local politics with regards to
what's going to be decided bandied about by the village council.
(08:51):
Do you feel that the village council listens enough to residents.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I think that they can do a better job and
talking to a lot of talking to a lot of residents.
I have heard instances where they get emailed or they
get contacted and they don't necessarily respond.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So in terms of getting back to residents.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
About issues that they care about, that's something that could
be a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Okay, let me ask you what you know. We do
have three candidates in this race. Why ultimately should folks
vote for you.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
I'm from here, I'm from Royal Palm Beach.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
I've I've been endorsed by multiple elected officials at the
county level and at the local level, and I've been endorsed.
Just yesterday, I was endorsed by the pomp Beach Posts
signaling my signaling my knowledge. So the issues of Thoral
Palm Beach.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I am.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
It's elected, I would be the first person who's actually
from here, and I would for the first time in
the sixty five years of the village. There would also
be the very first Hispanic on the village council board.
As Royal Palm Beach has changed, it's represented, its faith
has changed, and that's a population that's never really had
(10:27):
a voice on the village council.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
All right, anything else for I wrap.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Up, just said I'm extumely this whole process has been
really fun talking to voters and I'm excited for the
marshal level and election and it's it's been an honor
to just be a part of the process.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
All right, Well, thank you for joining us and speaking
to the voters and of Royal Palm Beach. And we
should add it's the Group three race. It is open
to all registered voters living within the villain Jabroil Palm
Beach village limits. Steve Avila, the Village Council Group three,
one of three candidates running in that race and open
seat here on wj and O dot com.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Thanks again, all right, thank you very much
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