MEMBER NEWS: Alan Grant's Son Steven Defeated Incumbent in Boynton Beach Mayoral Runoff

Posted by Alan Grant

on Mar 30, 2016

Steven Grant came out victorious in Tuesday's mayoral runoff election in Boynton Beach. Grant, an attorney, dethroned longtime mayor Jerry Taylor. He will serve for three years. As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, the Supervisor of Elections website showed Grant beating Taylor 2,538-1,906 in the at-large voting. Taylor, 80, was running for his sixth term as mayor.

Grant said Tuesday that he was ready to take his seat April 5. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to be the mayor-elect of Boynton Beach," he said. He said his victory symbolizes change. "We're not happy," he said. "We're looking for change that puts residents and business owners first, not outside interests." It's been a long race to become the city's 47th mayor. Five candidates were in the March 15 election. Taylor and Grant got the most votes, but neither had enough to take the seat.

Taylor raised $44,300 as of March 10, according to city documents. Grant raised $2,930, but garnered the support of the Palm Beach Human Rights Council, an organization that endorses candidates dedicated to ending discrimination.

Grant says that as mayor he will concentrate on moving the city forward, adding more recycling to the city's Public Works program and bringing smart development to downtown so the city doesn't lose its family appeal. He also wants to save the old high school, at 125 E. Ocean Ave., from being demolished. The high school has been vacant for almost 30 years and was on the brink of demolition before a developer stepped in with a plan to turn the building into a community hub earlier this year.

[Excerpted from the Sun Sentinel]