Boynton Beach runoff: Woodrow Hay, Mack McCray face off with District 2 seat on line
One thing will be certain after Tuesday’s runoff election in Boynton Beach: the commissioner for District 2 will already have years of experience leading from that seat.
The incumbent, Woodrow L. Hay, will face off against Mack McCray, a familiar challenger who first served on the commission in 2001. Both men have held the District 2 seat on and off since that time.
Hay earned 36% of the votes during the municipal elections two weeks ago, trailing behind McCray’s 42%, while candidates Joe Josemond and Bernard Wright secured 18% and 3% of the votes, respectively.
Boynton Beach election results: District 2 headed to runoff; Kelley wins District 4
Because none of the candidates reached at least 50%, Hay and McCray — the top two vote-getters — advanced to Tuesday’s runoff.
"Thank you for voting, and for those that did not vote, I urge them to come out for the runoff election and show support for the candidate of their choice," McCray said after the last round of voting, highlighting the fact that only 825 people cast a ballot in the District 2 race.
Here's a look at the two candidates:
Woodrow Hay
Hay, an ordained minister, was first elected to the commission in 2007 before winning re-election in 2011, serving as mayor from February 2012 to March 2013 and then returning to the District 2 seat in 2020.
Before retiring, he worked for the Palm Beach County School District, as an application systems specialist, and for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft/United Technologies, as a computer programming analyst.
His priorities include:
Improving public safety though needed funding and the use of more officer and citizen training classes.
Addressing the housing issue by pushing developers to increase their percentage of affordable housing units in new construction.
Focusing on neighborhood revitalization by creating incubator programs and using funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Reducing youth violence by investing in youth programs and building sports complexes and youth centers.
Continuing to reduce the millage rate.
His campaign raised $13,100 and spent just under $6,000 as of March 23. Hay does not have a campaign website.
Mack McCray
McCray, a funeral director at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home in Fort Lauderdale, was first appointed to the commission in 2001. He was then elected in 2002, re-elected in 2005 and appointed once more in 2012, when Hay vacated the seat and became the city’s interim mayor.
McCray was again elected in 2014 and 2017, and he served as vice mayor several times during his time on the commission.
His priorities include:
Expanding affordable housing.
Supporting youth programs.
Fixing the city's drainage issues.
Beautifying the roads.
Supporting local businesses.
Marketing Boynton Beach High School.
His campaign raised more than $20,100 and spent nearly $9,000 as of March 9. His campaign website is bringmackback.com.
Tuesday’s polling locations
Voting in Boynton Beach will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Here are the polling locations by voter precinct:
Precincts 1515 and 1516, Boynton Beach High School, 4975 Park Ridge Blvd.
Precinct 1525, Intracoastal Park Clubhouse, 2240 N. Federal Hwy.
Precinct 1537, Temple Beth Kodesh, 501 NE 26th Ave.
Precinct 1538, Village Royale on the Green, 2501 NE First Court.
Precincts 1539 and 1540, Carolyn Sims Center, 225 NW 12th Ave.
Residents can look up their precinct by visiting www.votepalmbeach.gov/Voters/Precinct-Finder or calling (561) 656-6200.
Want more Boynton Beach news?
Sign up for our Post on Boynton Beach weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday!
Giuseppe Sabella is a reporter covering Boynton Beach and Lake Worth Beach at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at gsabella@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism and subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Who is running in Boynton's runoff election? Hay and McCray to face off
