Indian Trail Improvement District: 6 candidates vie for 3 seats on Acreage-area board
THE ACREAGE — Voters will decide Nov. 8 which candidates will fill three open seats on the Indian Trail Improvement District board of directors.
Two candidates are competing in each race. They were the top finishers in the Aug. 23 primary, but neither got 50% of the vote.
Indian Trail is home to about 40,000 people and covers a 110-square-mile area that includes The Acreage and and parts of Loxahatchee. It has an annual budget of $12.5 million and is tasked with providing drainage, road and recreation services to the rural community.
► Florida general election 2022 previews: Races and candidates on Palm Beach County voters' ballots
► Have questions about voting? We’ve put together a guide to the general election.
On the streets: No more semi storage in Acreage? County is cracking down — and truckers are not happy.
In the courts: Jury rejects Acreage families' claim that Pratt & Whitney caused cancer cluster among children
The candidates who secure a seat on the Board of Supervisors will determine how the district is governed for the next four years. Last year, residents considered whether to incorporate into a city. Support was mixed, and Palm Beach County lawmakers chose not to seek state approval for residents to vote on it.
The Palm Beach Post performed a criminal background check on every candidate on the November ballot, including the incumbents. The Post is reporting any criminal charges filed and the outcome of the cases since January 2012, even when they did not result in a conviction.
Seat 1
Newcomers Elizabeth Accomando and Jerrad Jablonski are competing for Seat 1, left open by Jennifer Hager after serving in the board for 12 years.
Elizabeth Accomando
Age and residence: Accomando, 56, lives in Loxahatchee and has been a district resident since 2013.
Platform: Accomando said she would focus on roadway improvements to reduce traffic on district streets that are burdened by commuters cutting through neighborhoods. She also said upgrades to the water drainage system are necessary to reduce flooding of interior canals.
She said incorporation would allow the district to apply for county and state funding instead of relying only on resident taxes. She opposes annexation to an adjoining city, such as Westlake.
“This community was designed to be equestrian and agricultural, and I want to see it remain that way,” wrote Accomando to The Palm Beach Post.
Professional history: Accomando owns the nonprofit Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary in Loxahatchee. She founded the pet shelter and clinic with her husband in 2014. Previously, they owned a car shop in Broward County for more than 12 years.
Education: Accomando has a high school diplolma.
Social media presence: Accomando's social media use is limited to Facebook, where she posts mostly on the rescued pets in the shelter.
Criminal history: None.
Notable media coverage: Accomando's work at Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary has been featured in newspapers and TV stations around Palm Beach County.
Finances: Campaign finance reports as of Oct. 17 show Accomando has raised $1,964 and spent $1,919. She funded $700 of her campaign, received $500 from Marinerepairs, a business in Jupiter, and the remainder came form individual donations.
Jerrad Jablonski
Age and residence: Jablonski, 37, lives in Loxahatchee.
Platform: Jablonski told The Palm Beach Post he decided to run to "bring new ideas to the board." His priorities include building an extension from State Road 7 to Northlake Boulevard and hosting more community events.
Jablonski opposes incorporation of the district into a city. He believes in “preserving this community by keeping it unincorporated.”
Professional history: Jablonski owns Jabrewski's Pizza Co. in Loxahatchee, which he opened in 2015 with his wife, Ashley. He's also the manager of a valet and parking enforcement business.
Education: Jablonski graduated from Royal Palm Beach High School and has a degree in criminal justice from Palm Beach State College.
Social media presence: None
Criminal history: None.
Notable media coverage: None.
Finances: Campaign finance reports as of Oct. 17 show Jablonski didn't raise or spend any money on the race.
Seat 3
Incumbent Joni Martin, who is seeking a second term in the board, will compete with Patricia “Patty” Farrell for Seat 3 in the Nov. 8 election.
Joni Martin
Age and residence: Martin, 58, lives in Loxahatchee.
Platform: Her top campaign priorities include upgrades to the district's drainage system and working with county officials to add more traffic stops and speed limit signs.
Last year, Martin opposed proposals to incorporate the district saying she felt the community wasn't ready for it.
“I saw it create a big divide in our community,” Martin wrote. “I am not in favor of tearing our community apart, or supporting any other neighboring municipality trying to annex any portion of our district.”
She also wants to invest in district parks by adding new playground equipment that offers shading and says the cost to build a community center is unfeasible.
Professional history: Martin was elected to serve on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board in 2018. She is a single mom and previously worked in retail management for 25 years in New York City, California and Florida.
Education: Martin has a high school diploma and obtained a bachelor's degree in radio and TV broadcasting from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Social media presence: Martin's social media use is limited to Facebook, where she posts mostly on the upcoming election and news about district operations.
Criminal history: None.
Notable media coverage: None.
Finances: Campaign finance reports as of Oct. 17 show Martin has raised $1,000 and spent $25. She funded $500 of her campaign, and the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of Palm Beach County contributed the other $500.
Patricia "Patty" Farrell
Age and residence: Farrell, 50, lives in Loxahatchee, her home for 19 years.
Platform: Her top priority is to host more community events and working with nearby cities to improve traffic in the district. She supports incorporation and a community center, Farrell says, is overdue.
“Development is unavoidable,” Farrell wrote to The Palm Beach Post. “We must look at working with the developers and the county in order to keep our area as close to rural as we can.”
Professional history: Farrell has worked as an administrative assistant at The Dorchester condominiums in Palm Beach for the last eight years. She co-owns a gym in Boynton Beach called D1 Training. She previously worked as an administrator for a construction company for 30 years.
Education: Farrell has a high school diploma.
Social media presence: None.
Criminal history: None.
Notable media coverage: None.
Finances: Campaign finance reports as of Oct. 17 show Farrell didn't raise money but spent $165 on campaign supplies.
Seat 5
District president Michael Johnson will face John Rivera in the general election. Both candidates competed for the same seat in 2018.
Michael Johnson
Age and residence: Michael Johnson, 37, lives in Loxahatchee.
Platform: He says another four years in office would give him the opportunity to see the completion of projects that started during his term, such as road upgrades on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Northlake and Orange boulevards.
If re-elected, Johnson said he would focus on securing funding for the the Corbett levee, a key piece of flood control in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area north of the district.
He declined to comment on whether the district should incorporate.
“Loxahatchee is the epicenter of growth in the western communities,” said Johnson.
Professional history: Johnson is a plant manager for Belle Glade's TKM Bengard Farms.
Education: He has a bachelor's degree in parks and leisure services and a minor in business administration from Central Michigan University.
Social media presence: None.
Criminal history: None.
Notable media coverage: None.
Finances: Campaign finance reports as of Oct. 17 show Johnson didn't raise or spend any money.
John Rivera
Age and residence: John Rivera, 54, lives in The Acreage. The native of Puerto Rico has lived in the area since 1979.
Platform: Rivera says he decided to run to see more representation of the equestrian community on the board. His main focus, Rivera said, will be to unite the community and hosting events.
He declined to comment on his stance on incorporation but said that if the issue arises again, the board must present the community with clear pros and cons.
“Currently there is too much divisiveness in our community. We need to hold more community events to bring fellow residents together," said Rivera.
Professional history: Rivera owns and operates Sunshine Safe and Lock, which he founded in 1997. He previously served as the president of the Acreage Horseman’s Association. He unsuccessfully ran against Johnson for Seat 5 in 2018.
Education: He attended high school and trade school.
Social media presence: None.
Criminal history: None.
Notable media coverage: None.
Finances: Campaign finance reports as of Oct. 17 show Rivera didn't raise or spend any money.
Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on Twitter at @ValenPalmB.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 6 vie for 3 seats on Indian Trail Improvement District board of directors
