PALM BEACH COUNTY – Belle Glade, South Bay and Pahokee voters went to the polls March 9 to elect city commissioners.

In Belle Glade, the winners were Joaquin Almazan, Mary Ross Wilkerson and Andrew ‘Kenny’ Berry.
In the Belle Glade Seat C commisson race, Almazan received 1,169 votes to defeat Stephen Messam who received 774 votes.

In the Belle Glade Seat D commission race, Wilkerson received 1,318 votes to defeat Robert C. Mitchell who received 607 votes.

In the Belle Glade Seat E commission race, Berry received 1,389 votes to defeat Johnny Burroughs Jr. who received 528 votes.

South Bay winners were Joe Kyles and Betty Barnard.

In the Seat 2 South Bay commission race, Kyles received 333 votes. Allen J. Davis received 152 votes.

In the Seat 4 South Bay commisson race, Barnard received 252 votes. Barbara A. King received 231 votes.

In Pahokee, Juan A. “Johnny” Gonzalez Jr. and Sara Perez won the commission seats.

In the Pahokee Group 1 commission race, Perez received 458 votes, defeating Josefa Hernandez, who received 244 votes.

In the Pahokee Group 2 commission race, Gonzalez recevied 407 votes, defeating Sanquetta Cowan who received 283 votes.

The Guardians of the Glades thanked voters for turning out for the local election.

“Congratulations to Belle Glade newly-elected Commissioners Joaquin Almazan and Andrew ‘Kenny’ Berry, Belle Glade Commissioner Mary Ross Wilkerson, and South Bay Commissioners Joe Kyles and Betty Barnard on tonight’s hard-earned wins, which are not only victories for these individuals but for all of us who live in the Glades communities,” said Tammy Jackson-Moore of Guardians of the Glades, Tuesday night.

“After months of hard work and collaboration, today’s results prove what we can accomplish when we all work together. I’m proud we approached this campaign like we do with any issue facing our community - by going out and having real conversations with our neighbors. Guardians of the Glades looks forward to working with our new commissioners to continue to improve our quality of life by protecting and creating jobs, affordable housing, career training and youth recreation in the Glades," she said.

“Glades voters have spoken with a clear voice and decisively, chosen one of our own members as a community leader,” said Eddie Garcia, of the International Association of Machinists Union, representing the sugar industry workers in Palm Beach and surrounding counties.

“Congratulations to our fellow union member, Commissioner-Elect Joaquin Almazan on winning a hard-fought victory. This race was always about supporting local jobs and local friends in agriculture, and by the vote count, it is clear our communities are as united as ever. Moving forward, our community should continue embracing the positive role farming plays in our community, instead of trying to destroy our farming economy and set neighbor against neighbor. Our congratulations go out to Commissioner-Elect Kenny Berry and Commissioner Mary Ross Wilkerson on her re-election, as well as South Bay Mayor Joe Kyles, a former IAM member,” he stated.