On Tuesday, March 19 Pahokee had an election to fill two seats on the Pahokee City Commission. The two seats saw three candidates in each race including the incumbents. In the end, the turnout was 533 votes from Mail Ballots, Early Voting, and Election Day. The Unofficial Results updated as of March 21, 6:13:29 p.m. are that 533 voters cast their say in Group 1 while 531 cast their choices in Group 2.

The Uncertified Results were as followed in Group 1:
• Juan “Johnny” Gonzalez, 26.27%, 140 votes
• Monique Gordon, 32.46%, 173 votes
• Everett D. McPherson Sr, 41.28%, 220 votes
Total: 533

The Uncertified Results were as followed in Group 2:
• Sanquetta Cowan-Williams, 35.03%, 186 votes

• Tiana Mitchell, 28.44%, 151 votes
• Sara Perez, 36.53%, 194 votes
Total: 531

These results will lead to Pahokee having a Run-Off Election to fill the two seats as no one received 50% + 1 of the votes cast.

The Run-Off for Group 1 will see Gordon challenging McPherson Sr. Both are first time public office seekers.

The Run-Off for Group 2 includes three-time Commission seat candidate (2016, 2021, 2024) Cowan-Williams facing off against incumbent Perez. This is Perez’s fourth election having run in 2016 where she lost with 301 votes. With her run in 2018, she garnered slightly more votes at 340 but still lost by 3 votes. The third time was a charm where she ran in 2021 and got 460 votes (293 Election Day votes, 167 mail ballots) to finally gain a seat on the Pahokee dais.

Both Gonzalez and Perez received a fraction of the votes in 2024 that they attained in 2021. Gonzalez won in 2021 with 408 votes cast for him while Perez did slightly better with 460 votes. On March 19 Gonzalez got 140 votes which was a drop of 268 votes. While Perez received only 194 votes amounting to a 266 vote drop for her re-election bid. It is quite clear that in Group 1, 393 voters did not want incumbent Gonzalez to be re-elected while 337 constituents in Group 2 voted to deny Perez a second three-year term as a city legislator.

So far, the citizens of Pahokee voted to make Regina Bohlen a one-term Commissioner. The public now added Juan Gonzalez to the list of one-term public officials. Now, the voters must complete the task by unseating Perez and having her join the table with Bohlen and Gonzalez as former City Commissioners.

Some of the meetings the voters should watch before the April 2 Run-Off Elections to see how Perez performs as a public official are:

At the September 15, 2021 City Meeting at meeting mark 42:18, The JPDT Attorney reads emails to the State about pending marina restaurant lease.
At the March 10, 2022 City meeting, at mark 15:30-15:50, Perez gets belligerent and shouts out racial statements and outbursts throughout the meeting.
At the March 18, 2022 Special City meeting, at 1:41:05, Resolution to Terminate Thompson, when asked directly to Perez and Gonzalez to provide reason(s) for Manager Thompson’s removal they declined.

Lastly, the January 23, 2024 City meeting, at meeting mark 1:44:55-1:48:25, Perez’s outburst/cussing/unhinged tirade.

For the Run-Off Pahokee City Commission Elections on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, I hereby endorse Monique Gordon for Group 1 City Commission Seat and Sanquetta Cowan-Williams for Group 2 City Commission Seat. Vote to remove obstructionism and self-sabotage from the City Commission. VOTE TO BEGIN THE #PAHOKEERISING CHAPTER!