The Coastal/Greenacres Observer andThe Palm Beach Post both endorsed Judith “Judy” Dugo, the incumbent, in Greenacres’ Council District 3 race.

The race for Council District 4 in Greenacres, one could say, is an entirely different story.

Please continue reading to find out why one editor wrote some very harsh words about a candidate in the Greenacres District 4 race, a former elected official who should “never be considered for a position in the public trust.” Wow.

Before we get to that, learn more about Councilwoman Judith Dugo, who was endorsed by both the Observer and the Post, by clicking on this link. She is one of the four candidates on the ballot for two Council seats next Tuesday, March 13th. From the Greenacres’ municipal website:

Councilwoman Judith Dugo was elected into office in March 2014, and has been re-elected into office most recently in March 2016.
     Judith has been a Greenacres resident for 19 years.

If you’re holding a cup of coffee and/or eating something right now, you may want to put the cup down and not take another bite.

Because now it gets very, very interesting. In the Greenacres District 4 race, the editor at the Greenacres Observer wrote this about one of the candidates in the District 4 race:

He “[S]quandered tax dollars, depleted reserves, was untruthful from the dais and the list of ill deeds goes on. . . .”, and he “displayed enough dishonesty to never be considered for a position in the public trust.”

Pretty harsh words, huh?

Now let’s take a brief stroll back to 2016–2017, back in the day when the Post used to cover what was going on in Greenacres. By the way, The Coastal/Greenacres Observer (which is published by the same editor who publishes The Lake Worth Herald) has been covering the news from Greenacres quite extensively and thoroughly for many years now in both newspapers.

However, the same can’t be said for The Palm Beach Post. The Post got kicked out of Greenacres for good in March 2016 when they published this silly nonsense ‘ranking’ all the cities, towns, and villages in Palm Beach County.

Greenacres is ‘[A] lot of nothing’?

A ‘gumbo’ with an “[E]xtra dollop of Hispanic”? One could say this attempt at ‘satire’ fell flat in Greenacres. Why? Because in March 2017. . .

Mr. Joel Flores who was raised “by a single hard-working mother who is a teacher” and and is a “decorated 13 year Army veteran” became Mayor Joel Flores in the City of Greenacres.

Flores beat out Jonathan G. Pearce in March 2017 by a wide margin, 55% to 45%. The Post endorsed Pearce in that election race. Pearce, remember, was the former councilman in Greenacres who resigned his seat to run against Flores.

Before we proceed, take a moment to learn a little bit more about Mayor Flores.

Mayor Joel Flores was elected Mayor of Greenacres in March 2017. . . . [A] 13 year decorated Army Veteran, earned the Army Commendation Medal and Army Accomplishment Medal for his distinguished duty and service in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.


In the other March 2017 election race in Greenacres the Post endorsed Michael Albert. The Post got that one wrong too. Paula Bousquet, now Deputy Mayor Paula Bousquet, won that race by 53% to Albert’s 47%. That’s right, the editor at the Post was 0 for 2 in Greenacres.

A little information about the incumbent next Tuesday in the other race being held in Greenacres, District 4 Councilman Anderson Thelusme. From the city website:

On Monday April 17, 2017, at their regular City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously appointed Mr. Anderson Thelusme to the vacant District IV Council Seat. Councilman. Thelusme relocated to the City of Greenacres in 2009 following a visit to see a friend where he became fond of the City's charm and potential for growth and opportunity. . . . He also is an advocate for strong mentorship programs for our children and feels that civic engagement will ensure transparency in local government.


Now, without further ado. Let’s get back to the elections next Tuesday and the recent endorsements.

Please take note: The Greenacres Observer endorsed Councilman Anderson Thelusme in the elections next Tuesday and the Post endorsed the challenger, Jonathan Pearce.

See excerpts from the Greenacres Observer endorsements below. First, from the editor at the Post, their second attempt to get Pearce elected in Greenacres:


The Post endorses Jonathan Pearce to return to his former seat on the council. Pearce, who last year lost a bid to replace Ferreri as mayor, was a solid contributor as a council member when he wasn’t sparring with Ferreri. With Ferreri gone, the scuffles should be, too.

and. . .

     Incumbent Councilman Anderson Thelusme, who was appointed [unanimously] to the seat when Pearce stepped down to run for mayor [emphasis added], also sees his financial background as a plus for the city as well as representing “voices that are not being heard.”


One could say the editor at the Greenacres Observer has a different take on this race for District 4 in Greenacres:

Incumbent Anderson Thelusem was selected to fill a vacated Council seat. He has done an admirable job, thinking things through and protecting the money of the city. Challenger Jonathan Pearce held the seat and vacated it when he ran a failed campaign for mayor.
     In his terms as a councilman, Pearce squandered tax dollars, depleted reserves, was untruthful from the dais and the list of ill deeds goes on. During his campaign for mayor, he was photographed removing the signs of his opponent. Pearce has displayed enough dishonesty to never be considered for a position in the publics trust.
     Anderson Thulusme is the clear choice for the citizens of Greenacres.

So there you have it. Two different opinions from two different editors about the District 4 race. Once again, your choices in Greenacres next Tuesday, March 13th are:

• Incumbent Judith Dugo or the challenger Brian Willever.
• Incumbent Anderson Thelusme or the challenger Jonathan Pearce.

Once again, both the Coastal Observer and the Post endorsed Judith Dugo in next Tuesday’s election. Here‘s what the Observer had to say about Councilwoman Dugo:

Judith Dugo is being challenged by political new comer Brian Willever. Dugo has learned a lot about being a Council person and puts the people first. Her bacground in business (financial manager) helps when it comes to protecting the residents tax dollars.
     Willever sat on the Charter Review committee and has recently become involved with the workings of the City.
     Dugo has earned another term as a Council member and our endorsement.


We’ll find out what the voters decided after the polls close next Tuesday. Stay tuned as they say!