Monroe County Candidates Gather for Early Election Season Forum

Candidates from Key West and Monroe County converged on Hometown's "Call for Candidates" forum March 9, giving voters their first organized look at a field that could significantly reshape local government before the August 18 primary.

Todd German, president of Hometown, the nonprofit voter education group that hosted the event, framed what's at stake plainly: "With four Key West leadership seats up for grabs in the Aug. 18 primary, the politics and priorities of the city commission could see a shift."

The most contested race taking shape is the Key West mayoral contest, where incumbent Dee Dee Henriquez faces her first real challenge. Henriquez, who previously served as Monroe County's longtime elected tax collector, ran unopposed two years ago and won her first term handily. Now she faces at least two declared challengers. Bobi Lore, owner of the Island House guesthouse, told the Hometown audience: "Key West is special and we need to keep it that way," vowing to listen to and represent the residents. Mark Rossi, who previously held the District II commission seat and owns Rick's and Durty Harry's bar and entertainment complex on Duval Street, emphasized his "proven leadership" that helped build Truman Waterfront Park and the current city hall building.

City Commission District IV is heading into a three-way race after current Commissioner Lissette Carey declined to file for reelection. Sarah Compton, Juan Llera, and Wayne Garcia are all in the running. Compton drew attention at the forum with a direct statement on governance: "My instinct is always the same. Bring everything into the sunshine. If something can't handle public scrutiny, then we probably need to ask why."

At the county level, both incumbents seeking reelection face no opposition so far. Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln is running again in District 4 without a challenger, and County Commissioner David Rice is similarly unopposed in District 5.

Other candidates who appeared at the March 9 event offered pointed pitches. Massicotte called for fiscal accountability and pushed back against state interference in local decisions: "Make city hall make sense. Make fiscally responsible decisions and ask hard questions. Tallahassee shouldn't get to decide who or what we celebrate. Not on my watch." Sullivan, citing deep roots in the community, made a more personal case: "I've been here 31 years and I want to bring my skills in maintenance to the city of Key West." The offices both candidates are seeking were not specified in available event records.

The School Board District 1 race was also on the agenda, though a full accounting of that field remains incomplete. With five months remaining before the August 18 primary, deeper coverage of county commission, school board, mosquito control, judicial, and statewide races is planned, including analyses of campaign contributions and full candidate responses to a standard questionnaire.