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Margate Commission candidates.

Margate voters will decide Commission Seats 3 and 5 on November 3, with seven qualified candidates competing for two seats.

Both positions carry four-year terms, and Margate commissioners are elected at large, meaning voters citywide cast ballots in each contest. Four candidates are running for Seat 3, including incumbent Mayor Antonio Arserio, while three candidates are competing for Seat 5.

Here is a brief look at all the candidates who have qualified for the November ballot.

Seat 3

Antonio V. Arserio

Mayor Antonio Arserio.

Antonio Arserio is the incumbent commissioner for Seat 3 and currently serves as Margate’s mayor. He is seeking another four-year term after also winning the seat in the 2022 election cycle.

Arserio’s campaign says his priorities include protecting Margate’s “hometown feel,” improving infrastructure and creating a more business-friendly environment. He is presenting his record in office and experience on the commission as reasons voters should return him to City Hall.

Jonathan Kraljic

Jonathan Kraljic 1

Jonathan Kraljic is challenging Arserio for Seat 3 on a platform centered on changing the direction of city government.

Kraljic’s campaign says Margate needs a “new chapter” in which residents have a greater voice and community concerns receive more attention from City Hall. His campaign branding—”Margate Not For Sale”—has positioned him as an alternative to the incumbent and the established City Hall leadership.

Mindy W. Lee

Mindy W. Lee is running for Seat 3 with an emphasis on taxpayer accountability, public safety, and greater resident involvement in city decisions.

Lee describes herself as a local business owner and nonprofit leader rather than a career politician. Her platform calls for scrutinizing city spending, preserving Margate’s small-town character, supporting seniors and families, improving public safety and increasing transparency at City Hall.

Sloan Robbins

{Sloan Robbins}

Sloan Robbins is running for Margate City Commission Seat 3 on a message centered on accessibility, resident representation and independence from major donors or special interests.

Robbins says his campaign is about listening, showing up, and putting residents first, describing his candidacy as “A Breath of Fresh Air” for Margate. He also says he will not accept campaign donations, instead asking supporters only for their vote, while pledging to remain accessible to residents beyond the election.

Seat 5

Theresa Booker

Theresa Booker, candidate for Seat 3 in Margate. {Facebook}

Theresa Booker enters the Seat 5 race with previous experience as a Margate commission candidate. Booker qualified to run for Seat 3 in 2022 and is returning to the ballot in 2026, this time seeking Seat 5. Her candidacy gives voters a choice with previous experience campaigning citywide for a commission seat.

{Nina Culver}

Nina Culver is making another run for the Margate City Commission after previously seeking Seat 5 in 2022 and Seat 1 in 2024.

Culver’s 2026 campaign emphasizes public safety, infrastructure, responsible spending, redevelopment, support for businesses, and greater government transparency. She also describes smart growth and protecting property values as priorities and highlights her work as a Guardian ad Litem and her support for first responders and families.

Lesa “Le” Peerman

Le Peerman

Lesa “Le” Peerman is seeking a return to the Margate City Commission, having previously served as a commissioner. City records from her time in office identify Peerman as a member of the commission, and she later ran unsuccessfully for Seat 1 in 2020.

Her 2026 campaign website confirms she is running for commission again, this time for Seat 5. Peerman enters the race as the only candidate in the Seat 5 field with prior service on the Margate City Commission.

Margate residents can review candidate qualification information and campaign treasurer reports through the city’s official election portal.

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Author Profile

Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.