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Antonio V. Arserio, Jonathan Kraljic, Mindy W. Lee, Sloan Robbins, Theresa Booker, Nina Culver, and Lesa “Le” Peerman.

Seven candidates are competing for two seats on the Margate City Commission: the sitting mayor, a former commissioner, two other repeat candidates, and three challengers seeking elected office in Margate.

Voters will decide Seats 3 and 5 on Tuesday, November 3. Both carry four-year terms.

Margate’s five commissioners are elected citywide. Each November, the commission chooses a mayor and vice mayor from among its members for one-year terms. That changes in 2028. Under a charter amendment approved by voters in 2022, Margate will begin directly electing a mayor to two-year terms, and the commission will shrink to four commissioners plus the mayor.

The city posts campaign-finance reports on its EasyVote portal. Margate Talk has included only fundraising figures it could independently confirm in this story.

This story is follow-up coverage with updated information from our original coverage of the two races, which you can find here.

Seat 3

Antonio V. Arserio

Arserio is seeking a third consecutive term, the maximum Margate allows. He was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. His colleagues have twice chosen him as mayor.

He is a licensed real estate broker, a former Planning and Zoning Board member, and holds a redevelopment professional designation from the Florida Redevelopment Association. His campaign emphasizes public safety, infrastructure, downtown development, and Margate’s family-oriented character.

In April, the campaign said it had raised more than $100,000. That total included $42,500 of Arserio’s own money and $25,000 in in-kind contributions carried over from previous efforts.

Jonathan Kraljic

Kraljic is a telecommunications engineer who says he has lived in Margate for more than 15 years. His campaign runs under the “Margate Not For Sale” banner and centers on transparency, development and resident participation.

In his responses to the League of Women Voters’ VOTE411 guide, Kraljic said he supports more public-comment opportunities, remote participation and additional town halls. He also wants to replace Margate’s three-consecutive-term limit with a lifetime limit.

Mindy W. Lee

Lee is running for the commission for the first time. According to her VOTE411 profile, she has lived in Margate for 27 years and founded ABA Autism Therapy of Florida. Her platform stresses taxpayer accountability, public safety, responsible development, and better communication from City Hall.

Asked how she would respond to a significant drop in property-tax revenue, Lee said she would temporarily freeze hiring and non-essential spending while reviewing the budget. She said police, fire rescue, public works, and water and sewer services should be protected.

The Dolphin Democrats endorsed Lee on September 28.

Sloan Robbins

Robbins works in education and has served on Margate’s Planning and Zoning Board. His campaign focuses on development, aging infrastructure, recycling, homeownership, and public participation. He has also proposed cutting pay for commissioners and top city officials.

According to his VOTE411 responses, Robbins is fully self-funding his campaign and will accept no contributions or endorsements.

Seat 5

The winner will succeed Commissioner Joanne Simone, who is term-limited. Simone was first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Theresa Booker

Booker is a registered nurse with more than 30 years of health care experience, according to her VOTE411 profile. She challenged Arserio for Seat 3 in 2022.

Her priorities include infrastructure, public safety, economic development and communication between residents and City Hall. If city revenue declined, she said she would pursue grants, economic development and public-private partnerships before reducing essential services.

Nina Culver

Culver is running for the commission for the third time. She describes herself as a business management professional and community advocate. She founded Margate Neighbors. Her campaign emphasizes public safety, infrastructure, spending, redevelopment, transparency, and property values.

The Metro-Broward Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 3080, has endorsed Culver.

Lesa “Le” Peerman

Peerman is seeking a return to the commission. She first joined it by winning a special election to fill the unexpired term of the late Commissioner Art Bross. Her campaign focuses on redevelopment, infrastructure, flooding, workforce housing, and city finances.

The Dolphin Democrats and the Broward County AFL-CIO have endorsed Peerman.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

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.