Marci Woodward Citizen Candidate

I was happily living my American Dream in 2019. What we all experienced beginning in March of 2020 shook me to my core. I always followed current events. Being raised in the Reagan era, my parents instilled the importance of paying attention and staying informed. Little did I know how wrong I was.

My awakening came when I realized I had only scratched the surface of politics. This, I believe, is by design. If all politics is local, why are local politicians (county commission, school boards, judges, etc.) all at the bottom of the ticket? Why is it made to seem their roles are insignificant? Why do most of us not know who they are nor what they do? As with many others, 2020 led to my deep understanding of the importance of local government. I started learning and researching, and I was not happy with what I found.

After the lockdowns and mandates from the Covid response were lifted by the state of Florida, Palm Beach County refused to follow suit. Not only did they refuse to reopen parks, beaches and playgrounds, they kept businesses and schools closed, unless, of course, they decided it was essential. The gradual and reluctant reopening came with unsustainable protocols and ordinances making it difficult for businesses to thrive.

Here I was, looking at those requirements - limited capacity seating for restaurants struggling to survive, the added costs of constant sanitizing and plexiglass partitions: stickers on the floor directing customers where to stand or in which directions to walk, touchless payment options, new air filtration systems, UV lighting to kill the virus, etc. - wondering how on earth any of these businesses would survive.

But then came the real question: Who was making these rules?

Who were these new Task Force Officers and to whom did they report? And why , did it seem, the rules that were made "for our well-being" were not being adhered to by those who we elected to represent us?

They made the rules, but WE suffered.

Even if you did not know it at the time, you know it now, and you suffered. The children suffered locked out of school, then masked and quarantined, and reisolated. The elderly suffered, often dying alone because the protocols could not allow them the dignity of dying surrounded by love. Our community spirit was shredded in the blink of an eye. We forgot how to be human to each other. We saw relationships crumble and the happy soul of our paradise wither.

I, for one, did not consent to this.

I wanted to know who was upending my life. I wrote to the mayor of my city, Boca Raton, and the entire city council. The response was basically "we are following county guidelines." So I wrote to the county commissioners. The response was "it's for your safety." They wanted compliance. They wanted obedience. They did NOT want questions.

It was made abundantly clear they would use whatever means available to gain the desired compliance of the population who wanted - needed - to get back to living, working and learning. They decided who and what was essential. They decided when and how you could participate in society. They decided curfews and capacity. They decided you had to cover your face. They decided they knew best for everyone.

They decided.

When the time came and the incumbent for County Commission was going to run unopposed, I decided. I am here because anyone who participated in the extended lockdowns/mandates and has not admitted they got it wrong does not get a free pass. If all they need is the excuse of a declared "emergency" this can and will happen again.

My platform?

• Listen to the people and govern by consent
• Do what's best for the place we live and love, so that it grows and thrives
• Set Palm Beach County up for future success so that is a place the next generation wants to stay
• Act with integrity, honesty, and truthfulness

I decided to get involved. Now you get to decide who earns the honor of representing you on the Palm Beach County Commission Seat 4. I am asking you to join me. 

I believe in the people of Palm Beach County. You decide on November 8.