Palm Beach County Mayor Sara Baxter and former state Rep. Katherine Waldron are competing for the County Commission District 6 seat, and the race has drawn attention for personal controversies and sharply different views on growth.
The district covers fast-growing areas of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Belle Glade. Both candidates named affordability and traffic as top concerns. Baxter said regulations and permit fees raise costs that pass down to builders and residents. Waldron said she wants an overview and assessment of existing projects focused on affordability and workforce housing.
The two also disagree on Amendment 3, the property tax measure. Waldron called it “flawed.” Baxter supports it, saying it would keep funding for essential services while cutting unnecessary costs.
On artificial intelligence data centers, both candidates back a pause for further research. Baxter said the facilities will likely have to go somewhere. Waldron said she does not believe the district needs them, pointing to the number of data centers already in the country.
The campaign has also turned personal. Baxter accused Waldron of circulating allegations made by a former aide shortly before the primary. The aide filed a complaint alleging Baxter pressured her to pursue a relationship with a wealthy donor and retaliated when she refused. Baxter denied the allegations. Waldron said she had no prior knowledge of them and called them serious. Waldron also faced a claim from her former primary opponent that she did not live in the district. She denied it, and the lawsuit has since been dropped.
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