Voters in southeastern Palm Beach County are choosing between incumbent Republican Marci Woodward and Democratic challenger Curtis Calabrese in the race for County Commission District 4. Neither candidate faced a primary in August, so both advanced straight to the general election ballot.
District 4 covers south county, including Boca Raton and Highland Beach. Woodward, first elected in 2022 after unseating an incumbent, is asking voters for a second term. She points to her work on county transportation and fiscal oversight, including seats on the Tri-Rail board and the Beach Transportation Planning Agency. She has pushed for a countywide Transportation Master Plan to ease corridor congestion and says she wants stricter development review, safer sidewalks and schools, and protection for the Agricultural Reserve.
Calabrese, a Boca Raton native, is running for county office for the first time. A former Navy combat jet pilot, he now works as a commercial airline captain and aviation safety specialist. He argues that his experience with risk analysis and federal safety oversight translates to managing large budgets. He wants roads, drainage, transit and emergency response expanded before dense development is approved, and he has called for close review of large commercial and industrial rezonings.
Two issues have shaped the contest. Woodward has faced scrutiny over donations from the data center industry, a topic that has grown divisive in the county since the debate over Project Tango. Calabrese has also criticized her vote supporting development in the Ag Reserve.
