Boca Raton’s City Council reversed an earlier decision and set a timeline to appoint a temporary member to fill an open seat until the March 9, 2027, municipal election.
Council members cited the continued absence of Councilman Jon Pearlman, which they called the “elephant in the room.” City code does not require attendance, but without an appointee, only three of the five members would be left to decide city matters until the March vote.
Seat C became vacant Tuesday, the expected last day for Yvette Drucker. She won the recent election and is being sworn in as director of the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of Palm Beach County.
Applications open on the city’s website starting Tuesday, Nov. 10, and will be accepted through Nov. 17. Council will discuss applicants at a public meeting on Nov. 23 and plans to make the appointment on Nov. 24, according to a city spokesperson.
The city said the charter lets sitting members compel attendance to reach a quorum, but the council has not adopted a procedure or penalty for doing so. Pearlman has not publicly explained his absence or responded to requests for comment from the Boca Raton Tribune.
Candidates who pre-qualified for Seat C in the 2027 election include Mike Liebelson, Lisa Mulhall, Rachael Paul and Earl Starkoff. Council was told that applying for the appointment does not clearly allow them to remain on the ballot.
