BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Boca Raton voters delivered a clear rejection of the city’s two biggest ballot questions Tuesday, shutting down the proposed downtown campus redevelopment plan and defeating a separate bond measure for a new police headquarters, while the race for mayor remained too close to call and moved into a recount.
The most closely watched result in the city was Ballot Question No. 2, the referendum tied to the Downtown Campus Redevelopment project, also promoted publicly as “One Boca.” Unofficial results showed the measure failing by a wide margin, with 14,108 votes against the proposal and 4,823 in favor. That works out to 74.52% opposed and 25.48% in support.
The proposal would have authorized a lease of downtown city land and related agreements tied to public improvements and plans involving Memorial Park. Supporters argued the project would generate private revenue for civic upgrades, including a community center, police substation, city hall improvements and work tied to the park, without raising taxes on residents.
On the eve of the election, the One Boca campaign urged voters to approve the measure. In an email to supporters, the group called the plan a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Boca Raton and said it would help fund affordable housing for students, public safety officers and seniors while creating a more walkable downtown and keeping Memorial Park city-owned.
That message did not carry the day.
By Wednesday, opponents at Save Boca were declaring victory. In a message to supporters, the group said 75% of voters had stood with them at the ballot box and described the result as a grassroots win over developers and political insiders. The group also said the next fight would be over how City Hall manages public money going forward.
The city confirmed Wednesday that the referendum had failed and that the Downtown Campus Redevelopment project will not move forward as proposed. City officials also said they remain committed to working with residents on the future vision for that area.
Voters also rejected Ballot Question No. 1, a $175 million general obligation bond for a new Boca Raton Police Department headquarters and related public safety facilities. Unofficial results showed 9,719 votes against the bond and 8,061 in favor, or 54.66% to 45.34%.
That result leaves the city with the same unresolved public safety facilities issue that drove the bond request onto the ballot in the first place. The city said Wednesday that the need remains and that staff will review the results with the newly elected council to determine the next step.
The election also reshaped the council dais.
Michelle Grau won Seat A. Jon Pearlman won Seat B. Stacy Sipple won Seat D. All three were listed by the city as the winners in Wednesday’s post-election update. The city said the new mayor and council members will be sworn in at an organizational meeting on Tuesday, March 31.
The mayor’s race, however, was still unsettled.
Unofficial returns showed Andy Thomson with 7,562 votes, or 39.64%, and Mike Liebelson with 7,556 votes, or 39.61%, a six-vote margin. Fran Nachlas received 3,959 votes, or 20.75%. Because the top two candidates were separated by less than half a percentage point, the race moved to a recount after the Thursday deadline for signature and provisional ballot cures. The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections scheduled the recount to begin Friday at 10 a.m.
Mayor Scott Singer, who is leaving office after reaching term limits, issued a statement Wednesday congratulating the council winners and the eventual mayor to be determined through the recount process. Singer called it the honor of his lifetime to serve Boca Raton and pointed to public schools, parks, jobs, crime reduction, property values and tax rates as part of the city’s recent record.
What comes next is fairly direct. The downtown redevelopment plan is dead in its current form. The police facilities question goes back to the incoming council. And Boca Raton still does not know who its next mayor will be.
For residents, Tuesday’s vote settled the biggest land-use and public financing fights on the ballot, at least for now. It did not settle the larger question underneath both campaigns: what City Hall should build next, where it should build it, and how the city should pay for it.
Editor’s Note: During the Boca Raton municipal election cycle, several online outlets published pieces advocating specific candidates or ballot positions while labeling the content as opinion. Boca Post does not endorse candidates or ballot measures. Our coverage focuses on reporting verified facts, public records, and the outcome of elections so readers can make their own decisions. We congratulate the candidates who won their races and thank Boca Raton voters who participated in the March 10 election.
New residential projects, commercial construction, and redevelopment proposals are constantly reshaping Boca Raton. Follow our Boca Raton City Government and Development coverage for detailed reporting on zoning applications and planning board reviews.
