PB Post endorses Litt, calling her most experienced with “plan to address almost any issue that threatens the quality of life in Palm Beach Gardens.”

Copy Courtesy of the Palm Beach Post, February 27, 2026

Gardens voters should pick Litt, Middleton for council | Endorsement

February 27, 2026

The Post Editorial Board recommends Palm Beach Gardens voters choose Rachel Litt and Dana Middleton

On March 10, voters in Palm Beach Gardens will decide the fate of an incumbent seeking re-election and choose a new council member to replace Councilmember Chelsea Reed, who faces term limits. The Post Editorial Board's recommendations follow:

Litt the choice for Group 3 seat

It's a three-person race for Palm Beach Gardens' Group 3 seat, and two of the candidates have been there before. Rachel Litt and David J. Levy have the experience, having been elected to the city council; both have served as city mayors. Challenging them both is a promising first-time candidate in Heather Deitchman-Levy.

The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board recommends voters send Litt back to the council. Her longevity on the dais and her ongoing connection to the community are the big selling points here. She is the most experienced and nuanced of the three individuals running when it comes to Palm Beach Gardens affairs and managing the city's growth.

Litt, 70, was first elected to the council in 2017 and served two three-year-terms. She's hoping her time on the dais, particularly during the tougher stints of COVID-19 and the city's rapid growth in the western communities, will help her to regain a seat on the council. If nothing else, Litt has a plan to address almost any issue that threatens the quality of life in Palm Beach Gardens.

If elected, Litt will make growth management, public safety and transparent governance priorities. She will rely heavily on long-range planning, including the Mobility and Workforce Housing and the Palm Beach Gardens Workforce Housing plans initiated when she was on the council, to address affordable housing and alleviate traffic congestion. She would also hold developers to meet traffic impact studies to minimize any negative consequences from new construction.

David J. Levy, 65, is a former councilman who is also in the race. He served on the council between 2004 and 2016. He would prioritize increasing citizen input through re-energizing city advisory boards and improved participation in council workshops, and bolstering the role council members in overseeing the spending decisions of the city manager.

The ice rink controversy prompted Deitchman-Levy, 44, to enter the race, and she begins with one big accomplishment outside of City Hall: She successfully revived her HOA that previously had only $245 and no reserves. She brings a fresh approach to the race and with a little city advisory board experience she should consider running again for council.

For Group 5, re-elect Dana Middleton

The Group 5 race may lack the drama of two former council members vying to return to the council, but the winner still faces the challenges of helping to lead a community grappling with growth, development and traffic. The incumbent, Dana Middleton, has been a reliable member on the dais, particularly dealing with traffic concerns that have impacted the western edge of the city. Palm Beach Gardens voters should acknowledge that experience and re-elect her to the council seat.

Middleton, 57, is a small business owner and Palm Beach Gardens' current vice mayor. In her first term, she has been a steady supporter of parks, public safety and reasonable government spending. If re-elected she will continue to work on those issues while focusing on relieving traffic congestion and improving roadways, especially in the city's western community, where ongoing projects along Northlake Boulevard and State Road 7 will impact the city's overall growth.

By working with the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization and other community and government agencies, Middleton will continue to push for roadway improvements and better traffic synchronization to relieve congestion.

The other candidate in the race is Damien Murray, a 56-year-old sales executive making his first bid for public office. He is a viable newcomer who shares many of the same concerns about the issues facing Palm Beach Gardens as Middleton but lacks her community involvement and experience in dealing with them. Middleton's the better choice.