Name: Stacy Sipple
Office sought: Boca Raton City Council – Seat D
Campaign website: www.stacyforboca.com
Date, place of birth: 01/27/1972 Boynton Beach, FL (Boca Raton did not have a
maternity unit at that time)
Generally speaking, is Boca Raton on the right track or the wrong track, and why?
I believe Boca Raton is shifting to the wrong track. Residents moved to Boca because it was unique and safe. We were on the smaller side, while still being a full-service city and offering every amenity you could want. We were not Ft. Lauderdale, we were not Miami. We had height restrictions, size restrictions and downtown buildings were expected to maintain the Mediterranean inspired look (e.g., clay tile roofs, limited glass percentage, specific color palettes) in recognition of the city’s historic architectural character. We were unique. A gem in the middle of overdevelopment.
Now, what has made us special is slowly disappearing. Our downtown looks like a hodgepodge of buildings, stuck wherever there was a postage sized piece of land left. No thought, no design, no plan. Now we are building up. What is thought of as “downtown” is about 344 acres or just over half a square mile. Yet, it is still not walkable. The daily essentials (e.g., groceries, drug stores, post office) require the use of a car. So, we have effectively overbuilt and ruined our unique aesthetic and increased traffic congestion. Residents that live within a mile or so from downtown avoid it because of the traffic. I know, I am one of them. We are currently in the process of approving more downtown residences and more hotels, most requiring variances and zoning changes. This constant expansion is not sustainable.
How will you vote on ballot question No. 1, and why? (police headquarters, public safety improvements)
AGAINST BONDS My main reason, at this time, is this requires us to issue bonds up to $175,000,000 plus interest and will be paid back from ad valorem taxes. There are current bills up for consideration, during the 2026 legislative session, in Tallahassee. In a worst-case scenario, our property taxes could be eliminated. How would we repay these bonds? It would be prudent to wait for the outcome, on the fate of property taxes, before making a large, costly decision such as this. We can then re-evaluate and decide the best course of action.
How will you vote on ballot question No. 2, and why? (Lease of downtown land, public improvements, Memorial Park)
NO First we need to see the results of the public vote, which I am thankful for. Public land = public vote. There is no question the area needs to be revitalized. The city can do it without handing over public land for a 99-year lease. We will need a visioning session with our residents to see what they would like to use the land for, especially east of 2nd Avenue. Memorial Park needs to be upgraded to a state-of-the-art athletic complex, with a focus on girls’ softball, as they always seem to lack appropriate fields to play on. It always HAS and WILL remain a memorial to our veterans.
The amount we are required to initially put up front for this project is ridiculous, especially when we will not see a profit for years and the amount is only based on speculation. Many do not remember the early Mizner Park years. We had a huge revenue difference concerning what was expected and what was actually received, nor do many remember the cost of maintenance and the lease agreements. The long-term lease terms of Mizner Park were in the agreements, and the courts later ruled that those terms legally encumbered the land, reducing its value. The City of Boca Raton lost because the lease itself became the encumbrance. We do not need another legal loss, to a developer, when it is our land. We own it, we can build on it and we will get all of the revenue, without involving a third party.
Are you satisfied that the ballot language approved by the City Council accurately reflects the details of the ballot questions?
Yes and No. Question #1 regarding the police department is pretty straight forward, but could be worded in a more basic manner. First time voters may not realize what some of the terminology means.
Question #2 regarding Memorial Park/Boca Raton City Center, LLC is on the reverse side of the ballot, making it very easy to miss. The wording sounds like the hundreds of advertisements we continuously receive via social media, mail, phone calls, “information sessions,” etc. It is a watered-down version of what we are constantly being brainwashed with. I am disappointed that the city had to scale down the initial wording, which was even more biased to the developer, and we still end up with a question that is misleading and placed in an easily missed location.
The Florida Legislature is considering proposals to reduce or eliminate property taxes. Do you agree the taxes are too high, and what tax cut proposals do you support?
Boca Raton has one of the lowest millage rates in the county and most of the state. We cannot eliminate them and offer the services we do now. Homeowners that are now purchasing homes are experiencing huge property taxes due to the high property values. We have to figure out a way to offer additional homestead exemptions, perhaps based on an income sliding scale. We do not want to price people out. Not everyone is wealthy. We need everyday working families as much as every other resident, and we need to ensure they can afford to live here, especially with the high property values, property taxes and homeowners’ insurance. We also need to stop penalizing people that renovate or upgrade their homesteaded property, this could be based on years lived there. If you make some improvements, you get a re-appraisal by the property appraiser and your property taxes shoot through the roof. Raising sales tax just moves tax from one place to another. We need to focus on tax reform, but elimination would scale back many of the services, offerings and functions that make Boca Raton the best place to live and raise a family.
What most distinguishes you from your opponent(s)?
I am neither a politician nor on the Planning and Zoning Board. I have no ties to developers, and I will never take developer money. I am a native resident that wants to change the direction our city is moving in. I believe our residents have the right to determine the fate of public land by a referendum vote. I would like to see this reflected in an ordinance and the city charter. I will not be catering to developers over our residents. Our council (past and current) and Planning & Zoning Board have forgotten the residents and the impact we are feeling due to their leniencies on approvals, variances, zoning changes and more. Residents are the city’s largest asset and their voices should be heard. I want transparency and notifications increased. Project approval notifications are severely lacking and I will see that this is improved. This is not a political stepping stone for me or another political seat to warm. I am a native resident, watching the destruction of
my hometown. I am up against two men that have helped it occur, and I intend to fight to bring it back. If we don’t elect some sensible people to our council and turn this town around, we will be Fort Lauderdale and then Miami and will current residents stay or go? Our city is a gem and can still be saved. Saving means many things. We are at a crossroads. If we don’t turn in the right direction, our Boca Raton will be gone. Putting either of my opponents on the council defeats the
purpose of any real change. Boca Raton is worth fighting for. Please join me in saving our city and vote on March 10th.
List in reverse chronological order, starting with most recent, colleges and universities attended with years of attendance and degrees held.
Auburn University, Auburn, AL 1991 – 1998 Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy)
Palm Beach Community College (now Palm Beach State College) Boca Raton, FL 1990 – 1991 (part time) – no degree
List in reverse the chronological order your work history for the past 10 years.
Boca Raton Regional Hospital (Baptist) 2011 – 2023
Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details and disposition.
No.
Have you ever been charged or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates and terms of sentence.
No.