Jesse Scheckner
Republican Phyllis Choy is heading to Jupiter Town Hall as an elected official.
With all 26 precincts reporting Tuesday, Choy had 57% of the vote to defeat Democrat Teri Grooms in a nonpartisan runoff for the Town Council’s District 1 seat.
She replaces Andy Fore, who forwent a re-election bid, in a three-year term creating policy for Palm Beach County’s sixth-largest municipality by population.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the voters of Jupiter have placed in me. This community has been my home for decades, and it holds a special place in my heart. I am committed to working hard every day to protect what makes it so special. Together, we will ensure smart growth, support our small businesses, and keep Jupiter a safe, vibrant, and welcoming place for all,” Choy said in a statement.
“Thank you to everyone who believed in this campaign and our vision for Jupiter’s future — now the real work begins!”
Fewer than 4,500 Jupiter residents cast ballots in the runoff, according to the Palm Baech County Supervisor of Elections’ unofficial results.
Tuesday’s election ends an unsettled matter from the town’s March 11 election, when neither candidate secured more than 50% of the vote to win outright, but still took more than third-place candidate Andy Weston, clearing the pair for a runoff contest.
While campaigning, Choy and Grooms agreed Jupiter needed more affordable housing, smart but sustainable growth, better transparency at Town Hall, more community engagement in government decision-making, and better provisions for local small businesses.
Choy, a 77-year-old Realtor, entered the race as the current Vice Chair of the Palm Beach County Housing Authority, where she has served since then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed her in 2017.
She vowed, if elected, to address traffic congestion and foster development planning that protects Jupiter’s “small-town charm, natural beauty, and vibrant sense of community that drew so many of us here.”
“I’m running because I love this town, and I believe we can navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead while preserving what we all cherish about Jupiter,” she said in a statement.
Grooms, a 62-year-old former administrative assistant and caretaker, was born and raised in Jupiter. She served as an appointed member of the town’s Historic Resources Board and Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
She planned, if elected, to preserve the town’s cultural and historic assets while protecting its blue and green spaces.
“I believe that together, we can build a stronger, more resilient community that honors our past while embracing the future,” she said in a statement. “Our town is at a crossroads, facing both challenges and opportunities that will shape our future for generations to come.”
Choy and Grooms both boasted strong records of community volunteerism.
Choy’s involvements earned her plaudits from the Jupiter-Tequesta-Hobe Sound chapter of the Miami Association of Realtors, which named her “Humanitarian of the Year” in 2023, and the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, with which she was a finalist last year for “Woman of the Year.”
Both organizations backed her campaign, as did Jupiter Council member Ron Delaney, the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association and Broward, Palm Beaches and St. Lucie Realtors.
Grooms carried endorsements from the Sierra Club, Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County Local 2928 and the Palm Beach Post.
On the fundraising front, Choy had much more success. She amassed $62,250 and spent $56,003 through March 20, while Grooms raised $9,255 and spent $7,288.
