For the first time since its inception 12 years ago, the organizers of the annual County Mayors’ Ball are planning their event without the county mayor presiding over the charitable gala that raises money to combat homelessness.
The apparent reason: The ongoing bad blood between County Mayor Sara Baxter and the Homeless Coalition, the agency that sponsors the event.
Alexandria Ayala-Long, CEO of the Homeless Coalition, said that Vice Mayor Marci Woodward has agreed to replace Baxter in presiding over the event. The 2026 Mayor’s Ball will be in late August in Palm Beach Gardens.
“We had to move on,” said Ayala-Long. “If the mayor (Baxter) wants to attend, she is more than welcome to come, but we are pleased that Vice Mayor Woodward has accepted our invitation.
The change is a break from tradition. The role of gala host falls to the year’s ceremonial mayor, and that would be Baxter. But Baxter failed to answer repeated requests to participate or confirm she will attend, according to Ayala-Long.
Efforts by The Palm Beach Post to obtain comment from Baxter were unsuccessful as well.
Baxter, the incumbent District 6 county commissioner, has been engaged in a year-long feud with the Coalition. The dispute began when Baxter, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, called on the Homeless Coalition to move its event to Mar-a-Lago.
The move did not happen as concerns were raised about the cost of holding it at the Palm Beach estate and whether it was appropriate to hold the non-partisan, charitable event at Mar-a-Lago.
The tension then escalated after Baxter’s involvement in creating new a non-profit named the Palm Beach County Mayor’s Ball, Inc. The organization was immediately seen as an apparent attempt to compete with the long-established Homeless Coalition’s Mayor’s Ball.
Incorporated in November, according to SunBiz.org, the website for the state’s Division of Corporations, the new group threatened to jeopardize the Coalition’s work to fight homelessness, according to Coalition leaders. Strong pushback from supporters of the Coalition soon after resulted in the rival non-profit quickly filing papers to dissolve.
Then Baxter urged her commission colleagues to defund the Homeless Coalition, saying the county money allocated to the Coalition was not being used to help the homeless.
Under the 10-year contract between the county and the Coalition that expires in 2029, the $150,000 a year awarded to the Coalition is used for administrative expenses. The Coalition raises money from the public and sponsors to support the various agencies that either house or directly help the homeless.
After Baxter sought to cancel the contract, her colleagues on the county governing body instead praised the Coalition after officials at the agency detailed their work during a presentation before the commission. Baxter, realizing she did not have the votes, ultimately did not offer a resolution to take away its funds.
Baxter’s opposition to the Coalition’s funding forced the Homeless Coalition to postpone the Mayors’ Ball — it was originally supposed to have been held in March — until the funding issue was resolved. With the funding challenge put to rest, the Mayors’ Ball will be Aug. 29 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens from 6 to 10 p.m.
That is where it was held last year when Maria Marino, the then-county mayor, was the host. It is usually held during the winter social and philanthropic season that runs from late fall to mid-spring.
Mayors’ Ball is Aug. 29 at PGA National; event will raise funds for homeless
The change in scheduling for the event has the Coalition’s leadership irritated.
“I’m frustrated over what has occurred,” said Melissa McKinlay, president of the Homeless Coalition. “It has forced us to adjust, but we expect the Aug. 29 event to be successful. Sponsors have already stepped up to make sizable contributions.”
On April 22, Ayala-Long sent a text message to Baxter asking if she would be interested in serving as the Mayors’ Ball host, as county mayors have done since 2010 when Priscilla Taylor served as the first host. Ayala-Long said she needed an answer by the close of business on April 24. Baxter never responded, according to Ayala-Long.
The Homeless Coalition’s Mayors’ Ball raises awareness about homelessness and the gala generates funds to support housing and services for people experiencing homelessness across the county.
Since its inception, it has raised over $1.5 million for homeless services, helping thousands of residents move into permanent housing and supporting partner agencies such as Gulfstream Goodwill, The Lord’s Place, Adopt-A-Family and the Homeless Outreach Team.
Baxter, a Republican, replaced McKinlay four years ago on the county commission. McKinlay was term-limited. Baxter is running for re-election this year, and has drawn a GOP primary opponent, Elizabeth Accomando.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: County mayor won’t attend annual mayors’ ball likely because of spat
Reporting by Mike Diamond, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
