Jeri Muoio | |
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Mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida | |
Assumed office March 31, 2011 |
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Preceded by | Lois Frankel |
Personal details | |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Charles |
Residence | West Palm Beach, Florida |
Profession | Politician |
Geraldine "Jeri" Muoio (born February 14, 1948) is an American politician and current Mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida since 2011. Muoio is the fourth strong mayor in the city's history.
Muoio is a resident of the Ibis Golf & Country Club in the far western section of West Palm Beach. She holds a doctorate in academic administration from Syracuse University and a master's degree from SUNY Oswego.
She served as the city commissioner of West Palm Beach before her election as Mayor of West Palm Beach in March 2011. She has been described as the "hand picked successor" of outgoing Mayor Lois Frankel, who left office due to term limits after two consecutive terms.
Muoio won 51.2% of the vote in the 2011 West Palm Beach mayoral election held on March 8, 2011. Most political observers had predicted that the crowded, four-way mayoral race would result in a runoff election. However, Muoio won the election with an outright majority, avoiding a runoff. She defeated three opponents - Molly Douglas, a West Palm Beach city commissioner; Paula Ryan, a housing consultant; and Charles Bantel, an electrician. Muoio received 4,761 votes, or 51.2%; Paula Ryan placed second with 23.3%; Molly Douglas was third with 21.3%; and Charles Bantel came in fourth place with 4.2% of the vote.
Muoio was inaugurated into office at 3:32 p.m. on March 31, 2011.