SEIU Florida backs Christina Romelus for Palm Beach School Board
A major labor union representing public service workers has endorsed former Boynton Beach Commissioner Christina Romelus for Palm Beach School Board, District 4.
SEIU Florida is backing Romelus, her campaign announced this week, adding more union backing to her bid to succeed School Board Member Erica Whitfield, who has also endorsed Romelus.
Afifa Khaliq, SEIU Florida Public Services Union President, praised Romelus in a statement highlighting her education background and commitment to supporting school employees.
“SEIU Florida is proud to endorse Christina Romelus because she knows that great public schools are built by investing in the people who make them work every day,” she said.
“As an educator, public servant, and mother, Christina understands that when we support teachers, school employees, and working families, students succeed.”
The SEIU nod adds to others Romelus has received from the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association, Palm Beach-Treasure Coast AFL-CIO, firefighters of IAFF Local 2928, Fraternal Order of Police, Ruth’s List Florida and Equality Florida.
Officials supporting her include Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman, Sen. Mack Bernard, Rep. Jervonte Edmonds, Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon, County Commissioners Bobby Powell and Maria Sachs, West Palm Beach Commissioners Joe Peduzzi and Christina Lambert, former State Attorney and Sen. Dave Aronberg, former Rep. David Silvers and former School Board Member Alexandria Ayala.
“Our public schools are strongest when we support the educators, staff, families, and communities who make student success possible,” Romelus said in response to the SEIU Florida endorsement. “I look forward to working alongside partners who believe in the power of collaboration and are committed to ensuring every student in Palm Beach County has the opportunity to thrive.”
A former nurse and educator who taught at Palm Beach State College from 2014 to 2020, Romelus made history in 2016 as Boynton Beach’s youngest City Commissioner and later served as Vice Mayor.
She was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, raised in Palm Beach County, and holds a master’s degree from Barry University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami. She now runs PolitiCALM, a government affairs and leadership training firm.
Romelus faces education and mental health professional Tiffany Bryant, former Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet and private school administrator Daniel Zapata in the District 4 race.
Because School Board races are nonpartisan, all candidates will appear on the Aug. 18 Primary ballot.
The General Election follows on Nov. 3.
