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74
City Commissioner And People Person
MITCH KATZ { By Diane Feen
Photo by melissa korman
Mitch Katz has a saying that it’s better to act than to talk. That is precisely the reason he ran for Delray Beach City Commissioner in 2015. And he won.
“I never thought I would run for office but there were things that needed to be done in Delray and I wanted to make them happen,” said the Chattanooga, Tennessee native who has lived in South Florida since he was five-years-old. Some of those things have come to fruition. Katz was insistent on more transparency in city government and currently all board meetings (that take place in the city chambers) are streamed on the Internet and recorded for future information. Katz is also proud of the city employee morale boosters put in place. “We have recognition programs such as the Employee of the Month. We also worked hard to negotiate an employee contract for Fire Department employees.” As a way to get to know constituents – and hear their concerns – Katz holds quarterly town hall meetings. He also hosts groups of residents at his “Coffee with Commissioner Katz” meetings where residents of Delray can express their concerns and ask questions about the city. “Sometimes people’s ideas have the potential to turn into policy,” he said. If there’s a theme that runs through this Delray resident’s life – it’s one of public service. He has been an Eagle Scout since he was 17-years-old and has volunteered with the Boy Scouts since he was a teen. Katz served as Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster and various volunteer positions for the South Florida (and Gulfstream) Scout Councils that foster leadership. Katz also enjoys speaking to children to boost their morale. Helping others is a lifetime passion that is near and dear to his heart. “I was raised by a single mother (Fran) and older sister (Sindee) and had a lot of mentors growing up. My Big Brother and Scout leaders were mentors to me as well.” If you look at the trajectory of Katz’s life, it seems
September 2016 | www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com
to follow a predictable path. One that is strewn with supporting young people and helping them find their way in the world. It is something that Katz navigated with the help of others and he seems to take pride in paying it forward. He was a chair of the Education Board of Delray Beach for two years, is on the PTA of Banyan Creek Elementary School and is an assistant Scout Master in Delray. Katz is also president of his homeowners association in Bexley Park. Being a people person is one thing that helped Katz start off on the right foot in life. At the age of 15 he sold the Miami Herald after school and also worked in Fort Lauderdale at a department store (called Jason’s) selling menswear. He also volunteered in numerous political campaigns and was a volunteer for Michael Dukakis in Sunrise, Florida. Katz worked closely with Dukakis’s daughter Andrea and found that his passion was identical to those he supported. “I like supporting people who have a true desire to help others. I enjoy helping people.” That seems to be one reason that Chuck Halberg of Stuart & Shelby has a fondness for this local family man. “Mitch is someone not afraid to go against the odds, even when he is told he can’t succeed. He is also passionate about things he feels strongly about. I also really admire his family values.” Katz has been married to Heather for 13 years and has two children, an 11-year-old son Hayden and nine-year-old daughter Shayna. They enjoy attending local Delray events together such as the July 4th celebration, First Night on New Years’ Eve and the Delray Affair. Another thing that Katz feels strongly about is helping teachers get their graduate degrees online. He accomplishes this by working with non-profit