Haitian-born Christina Romelus, a former Boynton Beach City Commissioner and Vice Mayor, is seeking a seat on the Palm Beach County School Board in the November 3 election against Daniel Zapata. After leading the August primary with approximately 41% of the vote, Romelus hopes to return to public office and potentially achieve a historic milestone for Haitian-American representation in the county’s education system. The closely watched District 4 contest brings together two candidates with different professional backgrounds and approaches to education, with student achievement, academic priorities, school governance and community representation among the issues at stake.
POLITICS | ELECTIONS 2026
By Le Floridien | October 29, 2026
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (Le Floridien) — Haitian-born Christina Romelus is seeking to make another mark in South Florida politics as she competes for a seat on the Palm Beach County School Board in the November 3 general election. If elected, the former Boynton Beach Vice Mayor could achieve a significant milestone for Haitian-American representation in the county’s public education system.
Although a definitive historical review is still needed to establish whether she would be the first Haitian-American elected to the board, her candidacy highlights the growing involvement of Haitian Americans in local government beyond traditional municipal offices.
Romelus, who was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and raised in Palm Beach County, faces Daniel Zapata, a private-school educator, in the runoff for the District 4 seat. The position is being vacated by Erica Whitfield, who served three terms on the School Board before winning a seat on the Palm Beach County Commission in August.
A Haitian-American Candidate With Political Experience
Romelus is no newcomer to public service. In 2016, she became the youngest person elected to the Boynton Beach City Commission, subsequently serving as Vice Mayor during her six years in municipal government.
Before entering politics, she worked in health care as a nurse and in higher education as an anatomy and physiology instructor at Palm Beach State College. She currently heads PolitiCALM, a government affairs and leadership training firm.
Romelus Led the August Primary
The August 18 primary featured four candidates competing for the open District 4 seat. Romelus finished first, but neither she nor the other candidates secured the majority required to win outright.
The official vote figures reported by Ballotpedia show:
| Candidate | Vote share |
|---|---|
| Christina Romelus | 40.6% |
| Daniel Zapata | 26.7% |
| Tiffany Bryant | 18.8% |
| Anthony Hamlet | 13.9% |
The results advanced Romelus and Zapata to the November 3 runoff. However, the primary outcome does not determine how voters who supported the eliminated candidates will vote in the general election.
Her Opponent Brings a Different Background
Zapata, 25, teaches Spanish, government and economics at Atlantic Christian Academy, a private school in West Palm Beach. He has also worked in school administration and previously ran as a Republican for Florida House District 89 in 2022 and 2024.
Although School Board elections are officially nonpartisan, the candidates have different political affiliations. Romelus is a registered Democrat, while Zapata is a registered Republican.
Romelus has received support from the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association, the county’s firefighters union, several labor organizations and U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel.
Zapata, meanwhile, has endorsements from the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, The Hispanic Vote, business organizations and several elected officials.
For Haitian Americans in Palm Beach County, Romelus’ candidacy represents another example of the community’s participation in countywide public affairs.
Haitian-American elected officials have already established a presence in the county’s municipal and county governments. Among them is Mack Bernard, who became the first Haitian-American elected to the Palm Beach County Commission in 2016.
Education, however, represents a different avenue of political participation, with School Board members responsible for decisions affecting students, teachers, school policies and public education funding.
The Palm Beach County School District serves more than 189,000 students, including those enrolled in charter schools, making it one of the largest public education systems in Florida.
District 4 stretches through eastern Palm Beach County, encompassing communities between West Palm Beach and the Boca Raton area, including portions of Boynton Beach and Lake Worth Beach.
As election day approaches, voters will decide between two candidates offering different professional experiences and education priorities.
For Romelus, a victory would represent a return to elected office after her years on the Boynton Beach City Commission. It would also place another Haitian-born public servant in a prominent decision-making position in Palm Beach County.
Whether that achievement would constitute a historic first for the Haitian-American community remains to be independently verified.
On Tuesday, November 3, District 4 voters will determine who takes the open School Board seat.
