While President Donald Trump lost his reelection bid during the 2020 presidential election under very questionable voting practices across the country, the election proved to be referendum against the Democratic Party, in particularly Progressive and Socialist Democrats. Going into the 2020 mid-term election cycle, many municipal races like the Palm Beach, Florida Town Council contest between long-time Republican Candace Rojas and devout Democrat Edward Austin “Ted” Cooney, could turn out to be the opening salvo of anti-Democratic narrative expected to take place this election cycle.
The Town of Palm Beach, which is one of the richest cities in Florida, leans Republican, so one would expected that Rojas would outlast her Democratic opponent, right?
Maybe.
The council race is a non-partisan contest, but will Palm Beachers vote for a 35-year-old life-long Democrat who has had run-ins with law enforcement?
Rojas, who touts herself as being “Proud American,” pro-business, and a believer in“pro-Judeo-Christian principles,” recently mailed a flyer pointing to Cooney’s missteps, including having been ticketed for speeding in a school zone, a 2014 eviction, and a 2016 Possession of Marijuana charge.
On March 20, 2016, Edward Austin Cooney was busted for Possession of Marijuana by the Town of Palm Beach Police Department.
According to this Arrest/Criminal Probable Cause Affidavit, after Deputies caught him with the Marijuana and paraphernalia, Cooney admitted that the illicit items were his. Cooney appeared to have pulled over his vehicle to roll the joint.
Cooney later entered and completed a diversion program.
With the council election being on March 9th, Palm Beach residents only have a couple weeks to decide if they are ready and willing to light up a joint with Cooney, or not.
