Loxahatchee Groves council appoints Todd McClendon to fill vacant Seat 1, vote 3-1

The Town of Loxahatchee Groves council appointed Todd McClendon to fill the council seat vacated by Phyllis Manelio during a June 10 special meeting, passing the motion by voice vote, 3-1.

The single-agenda meeting began with the council inviting candidates to speak; several residents introduced themselves and described their priorities for preserving the town’s rural and equestrian character. After nominations and a voice vote, the council formalized the outcome with a motion to appoint McClendon and then administered the oath of office.

Why it matters: the appointment fills an open seat (Seat 1) and gives the council an additional vote on pending and future matters affecting the town’s land-use policies, road and drainage work, and budget decisions.

Council procedure and nominations Council members invited all candidates who submitted comment cards to speak for three minutes each. Candidates who addressed the council included Todd McClendon; Bill Ford; Brian Znowski; Paolo Santana; William Stephens; Manish Sood; Danielle Herrity; and others who identified themselves from addresses in Loxahatchee Groves. The council also noted that candidate Lisa Murray did not attend in person; the clerk reported receiving a copy of Murray’s driver’s license and voter-registration card but not a signed residency attestation.

After public remarks, council members made voice nominations. The initial nomination and subsequent voice votes produced a 3‑1 result favoring Todd McClendon. For the record the council later moved to formalize the appointment; the motion read in the meeting was: “I make a motion that we elect Todd McClendon as the replacement for the representative council member Phyllis Manelio, in seat 1.” The motion was seconded and the council voted to appoint McClendon, 3 in favor and 1 opposed.

McClendon, who spoke to the council before the vote, described prior council service and local initiatives he said he helped lead. “My experience will allow me to seamlessly hit the ground running in continuing improving Loxahatchee Groves,” McClendon told the council during his remarks.

Oath and next steps After the vote the council administered the oath of office and swore McClendon in. The oath at the meeting referenced the U.S. and Florida constitutions and the charter of the Town of Loxahatchee Groves.

The meeting concluded shortly after the swearing-in; council members offered brief remarks inviting newly appointed McClendon to take his seat and participate in council business going forward.