Palm Beach County ethics panel orders dismissal of complaint against former Juno Beach mayor Peggy Wheeler

The Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics read a public final order on Aug. 6, 2026, dismissing a complaint by Didi Halpern that had alleged improper use of official position and improper disclosure of information by former Juno Beach mayor Peggy Wheeler.

The vice chair read the commission's findings, saying the panel "concluded the probable cause did not exist because there was no evidence that respondent took any action that violated the code," and ordered that "the complaint against respondent Peggy Wheeler is hereby dismissed." The order cites sections of the Palm Beach County Code of Ethics referenced in the commission's report.

The order, entered under the commission's ordinance authority, records that a probable cause hearing was held and that staff presented a report of investigation along with hearing statements from the advocate, the respondent and counsel. The reading notes the action was done "in public session on 08/06/2026" and names Rodney G. Romano as chair in the document text.

The commission's written statement summarized the complaint as alleging violations of section 2-443(b) (corrupt misuse of official position) and section 2-443(i) (disclosure or use of information not available to the public), and cited the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics Ordinance (section 2-258(a)) as authorizing enforcement of the code. The order concluded there was no evidence supporting those violations and the complaint was dismissed.

The reading did not record a separate vote on the dismissal in the transcript excerpt; the order itself reflects the commission's formal determination and the dismissal will stand unless later revisited under the county's procedures.