By Mayor Michael J. Napoleone
Dear Wellington Residents,
It is an honor and a joy to write this column, my first as your newest Mayor. I look forward to using this opportunity to share important information with you about our community. For the first time in eight years, we have new leadership on our Council. Following a contested election that included nine candidates for two open seats, and then a runoff among the top vote-getters, we welcomed Council members Amanda Silvestri for Seat #1, and Maria Antuña for Seat #4, who will serve alongside Vice Mayor John T. McGovern, Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, and myself as your newly elected Mayor. This change marks a significant moment in our history, as for the first time we have a majority female council, and Councilwoman Antuña is the first Hispanic member of our Council.
As we transition into this new chapter, I wanted to use this column to help you learn a little bit more about each of our Council members and their dedication to serving our community.
Councilwoman Maria S. Antuña
Councilwoman Maria Antuña, elected in 2024, has had a remarkable journey of leadership and service. Maria is a 45-year resident of Wellington and a 45-year veteran of banking where she had a successful banking/sales career. She currently serves as the CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, and her advocacy for business growth and support for minority-owned businesses through leadership has left a lasting impact on Palm Beach County. She has received accolades including the Community Leadership Award from the Hispanic Education Coalition and a service recognition from West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James for her contribution as a member of the Mayor’s Task Force for Racial and Ethnic Equality. She is a Hispanic Women of Distinction Honoree and is fully engaged on numerous boards and committees including the Urban League of Palm Beach County, the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, Good Samaritan Hospital, and the Criminal Justice Board of Palm Beach County. She also served as Chair and past Co-Chair of Wellington’s Architectural Review Board. She is a Rotarian of the Wellington Rotary Club and a 2023 graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County. Maria is of Cuban heritage, has been married to her husband Juan for over 48 years, and they are parents to two sons who attended Wellington public schools. Her presence on our council marks a historic moment for Wellington, and her commitment to our community is truly inspiring.
Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri
Councilwoman Silvestri, also elected in 2024, brings a deep love for nature and a strong commitment to environmental conservation. Her dedication to preserving Wellington’s unique way of life and supporting local businesses is commendable. A devoted wife and mother of two children attending Wellington’s public schools, Amanda has been an active member of the community for over a decade. Alongside her husband Richard, she successfully owns Silvestri and Associates Insurance. Her commitment to Wellington is evident through her involvement in the School Advisory Council and PTO at both Wellington Elementary and Wellington Landings Middle School. Her passion for enhancing our community for future generations is truly admirable and she is a great addition to our Village Council.
Vice Mayor John T. McGovern
Vice Mayor McGovern, a native Floridian, has been deeply rooted in our community since 1986. He is a managing partner at McGovern Gerardi-Law, P.A. – Dedicated to the Injured, and has been serving on the Village Council since his appointment in 2015 to replace Councilman Howard Coates. He was elected in 2016 without opposition to complete the balance of Mr. Coates’s term, re-elected to his first full term in 2018, and then elected again in 2022. He served two terms as Vice Mayor, first from 2016 to 2018 and again from 2021 to 2022, and is the first member of the Village Council to have grown up in Wellington and was a member of the first graduating class of Wellington High School. Mr. McGovern holds both a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida where he served as President of the student body and is a member of the student Hall of Fame. He’s been married to his wife Michelle for 22 years and together are raising their daughters, Emilia and Victoria. Vice Mayor McGovern’s commitment to Wellington’s greatness is unwavering, and his dedication to public service is truly commendable.
Councilwoman Tanya Siskind
Councilwoman Siskind, a 23-year resident of Wellington, has been actively involved in our community through various leadership roles. All three of her children attended Wellington public schools where she was extremely active in local and County PTA’s, as well as serving on Wellington’s Education Committee. She has served on the Village Council since her appointment in 2016, winning her seat in 2018, serving as Vice Mayor in 2020, and winning re-election in 2022 for her final 4-year term. Tanya’s extensive involvement in local organizations and her dedication to our community’s well-being are exemplary. She currently serves on the Government Affairs Committee for Broward, the Palm Beach and St. Lucie Realtors, the Board of Directors for the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, and as Vice Chair of the HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. Over her many years of service, she has demonstrated her commitment to making Wellington a better place for all.
Mayor Michael J. Napoleone
As for me, I have had the pleasure to serve on the Council since 2016 and was elected to be the seventh Mayor of Wellington in March of this year. In addition to my service to Wellington, I have the privilege to serve as Wellington’s representative and an executive board member on the Palm Beach County Transportation Planning Agency, as well as an elected member of the Board of Directors for the Palm Beach County League of Cities. I am a past president of the Palm Beach County Bar Association and past chair of its Professionalism and Diversity Committees. I’m the past chair of The Florida Bar’s Constitutional Judiciary Committee, which focused on promoting civics education to adults and served for many years on the governing and executive boards of the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County. As for my “other job,” I am a partner in the law firm of Day Pitney LLP where I represent businesses and individuals in corporate disputes, trust, probate, and real estate litigation. I graduated from the University of Florida and St. John’s University School of Law. My wife Cyndi and I will celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary this year, and our two boys, Christopher and Luca, have grown up in Wellington and attended Binks Forest Elementary, Wellington Landings, and Wellington High School. In my “free time,” I enjoy biking through the Wellington Environmental Preserve, hiking, gardening, participating in scouting with my sons, and family travel.
As we welcome these new members, we also celebrate the achievements of our previous Council, who set a high standard of service and open government, and ensured that we maintain Wellington’s reputation as a great place to live, work, and play. This new Council is committed to maintaining and building upon that legacy. Our top priorities remain promoting public safety, delivering outstanding services and facilities to residents, and serving the best interests of our community. Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this new chapter together.