The Palm Beaches Carol Roberts: A Community Pillar

Carol A. Roberts

Former County Mayor Continues To Serve Her Community

Carol A. Roberts’ distinguished career in local, regional, national and international government spans three decades. As Palm Beach County Commission Chair, she initiated the creation of the Film and Television Commission and the Sports Commission in 1988. She currently serves as Chair of the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission Board of Directors. She made history in 1975 as the first woman ever elected to the West Palm Beach City Commission. Since her retirement from public office, she has been affiliated with the Palm Beach Photographic Centre and founded the Art in Public Places committees in Palm Beach County and West Palm Beach, Florida. Q: When did you arrive in Palm Beach County and what led you to become a leader in local government? I arrived in West Palm Beach in 1955 with an infant and a husband starting his medical practice. My other children were born here and all attended local schools. One morning, in 1975, I picked up the Palm Beach Post, and found out that two West Palm Beach commissioners had no opposition and the upcoming election was to be canceled. My parents, who had brought me up in Miami, taught me and my siblings that, as citizens, we had an obligation to always vote in every election. I remarked to my husband that I thought about running for the city commission. I felt like this was a good lesson in living political science. That one decision changed the lives of my entire family. I had no idea that I would become the first woman elected in the city of West Palm Beach.

Q: What attractions would you recommend to a tourist coming to the area? I admit that I am biased when we talk about museums, as I would love everyone visiting Palm Beach County to make their first stop at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre with its Photographic Museum in downtown West Palm Beach. The Flagler Museum, the former home of Henry Flagler and, of course, The Norton Museum of Art also top my list. These attractions, along with many others, are featured on ThePalmBeaches.TV, which is a useful tool for anyone planning a trip to The Palm Beaches.

Q: Your travels have taken you all over the world in the last 50 years, including India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, China, Israel, Somalia and most of Europe. How do these places compare to Palm Beach County? Palm Beach County is beautiful and serene. The beauty and serenity of Palm Beach County make it a great place to live and visit. Palm Beach County has the most delightful weather, wonderful beaches, great parks and both rural and urban areas which certainly make its motto “the best of everything,” a true statement. I love traveling but coming home gives me a sense of peace and tranquility.

Q: Palm Beach County and West Palm Beach have grown tremendously in the past decade. What is the most significant change that you’ve observed? As a young girl growing up in Dade County, it was rare to see a train. Once or twice a week, the train came from up north bringing people to the south. When I moved to West Palm Beach, journeying to Coral Gables to see my parents was a real jaunt. It took a couple of hours as the roads north and south were few and narrow. When the opportunity came to start Tri-rail as a way to move people to both Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, I was very vocal in encouraging my fellow elected officials to make travel by train a reality. In 1955 Palm Beach County had around 250,000 residents. Today, the population of the county is more than 1,500,000. The changes that I have seen and helped to make here in Palm Beach County have helped to keep the county green, economically viable and a wonderful place in which to live.