Two Candidates Vie for Key West District 2 Commission Seat

Two candidates entered the race for Key West City Commission District 2 following Commissioner Sam Kaufman launching his campaign for mayor, according to a Key West Post report published November 13, 2025. The candidates are Bobi Lore, owner of Island House, and Mark Rossi, a former commissioner and business owner on Duval Street. Both candidates framed the vacancy as an opportunity to address resident concerns, but they emphasized different priorities that could influence policy decisions in the year ahead.

Bobi Lore presented constituent engagement and transparency as central to her campaign. Lore, a local hospitality owner, signaled an intent to increase direct communication between residents and the commission, and to make city processes more visible to the public. Mark Rossi pointed to his past experience on the commission and prioritized what he described as proven leadership, with a focus on local infrastructure and hospital related issues that affect quality of life and emergency services for the island.

The departure of an incumbent to pursue the mayoralty has opened a competitive field in District 2, a seat that represents neighborhoods and commercial corridors critical to Key West economic and civic life. Voters in the district will decide who will represent their interests on matters including water and street maintenance, tourism related policy, and local health care systems. Those issues were highlighted in candidate statements reported by the Key West Post as distinguishing touchpoints for residents evaluating the two campaigns.

The story noted election timing and referenced local voter turnout history as context for the contest, underscoring that municipal races in Monroe County have at times seen lower participation than county or state contests. That pattern makes outreach and voter information efforts especially important for ensuring that the outcome reflects the district electorate. The Key West Post article included links to voter resources for Key West residents to find registration and polling information, and residents are advised to consult the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections and the City of Key West election pages for official deadlines and locations.

For Monroe County voters, the immediate impact is practical and tangible. The District 2 commissioner will help set priorities for capital projects and municipal services, influence decisions that affect business owners and residents on Duval Street and beyond, and participate in regional conversations on health care capacity that have drawn increasing attention. With the seat now contested, civic engagement in the weeks ahead will determine how community needs are represented on the commission.