Three Lake Worth Beach Officials Honored with 2025 Home Rule Hero Award

The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, recently recognized three Lake Worth Beach officials with the 2025 Home Rule Hero Award: Commissioner Mimi May, Mayor Betty Resch, and Vice Mayor Sarah Malega. All three were honored for their unwavering dedication and impactful advocacy during the 2025 Legislative Session in support of Home Rule—the ability of local governments to make decisions that best serve their communities.
 
Each official worked diligently throughout the session, engaging with lawmakers, sharing critical local data and real-world examples, and helping ensure that Lake Worth Beach’s voice was heard in Tallahassee.
 
“This session, local leaders stepped up once again, bringing persistence, perspective, and a strong voice for local decision-making to every conversation,” said FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook. “The League and our legislative team deeply appreciate their leadership and are proud to recognize the meaningful difference they made for Florida’s cities.”
 
Commissioner Mimi May, elected in 2023 to represent District 3, stated, “I’m honored to be named a Home Rule Hero alongside my colleagues. Local government is where change begins, and I’m proud to stand up for the right of our community to shape its own future.”
 
Mayor Betty Resch, who has championed sustainable development and community empowerment throughout her term, added, “Home Rule is at the heart of responsive, accountable government. It’s essential that local leaders retain the tools to address our city’s unique challenges and opportunities.”
 
Vice Mayor Sarah Malega, a longtime advocate for equity and inclusion, emphasized the collaborative nature of their efforts, “This recognition reflects the work of the commission on all levels of government. Working across all aisles with both federal and state representatives and senators, educating them on the impact their vote will have in our community is imperative. I’m proud to stand with our community and advocate for them.”

The Home Rule Hero Award is presented annually to local government officials—both elected and nonelected—who consistently respond to the League’s requests to engage with state legislators and champion the importance of Home Rule.
 
For more information about the Florida League of Cities and the Home Rule Hero Award, visit www.flcities.com.