In November 2024, Bobby Powell Jr. was elected to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners. He is the President of the Palm Beach County Caucus of Black Elected Officials (PBC-BEO). He previously served eight years in the Florida Senate and four years in the Florida House of Representatives. As a senator, Powell served as the (Democratic) Minority Leader Pro Tempore while also serving as the Chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, which consisted of 27 Black State Legislators who represented nearly every area of the State (2020-2022).
Powell is deeply engaged in his community through a wide range of civic and professional organizations, including the Urban League of Palm Beach County’s New Urban Community Development Corporation, several chambers of commerce, and Leadership Palm Beach County (Class of 2011). He is also a proud member of the 2025 Cornerstone Class of Leadership Florida.
A Palm Beach County native and graduate of Palm Beach Gardens High School, Powell was a student athlete who earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism (public relations) graduating Magna Cum Laude from Florida A&M University. He went on to obtain a Master of Science in Urban & Regional Planning from Florida State University.
Powell is a professional land use planner, a member of the American Planning Association, certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners. He most recently worked as a project manager with Urban Design Studio for more than a decade. He is also a transformational speaker and storyteller, as a member of the Florida Speakers Association, assisting people by taking them from potential to promise.
Throughout his career, Powell has received more than 50 awards and honors, including the FAMU National Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, Leadership Palm Beach County’s Leadership Excellence Award, recognition as a Legacy Magazine South Florida Power Couple (with his wife, Whitney), and the 2024 President Joseph R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. These honors reflect his commitment to enduring excellence and service.
Guided by his personal motto, “A life of service is a life that counts,” Commissioner Powell continues to dedicate his career to uplifting communities and advancing opportunity.
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Bobbypowelljr.com