Meet your Mayoral Candidate Kay Maragh
Kay Maragh is a wife, mother, real estate agent and a small business owner. She currently serves on the Planning and Zoning Board and the Community Development Advisory Board for the City of Palm Bay. She is married to her husband, Linval Maragh, of 19 years, and a proud mother of a college bound 17-year-old son. America was founded by immigrants and she too has an immigrant story as she is from Ocho Rios, Jamaica and moved to the United States when she was 19 years old.
Kay’s mother was a school teacher and her father is a retired army veteran who currently serves as a VCOP with the city of Palm Bay. Her parents ensured Kay and her siblings understood the value of hard work and the importance of serving her community. Her parents owning their own business sparked her interest in studying Business Administration. As a teenager, she worked at her parent’s hardware store, which provided her insight to the challenges that come with owning a business with limited support and resources. Her experience of working at her parent’s business and owning her own business showed her the impact that city government has on small businesses.
She was encouraged by her parents to find solutions to problems in the community which prompted her to participate in her first fundraiser at the age 8 years old, to assist the local kindergarten to purchase school supplies. By the age of 16, she started her first youth organization called “Youths with a Purpose”. Youths with a Purpose focused on performing arts, sex education and the environment. At a young age, she realized impact of youth programs and that they are a “must-have” in all communities.
In 1997, when her family migrated to New Jersey she immediately became a part of the West Indian American Association. An organization that worked closely with youth to help feed the homeless. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of the BCASCA which is the largest Caribbean organization in Brevard county. The goal of the organization is to educate, empower, and celebrate the Caribbean community. While in New Jersey, she worked as a transportation consultant with Palisades Consulting Grouping orchestrating projects for national and international transit agencies. She also participated in trade missions to the Caribbean, the UN Summit on Africa that focused on creating livable communities.
In 2001, Kay and her husband started Computer Central Plus an internet Café and computer store in St. Ann, Jamaica. The company’s community outreach is focused on assisting troubled boys between the ages of 8 to 16 years old. The organization challenged the young participants to enhance their computer skills which sparked an interest for all the boys to pursue a career in the technology industry. The high success rate in the program is a great reminder that early exposure to STEM programs can yield positive results.
In 2009, Kay and her family moved to Brevard County, and in 2011 purchased a home in Palm Bay because this was the city she wanted her family to thrive and grow. She connected with a local church where she coached the church’s Bible Bowl. She is proud that as the team is currently undefeated.
As a real estate agent, she understands the value of homeownership and working with home buyers as they make an investment into their future. In her role as a real estate agent it gives her a perspective into the affordable housing crisis. She has a multi prong approach to address the affordable housing crisis. Her passion to serve and help her community has been imbedded in her professional and personal life. She has a passion for the community she lives in and wants to be a voice for those who go unheard. The City of Palm Bay needs to focus on economic development, social and recreational activities.
Kay as Mayor of Palm Bay will implement policies that balance sustainable growth while protecting the environment. She will advocate to continue to develop the City of Palm Bay. She understands that Palm Bay is only 38% built and with her knowledge and experience she hopes to build a smart and green city. A city where young people will choose to stay because there are opportunities for growth economically and socially, expanded
