There is a lot to say about Judy Mollica and it’s all good. Fearless and honest, Mollica is the kind of leader who shows up, listens carefully, and gets things done.
She is also authentic, believes deeply in collaboration and lends her time, talent, and resources to countless nonprofits, civic and community organizations in Delray Beach.
That’s why it makes perfect sense that Mollica is a founding partner of Friends of Delray. In that role she writes about the city, interviews local business owners, nonprofit leaders and changemakers. She also does this in a video capacity through their YouTube channel.
Friends of Delray gives Mollica a platform that reflects who she is: curious, informed, and committed to civic engagement and accountable government
Though deeply rooted in Delray, Mollica’s worldview was shaped by a life lived beyond borders. Born in Lima, Ohio, she spent much of her childhood in Florida, before heading to the Virgin Islands. There she worked, explored and embraced the unknown.
She also started a bookkeeping service, became a divemaster and delivered sailboats. “That experience gave me comfort at jumping into the unknown,” said Mollica.
That outlook would define both her professional and personal life.
After becoming a mother, Mollica returned to Florida and launched the sales and marketing team for The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa in Jupiter, contributing to its success.
She is currently owner-Broker of Ocean East Properties in Delray Beach. That career trajectory gives her a firm understanding of the housing market, economic stability, thoughtful growth, and the needs of the community.
Mollica believes that service to others is a life that counts. She is a member (and two-time past president) of the Rotary Club of Delray Beach. She is also on the board of the Volen Senior Center, which serves 6,000 meals and provides 4,000 rides monthly.
As chair of the Board for Old School Square Center for the Arts, she helped raise funds for the Frances Bourque Scholarship Fund. She also volunteers (and supports) the Achievement Centers, Milagro Center, Delray Reads, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, and numerous education, arts and historical organizations.
Mollica currently serves on the Delray Beach Planning and Zoning Board, giving her firsthand experience with issues such as land use, development, growth, and preserving neighborhood character.
Her approach balances economic vitality with livability, supporting attainable housing, sensible development, and transparency in government.
At her core, Mollica believes leadership is about bringing people together. “It’s not about conquering,” she says. “It’s about serving.”
She attends City Commission, CRA, DDA, and neighborhood meetings, engages in voter registration efforts, and shows up at community gatherings from National Night Out to The Elders Table in the Set. Mollica listens, seeks common ground, and acts from harmony rather than contention.
One of the most defining chapters of Mollica’s life is her journey as a mother. Her daughter is a two-time cancer survivor. Faced with a dire prognosis, Mollica became a tireless advocate, researching medical journals, calling scientists, navigating clinical trials, and even petitioning the FDA for life-saving treatment.
“I put on my suit of armor every morning” she said. That persistence saved her daughter’s life. Today, her daughter is thriving, married and a mother of two. “I never gave up,” said the determined leader of Delray Beach.
That same determination fuels her run for Delray Beach City Commissioner (Seat 2) in the March 10, 2026 election. Mollica believes Delray is worth protecting with care, intention, and respect for all who call it home.
“It’s not about right or left, red or blue,” she says. “It’s about supporting the highest quality of life for every resident of Delray Beach.”
As everyone knows, Delray is part utopia, part beach town, and fiercely community driven. This sentiment reflects Mollica’s values.
With her steady leadership, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment to service, Judy Mollica is ready to fight for the City she loves with the same tenacity she brings to every endeavor.
