Pompano mayor to run for Broward District 4 seat

Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher said Wednesday he will run for the Broward County Commission District 4 seat now that County Commissioner Chip LaMarca has announced his intent to run for state representative.

He joins former Oakland Park Mayor Shari McCartney, who announced her decision last week, as candidates for LaMarca’s seat. Fisher, a Democrat, and McCartney, a Republican, would face off in the November 2018 election unless more candidates enter the race and either or both have to go through a primary challenge first.

Fisher said he would not be running if LaMarca had decided to go for a third term on the county board.

“I just think he was doing a great job for the district,” Fisher said.

Fisher also said he had conversations with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, who could have been competition for the Democratic nomination for the District 4 seat. Seiler told him he would not be running, Fisher said.

“We’re very close and have been for many years,” Fisher said. If Seiler were interested in the seat, Fisher said he “would have had to reflect long and hard” about opposing him.

Fisher is in his fourth term as Pompano Beach mayor. His current term runs through November 2020. If he formally files to run for the county commission, he will have to give up his mayoral position — win or lose — in November 2018.

Fisher’s prepared announcement slipped up, appearing to write off part of his potential constituency. It said the district is made up of seven “very important Broward Cities.” The district actually includes eight municipalities, although maybe the campaign thinks Sea Ranch Lakes doesn’t rise to the “very important” level.

Broward County Commission District 4 includes the cities of Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hillsboro Beach, Lauderdale-By-TheSea, Lighthouse Point and Oakland Park, the announcement said.

Fisher’s fourth term as Pompano Beach mayor runs through November 2020.