Fort Lauderdale’s city election
Dean Trantalis for mayor; Steve Glassman, Warren Sturman for commission
The mud-covered sprint to the finish in Fort Lauderdale’s city election is beneath the city. The screaming half-truths and untruths flooding mailboxes in recent weeks should be dumped in the trash like the garbage they are. DO NOT base your decisions on those mailers — except if you decide to vote the other way.
There’s something about elections that gets people stirred up. You see it every four years in presidential campaigns. You’ll see it again in November, in the races for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, the Florida Legislature, the four Florida Cabinet posts and so much more.
We’re just not used to seeing so much ugliness and agitation in the City of Fort Lauderdale’s election. Perhaps that’s because Mayor Jack Seiler, who’s at the end of his three allowed terms, didn’t face a truly competitive race after his first election nine years ago.
But this year, whoo boy, the election has really beaten people up. Good people, too. What about his divorce? Does he have a real job? Did he serve on that board? What dirty tricks did his campaign manager do now? Why are developers putting so much money behind him? Tuesday cannot come quickly enough. Fort Lauderdale faces significant challenges with traffic congestion, the high cost of living, affordable housing, homelessness, career-growing jobs, sea level rise, struggling neighborhoods, people in poverty, failing water and sewer infrastructure, and a constant pressure to build, build, build.
So let’s silence the noise and focus on the essentials: who is best positioned to lead the city?
We offered our recommendations in January, before the primary election culled the field to the top two vote-getters in the races for mayor and two commission seats. And while we’ve followed the mud splatters in recent weeks, we stand by those endorsements, a summary of which we offer here.
MAYOR: Dean Trantalis
Like his opponents, Trantalis, 64, a real estate attorney, is smart and personable. He’s also accessible, responsive and committed to smart growth. And he’s selfaware — the only candidate at the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s debate who was willing to acknowledge a mistake or regret.
The rap on Trantalis is that he has been on the losing end of a lot of 4-1 votes, so he must be unable to influence others or build consensus. But if you look a little closer, you’ll see he is often the commissioner who asks the questions on the minds of people in the audience or watching at home.
The rap on today’s commission, on the other hand, is that it too often favors developers and no longer listens to everyday people. We’re not just talking about “gadflies” who want to be seen and heard on everything, either. We’re talking about solid citizens who do their homework and ask good questions.
For years, citizens have been asking commissioners for a plan to address traffic congestion, flooded streets and an aging sewage system that’s dumped millions of gallons of untreated sewage into streets, lawns and waterways.
Tired of being ignored, they mounted a ballot initiative in 2016 that called for a one-year moratorium on development east of U.S. 1, pending a review of traffic and infrastructure. They gathered more than a thousand verified signatures — the number needed to reach the ballot. But because of a technicality, a majority of commissioners threw out the ballot measure. And they’ve yet to address the need for a plan, though Trantalis has tried to engage the conversation many times.
From where we sit, Trantalis listens hardest to citizens’ concerns. It’s not that he’s against growth. He’s voted to approve development projects, too. But he is willing to explain himself. By contrast, when we’ve tried to talk to Bruce Roberts about controversial issues — such as the development proposal for Bahia Mar or The Wave streetcar — he’s refused to answer.
A politician has to be comfortable putting his or her ideas out for public consumption. In our experience, Roberts is not.
Roberts is a pleasant and well-meaning man who wants to continue serving the city. And he’s demonstrated his leadership abilities from his days as the police chief.
But the Sun Sentinel endorses Dean Trantalis for mayor.
DISTRICT 2: Steve Glassman
Steve Glassman offers Fort Lauderdale voters the benefit of experience and the chance to bring a more inclusive culture to the City Commission.
His long-time city roots and history of civic involvement make him the ideal choice to help address the city’s challenges with failing infrastructure, traffic congestion and citizens who feel ignored.
Glassman, 64, is a retired administrator for the Broward County Cultural Division and a former high school teacher who’s remained active since losing a 2009 commission bid. He’s been a leader of the Central Beach Alliance, the Beach Redevelopment Advisory board and the Broward Trust for Historic Preservation.
As an appointee to the city’s Planning and Zoning Board, Glassman voted against the illconceived development plan for the city’s Bahia Mar property.
“The reason I am running is I have noticed over the last couple of years, a real disconnect between what the neighbors want — and what the citizens want — and then what the commission does,” he says.
His opponent is Tim Smith, who served on the commission from 1997 to 2003, then ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor against Jim Naugle.
Smith clearly loves the city and is passionate to serve again. He spends a lot of time volunteering, including with a citizen’s group focused on infrastructure and other city challenges. But he is remembered for having voted for too many highrises, though his mailers would have you believe otherwise.
Both candidates would serve the city well. But Smith has had his chance. After all he’s given, Glassman deserves his.
DISTRICT 4: Warren Sturman
As a cardiologist, Warren Sturman fixes hearts for a living. As a longtime civic association leader, he also tracks the pulse of south Fort Lauderdale. We encourage District 4 voters to let him bring his experience to the City Commission.
Sturman isn’t a flashy candidate or dazzling campaigner, but he’s smart and caring. And his medical and engineering background would add professional diversity. “I am not beholden to developers or lobbyists,” Sturman says. “Voters know where I stand. I have a track record of fighting for our neighborhoods.”
Sturman wants to focus on fixing failing pipes and to stop sweeping the city’s watersewer fund to cover other expenses. He supports passage of a $200 million bond to address overdue repairs. As for congestion on the 17th Street Causeway, he’s behind an alternative route to the port and convention center, changing signal light timing to help traffic flow on southbound U.S. 1, and adding another ramp from U.S. 1 onto Interstate 595.
Sturman, 60, says new development must play a bigger role in addressing the city’s infrastructure needs. Before approving new homes, he says the city should ensure roads and pipes are up to par. “To continue to build on a compromised foundation is an invitation for disaster.”
As president of the Rio Vista Civic Association, Sturman has held forums to raise awareness about sea level rise. He says solutions must go beyond raising seawalls and roads, which come with unintended consequences. He also wants drainage improvements to handle increased flooding.
His opponent, Ben Sorensen, 39, is personable and well-versed in city issues, but lacks Sturman’s longtime Fort Lauderdale ties.
Sorenson likes to say that he and his wife have lived in Fort Lauderdale “a combined 25 years.” But voting records show he moved to Fort Lauderdale from Tallahassee in 2008, then moved to Dania Beach, then to Davie, then back to Fort Lauderdale, then to Hollywood where he ran for a state House seat in 2014, then back to Fort Lauderdale in 2015.
Also, during his group interview with the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sorenson said he would not support condos at Bahia Mar. But after the meeting, he said he would.
Because of his doctoral degree in ministry, Sorenson uses the title “doctor.” Sturman, by contrast, doesn’t use his title in campaign materials though he is a medical doctor.
Sturman trails his opponents in campaign fundraising, $37,460 to $104,484. But he far outpaces him in his long-term commitment to the city.