Pompano mayor seat among six up for vote

The Pompano Beach mayor’s job is officially up for grabs — and will be among seats six commission seats that city voters will consider on Election Day, Nov. 6.

Mayor Lamar Fisher, now running for a seat on the County Commission, formally notified the city clerk Friday that he will resign his mayor’s gavel on Nov. 5, clearing the way for his successor’s election the next day.

Fisher has been on the commission dais for a total of 16 years, 11 of them as mayor. He said it has been a thrill to watch the city thrive, particularly on the beachside, where a new pier is under construction and oceanside dining has returned after a long hiatus.

“It’s a bittersweet resignation,” Fisher said.

His resignation will save city taxpayers about $234,000 by avoiding any costs associated with a special election, according to city officials. Some interpretations of the city charter were that Fisher could have remained mayor until his County Commission election was certain, but that could have meant having a special election.

The field to replace him is already surfacing.

The mayoral hopefuls

— Current commission members Charlotte Burrie and Rex Hardin.

— Michael Sobel, which means at least three of the six commission seats will be newcomers after Election Day.

Eleven candidates have filed to compete for the other five, two-year district commission seats.

Qualifying for the next election starts at noon, June 18, and ends at noon, June 22. include:

ageggis@sunsentinel.com, 561-243-6624, or @AnneBoca