Ballot lineup ready in Fort Lauderdale

The wife of a state representative won a seat on the Fort Lauderdale City Commission on Monday, when she was the only candidate to file for the seat.

Heather Moraitis, a mother, schoolteacher and wife of George Moraitis, a Republican state representative from Fort Lauderdale, will be sworn in March 20. She’ll replace Bruce Roberts in representing northeast Fort Lauderdale.

The only city in Broward to hold a municipal primary election, Fort Lauderdale finalized its Jan. 16 ballot lineup Monday. Three people will run for the job of mayor, as Mayor Jack Seiler steps down because of term limits. Three of the four city commissioner seats are contested.

“I definitely will work hard to get things done,” Moraitis said Monday. “That’s how I am in any area of life, and I’ll bring it to the City Commission, but I’ll do it in a respectful way that appreciates people and their hard work.”

Moraitis said fixing the city’s hobbled water-sewer system is priority No. 1, but voters also talked to her about roads, sidewalks, building permit delays and transportation.

Fort Lauderdale’s races are non-partisan. Residents vote by geographic district, and all vote in the mayor’s race. If any candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, he or she wins outright. If not, the top two vote-getters appear on the March 13 general election ballot.

Here’s the ballot lineup:

Owner of a property management company.

Lester Zalewski: