Monroig looks to hold off newcomers for seat

Pembroke Pines District 1 Commissioner Ismael Monroig is trying to hold on to the seat he’s held for only four months as he faces political newcomers Ted Victor and Thomas Good in the March 13 election.

Monroig is serving out the term of Carl Schecter, who retired last year after 13 years.

District 1 includes the southeast portion of the city, from Flamingo Road to the Florida Turnpike and from Pines Boulevard to Pembroke Road. The mayor is elected at-large, but each of the four commissioners is elected by voters from a single geographical district. The four districts are roughly divided by Flamingo Road and Pines Boulevard.

Monroig, 39, a regional director of a technologies firm, said his priorities would include neighborhood improvement, upgrading the city’s infrastructure and water quality.

“The east part of the city is suffering from different dynamics, there is traffic congestion and higher rates crime,” Monroig said. “Upgrading the infrastructure needs to be done in a smart way, to improve the east side without adding taxes.”

Victor, a 48-year-old high school science teacher, emphasized the need for better education citywide and also said employment and economics would be his focus if elected.

“As an educator for the past 13 years, I can say it all starts in the classroom. If we’re not preparing our youth to be successful, then none of those other things improve,” he said. Victor said he would focus on helping to improve not only the city-run charter school system but all schools in the city. of to Ismael Monroig,

He added that he is concerned about the city’s water quality and would look to improve it.

The quality of the city’s drinking water has been a hot issue since Nov. 2016, when routine testing at one of six sites revealed elevated levels of Trihalomethane, a disinfectant by-product. In high levels and with prolonged exposure, it can carry health risks, according to the state’s health department.

Good says his eight years of experience as a commissioner of the South Broward Drainage District will help him foster a better relationship between Pines and Southwest Ranches.

The relationship between Ranches and Pines has been bitter for more than two decades and there has been a steady stream of expensive lawsuits, counter suits and appeals over the past five years related to developments near their shared border and road access.

Good, 58, said the water quality would be a priority.

“Water fees were raised this year in order to upgrade the system so there should be no excuse going forward, the city owes it to residents who are footing the bill,” he said.

Good also said the city should conduct a disparity study to research how many minority and women-owned small businesses receive city contracts dollars.