South Florida 100

Our panel of 100 influential leaders discusses the most important issues affecting you.

TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

Lamar Fisher, mayor, Broward County. This year, Florida witnessed the strength and intensity of Mother Nature. The impact of hurricanes Ian and Nicole brought extensive damage to Florida’s coast. After a quiet period in August, activity ramped up in September with seven named storms, including two major hurricanes with Fiona and Ian. The season also included a rare late-season storm, with Hurricane Nicole making landfall in November along the east coast of Florida. Each year, hurricanes become more powerful; we must do everything in our power to make our communities more resilient and more prepared.

Debbi Hixon, member, Broward County School Board. The biggest event in my world this year was the trial of the Parkland shooter. The sentence was not what we expected, but we are glad to have it behind us. My hope is that our community can move forward from the horrific tragedy and that we can work together to honor those that were stolen from us by making our community safer for everyone. We are always stronger together, and we must work in unison to end the violence that is plaguing our neighborhoods daily. Our adult behavior should be modeling the actions we want our youth to exhibit.

Marty Kiar, property appraiser, Broward County. In 2022, our office began receiving complaints of deed fraud, whereby criminals file fake deeds and then mortgage, rent and sell properties. To combat fraud, our office created the Crimes Against Property Department. We entered into inter-local agreements with the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Broward State Attorney’s Office; worked closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies; and a Broward Sheriff’s detective has been permanently assigned to our office. So far, 109 complaints have been investigated with 60 fraudulent deeds discovered. Six arrests have been made and a total of $1,535,000 has been recovered.

Melissa McKinlay, vice president for government relations, WGI. In politics, the 2022 story was the Red Wave election. Predictions were aplenty that the entire country would turn red, but that only happened in Florida. In Palm Beach County, shock waves rippled through as two Republicans were elected to the County Commission. Most pundits were stunned that two seats turned red, but both have a long Republican history. District 4 was long held by Republicans Mary McCarty and Steven Abrams. District 6 was a Republican stronghold prior to Jess Santamaria registering as a Democrat to run in 2006. So, while many seem surprised at the outcome of the 2022 races, it seems to me that it’s an adjustment that benefited from Florida’s Red Tsunami.

Roni Raab, host, Shalom South Florida on WWNN. Antisemitism was out of control in 2022. Popular athletes and singers, and influential politicians and activists, unapologetically got into the act of demonizing Jews and spreading prejudice and hate. The new antisemitism (merging good-old Jew-hatred with the demonization of Israel) can be countered effectively if the broader community agrees to stand up to the hate. Call out anti-Jewish jokes, language or references to Jewish stereotypes, even if made in jest. Demand apologies. Sometimes statements from influencers are made from ignorance, but sometimes they are premeditated and deliberate. Either way, it needs to be called out and confronted. Let’s put an end to antisemitism!

Nan Rich, vice mayor, Broward County. Due to events in 2022, I believe nothing is more important in 2023 than preserving our democracy. The Jan. 6 Committee made an amazing contribution to that effort. Now, it’s in the hands of the Justice Department and state governments. As the only Red Wave state last November, Florida has so many threats to our democracy. We must not remain silent at attempts to normalize right-wing extremism and antisemitism. We must protect science over politics, preserve reproductive and voting rights, prevent gun violence and uphold our Constitution. We must defend our democratic values and democracy itself. It’s up to us!

Kelly Skidmore, member, Florida House of Representatives. For those of us regularly engaged in politics, the most important story of 2022 was the November general election results. Nationally, the party in power did not experience the historic turnover that is typical in nearly every midterm election, but in Florida, the result was not just a red wave but a red tsunami, surprising both Republican and Democratic operatives. The across-the-board Democratic loss allowed for the creation of a Republican supermajority in the Legislature and an entirely Republican Cabinet. Without the need for compromise, what Republicans do with that absolute power should concern all Floridians, especially the most vulnerable.

Dean Trantalis, mayor, Fort Lauderdale.

This year, Fort Lauderdale continued to make historic progress in replacing aging infrastructure to meet the demands of our growing population. Some of the highlighted completed projects include water main improvements in Port Condo, Victoria Park and Coral Shores; several pump station replacements; and Bayview Drive’s gravity sewer repairs. The City Commission’s infrastructure and resilience priorities encompass all of Fort Lauderdale’s robust and vast infrastructure. We look forward to again meeting these challenges in the new year.