For Pembroke Pines Commission, Schwartz best choice

In the March 17 city election, Pembroke Pines voters in District 2, the city’s northeast section, will again see two-time incumbent Jay Schwartz face off against Mark O’Loughlin.

Four years ago, Schwartz, 49, faced two opponents, including O’Loughlin, and won with 56 percent of the vote. O’Loughlin came in third with 21 percent.

There’s no question that District 2 voters should again return Schwartz to the commission. First elected in 2012, he has the experience and has shown he’s willing to take on powerful officials to safeguard the interests of Pines residents.

One example came in 2016 when Schwartz slammed thenBroward Sheriff Scott Israel for his management of the 9-1-1 dispatch system, getting into a war of words with the county’s top cop.

O’Loughlin, 53, who runs a graphic design and printing business, has no experience as an elected official, but has served on the Broward County Housing Authority since being appointed in 2016. In a joint candidate interview with the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, he struggled to articulate why he would be the better choice. Instead, he accused Schwartz of being “a bully” and unresponsive to residents’ complaints.

To make his case, O’Loughlin produced two letters. One was written last October by the president of the Pembroke Shores Community Association, a homeowners group, complaining to Schwartz about a phone call to discuss the association’s “procedural matters” in connection with a proposed townhouse development near 172nd and Pines Boulevard.

The other was a 2018 letter from the Miramar-Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce criticizing Schwartz for “bullying” in dealings between the city and the business group over an agreement to rent office space at City Hall.

Schwartz said he and the chamber have a “great relationship” and the head of the chamber, Henry Rose, who signed the letter, is supporting his campaign. He dismissed the letter from the Pembroke Shores HOA president as “political” because the HOA president is backing O’Loughlin and Pines Commissioner Angelo Castillo in the mayor’s race.

O’Loughlin cited crime as a big issue, alleging that criminals were coming up “from Miramar and points south.” Yet, he quickly admitted that “I don’t have any proof ” to back up the claim.

Schwartz, who supports incumbent Frank Ortis for mayor, said the city has benefitted from the current city leadership and should continue on the same path.

“We have the lowest millage (rate) in 10 years. The highest property values in 10 years. The lowest crime rate in 10 years. We have more officers on the street than ever,” he said.

Looking ahead, Schwartz, who runs a home inspection business, said his top priorities are making the county more responsive to the needs of Pines, the county’s second-largest city with more than 170,000 residents, including more than 50,000 in District 2. He also wants to push to restore cuts in state funding for social services, public education and first responders.

Pines District 2 voters should repeat history and re-elect Schwartz to a third four-year term.