Writer: Sara Suarez
2 min read November 2021 — New Broward County Mayor Michael Udine will be focused on job creation and working to make the county “a model for the nation,” he told Invest: in a statement on Wednesday. Broward County this week officially announced the new role for the commissioner of District 3 and former vice mayor.
“In November, I was honored to be sworn in as Broward County Mayor. I look forward to serving as both County Mayor and Commissioner for District 3, moving Broward in a positive direction for all residents. My priorities include supporting job creation in diverse industries, protecting our environment, making sure resources are allocated to increase public safety, and working toward a Broward County that is a model for the nation,” Udine said in a written statement to Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale.
In a previous release, Udine said his theme for the upcoming year will be “a healthy and sustainable Broward,” that “will include a focus on physical and mental health, financial health including jobs and personal finances and the overall health of our economy.”
Commissioner of District 4 Lamar P. Fisher is the new vice mayor.
Udine is a seasoned politician, having served as the mayor and city commissioner of Parkland until 2016. During his time there, the city became one of the safest in South Florida, the Best City for Families, and an Environmentally Proud City in the state, according to the Broward County website listing for Udine. Udine replaces Steve Geller, who will continue his functions as commissioner for District 5.
Unlike traditional elections, Broward elects its mayor through an election every November among its nine commissioners, who are elected by popular vote, according to Broward’s Charter. The votes for both Udine and Fisher were unanimous.
According to the Broward website, Udine has over a decade of experience in politics. He was a Broward commissioner during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on Feb. 14, 2018. During his mandate, he finalized Text to 911, a software designed to make communications easier with law enforcement in situations when verbal communication is not possible, like a shooting.
Speaking to CBS Miami about his plans and priorities for 2022, Udine said his goal is to return Broward to normalcy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the county, 4,900 people have died of COVID to date. Udine said his focus will be on making sure public, private and nonprofit agencies do not get overwhelmed when people reach out for help.
Udine promotes small-business ownership and will also focus his efforts on attracting high-paying skilled tech-based jobs and businesses to Broward. During an appearance on the Relatable Financial Podcast Udine talked about the importance of small businesses, his strategies to attract startups to South Florida, and his service to the community. Some of his other priorities include affordable housing, education, transportation and infrastructure.
