Coconut Creek Voters to Decide on Electing a Mayor in November Referendum

by David Volz May 12, 2024

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Coconut Creek Commission Debates Overhauling Municipal Elections

Coconut Creek City Commission.

Voters now have the decision to elect a mayor in November.

At the meeting held on May 9, the Coconut Creek Commission unanimously passed an ordinance to include a referendum on the ballot. In November 2024, the city’s voters will decide whether to change the current structure of the city commission. The referendum proposes to establish an elected mayor and four districts.

Seats A and D will be extended if the referendum passes by canceling the March 2027 election. Any change to term limits will only occur in March 2029 and only if the referendum passes. Elections will continue in March except for the March 2025 ballot referendum item. According to Yvonne Lopez, spokesperson for Coconut Creek, the March 2027 election will be canceled if the referendum passes.

If voters approve the referendum, then the districts will change from five to four district commissioners with an elected mayor at large. The delineation of the new districts will not occur until the redistricting board meets in 2026.

Commissioners are elected at large, but they run for a geographically specific district seat, according to Lopez.

Commissioner Joshua Rydell believes residents should be able to vote for their mayor and is willing to accept a shorter term if necessary to hold elections. No other commission members were interested in accepting shortened terms.

According to Mayor Sandra Welch, the current system of having a mayor appointed by the commission is working well, and there is no reason to change. She believes residents are satisfied with an appointed mayor and there is no need for an elected mayor.

Commissioners Joshua Rydell, John Brodie, and Jeffrey Wasserman voted in favor of the ordinance. Mayor Sandra Welch and Vice Mayor Jackie Railey voted against it.

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David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.