I come from a proud family of strong, self-sufficient women who have instilled in me the values of hard work, education, self-confidence, faith, and the importance of treating everyone with respect. As a 42-year resident of Margate, I am excited to unlock its untapped potential! After successfully opposing a 968 3-story walkup apartment complex and winning back our property, it’s time to transform Margate into a vibrant destination rather than a City that people drive through on their way to somewhere else. Creating our Downtown City Center is now a reality. With over 20 years of municipal government experience and a proven track record as an award-winning school administrator, I am committed to moving Margate forward with a collaborative spirit and a “can do” attitude. Together, we can create a bright future for our community!
INFRASTRUCTURE
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Margate must continue to invest in phased-in replacement of its aging infrastructure. In 2018, as Mayor, I successfully lobbied the Florida State Legislature to appropriate $1,000,000 toward relining of our extensive miles of wastewater pipes. The City is continually working to enhance the efficiency of our stormwater management and drainage systems to address the challenges posed by South Florida's unpredictable weather. I recognize the urgent need to upgrade our over 50-year-old water/wastewater plant after years of previous officials postponing necessary action. As a result, I along with the Commission, am urging our residents to support a $120 million bond issue for the renovation of our plant. This funding combined with the $104 million already allocated for the project, will total the $224 million needed to modernize the plant, eliminate unpleasant odors and ensure that our water/wastewater system meets regulatory standards, thereby bringing Margate into the 21st Century.
THE ENVIRONMENT
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Keep Margate Green has become a rallying call and unifying movement for many Margate residents who bought homes and condos surrounded by existing golf courses, believing future development would be permanently prohibited. However, as interest in golf declines among younger generations, golf course owners are now being approached by developers with lucrative offers. Margate is at a pivotal point, striving to balance the community's desire to preserve the limited green space, with the requirements of the new "Live Local Act" which mandates affordable workforce housing, the ongoing need for increased tax revenue and the property owners' wishes to rezone their land from recreational to residential for profitable sales to developers. Additionally, there are significant concerns regarding the potential environmental impact of years of toxic chemical treatments that have contaminated the soil, necessitating thorough remediation before any safe construction can occur. It's my goal to find a workable compromise allowing residents to retain their lifestyle and owners to sell their private property to responsible buyers who respect the importance of protecting both our limited green space and the environment.​
DOWNTOWN MARGATE
It's time to fulfill the long awaited 20-year promise to create a vibrant City Center on over 50 acres of Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) property, acquired over the years for more than $33 million. Since 2000, the residents have patiently anticipated the transformation of Downtown Margate into a bustling community hub filled with dining, entertainment and family-friendly amenities. Plans faced a major setback and a lengthy 8-year court battle resulting from bad decisions made by four City Commissioners serving as the CRA Board prior to the 2016 City Commission election. Fortunately, your voices were heard, leading to my election and the end of the developer's plans to build 968 apartments comprised of three story walkup units and a strip mall. The land has final been returned to the CRA after winning the legal battles. Now the dream of Downtown Margate is on the brink of becoming a reality, turning or City into a must visit destination where people can stop, shop, dine, play and truly call home!
FIRE RESCUE SERVICE
I am thrilled to celebrate Margate's ISO1 rated Fire Department. Their incredible dedication and skill have made us all proud as they dominate Advance Life Support and Extrication competitions across Florida and even Eastern Europe. They truly are second to none! This year we've transformed the 40-year-old Station 58, into a cutting-edge Category 5 facility at Margate Boulevard and Rock Island Road, designed to meet the needs of our co-ed fire staff and equipped with the latest gear that exceeds health and safety standards. Although the staff has already moved into the building, the official ribbon cutting is October 9, 2024.
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In addition, I'm excited to share that I recently voted to boost our fire staffing! Now, each fire truck will respond with three firefighters instead of the usual two, ensuring that our brave first responders have the backup they need when entering a burning building and the third firefighter to manage the hose. This arrangement frees an EMS vehicle and crew that previously had to respond with the fire engine to be available to run to a different call if needed.​
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