New Commission Candidate Could Shake-Up Field
His name is George Trodella.
Yesterday, he filed to run for the Fort Lauderdale District IV Commission seat. The City's primary is in February 2009, and if no one wins 50% of the vote then, the top two vote getters will advance to the General Election in March 2009. The District IV seat is currently held by Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson. Hutchinson is term limited and was running for Mayor until she dropped her bid a few months ago.
Trodella is a Rio Vista resident and lives about half way between Mayor Jim Naugle and another District IV Commission candidate, Romney Rogers. The other candidates in the race so far are Coleman Prewitt and Jim Lewis.
His entry into the fray is deemed significant by most insiders, who suspect that he might take votes from neighbor Romney, who many thought was pulling ahead in the District IV race. Trodella says his other neighbor Mayor Naugle was "initially supportive" of him running when he spoke to him in January, but that was "before Romney got into the race". His doesn't know who Naugle will back now, but Trodella says he will "take votes where he can find them".
Trodella is a 62 year old businessman (owner of Positive ID USA, an ID Card company on Miami Road), and has been a resident for about 40 years. He also owned the Fort Lauderdale Hotel on the 17th Street Causeway, until he tore it down some years back.
He has an extensive resume of service in the community. He was first appointed to the Beach Advisory Board by Mayor Rob Dressler, who served as Mayor before Mayor Bob Cox, who served as Mayor before Naugle. Since then, he has served on the Housing Authority, the Planning and Zoning Board, and currently serves on the Citizens Police Review Board, appointed by Naugle, but will step down to run.
He says he reached out to the District's Homeowners groups by letter earlier this year to see what they felt were the main problems in the City. He says they talked mostly about Code issues, slow Police Response Times, and the [proverbial] potholes issues. He thinks the City "needs direction", and says he understands the substantial challenge he is asking to take on.
As for his chances to win, he seems to like them fine. He says the candidate field now consists of a perennial candidate (Lewis), a candidate that moved into the District to run (Prewitt), and a candidate that touts his "native born status" (Rogers). He says that while he can appreciate that, the status doesn't provide Rogers "a birthright" to the City Commission.
It's a bit late for an entry into the political battle, but if he gets aggressive with his candidacy, Trodella could have a big effect on the outcome.
Yesterday, he filed to run for the Fort Lauderdale District IV Commission seat. The City's primary is in February 2009, and if no one wins 50% of the vote then, the top two vote getters will advance to the General Election in March 2009. The District IV seat is currently held by Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson. Hutchinson is term limited and was running for Mayor until she dropped her bid a few months ago.
Trodella is a Rio Vista resident and lives about half way between Mayor Jim Naugle and another District IV Commission candidate, Romney Rogers. The other candidates in the race so far are Coleman Prewitt and Jim Lewis.
His entry into the fray is deemed significant by most insiders, who suspect that he might take votes from neighbor Romney, who many thought was pulling ahead in the District IV race. Trodella says his other neighbor Mayor Naugle was "initially supportive" of him running when he spoke to him in January, but that was "before Romney got into the race". His doesn't know who Naugle will back now, but Trodella says he will "take votes where he can find them".
Trodella is a 62 year old businessman (owner of Positive ID USA, an ID Card company on Miami Road), and has been a resident for about 40 years. He also owned the Fort Lauderdale Hotel on the 17th Street Causeway, until he tore it down some years back.
He has an extensive resume of service in the community. He was first appointed to the Beach Advisory Board by Mayor Rob Dressler, who served as Mayor before Mayor Bob Cox, who served as Mayor before Naugle. Since then, he has served on the Housing Authority, the Planning and Zoning Board, and currently serves on the Citizens Police Review Board, appointed by Naugle, but will step down to run.
He says he reached out to the District's Homeowners groups by letter earlier this year to see what they felt were the main problems in the City. He says they talked mostly about Code issues, slow Police Response Times, and the [proverbial] potholes issues. He thinks the City "needs direction", and says he understands the substantial challenge he is asking to take on.
As for his chances to win, he seems to like them fine. He says the candidate field now consists of a perennial candidate (Lewis), a candidate that moved into the District to run (Prewitt), and a candidate that touts his "native born status" (Rogers). He says that while he can appreciate that, the status doesn't provide Rogers "a birthright" to the City Commission.
It's a bit late for an entry into the political battle, but if he gets aggressive with his candidacy, Trodella could have a big effect on the outcome.
Great, I know George somewhat and I felt after meeting him and talking to him that he was a kind hearted gentleman and I will give him one thing now he is not a Lawyer.
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He is a nice man and he asked questions very early this past year - but didn't see the need to get out and work in the community - meet the neighborhoods or tell them what his plan was...he only asked that they give him information. Was there no need to do the necessary work? As I recall - he hasn't been seen or heard of again until yesterday. ...a little late and not respectful to the community in getting to know him or seeing him in action....ever participated at commission, in your neighborhood or any other outside programs in the city (board experience is nice but doesn't integrate you into the communities you will represent).
For me its too late to be effective and somewhat disrespectful.
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There is a big change coming to Fort Lauderdale. A new commission and Mayor. Fort Lauderdale has the chance to elect its first gay mayor and become one of the worlds more progressive cities. Dean Trentalis is battle tested and is the only candidate in this race who is worthy of being the first Gay Mayor of Fort Lauderdale. Mr. "Earl" Come Lately is nothing more than a guy trying to get publicity for his sinking tile business. He has no ties to this community and has never even voted in a city election here. The time has come for Fort Lauderdale to become the beacon of diversity to the world, with Dean as Mayor we will do this.
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Get over the gay thing-----we need leadership and Dean is not the only battle tested candidate. For once look beyond your own agenda and look at what is best for the city as a whole ... we are entering some very challenging times and sticking to the issues is infinitely more important than a petty goal of being the first "gay" mayor of Fort Lauderdale - not a very lofty goal!
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Trantalis is gay? No kidding. I thought he was running to be the first lazy mayor to quit after the first year in office.
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