An Interview With The Former Mayor
I know what you're thinking...
No, ........ this interview is not with him
Jim Naugle
.... we are planning an interview with Naugle soon , but when I asked him when he'd be available he said something cryptic, I'm not sure what he meant. He said to give him a call when "swine are in flight!"
No sillies, not him either! He should have been Mayor, but lost to the above!
No No ... now you've gone way too far back !
Clay Shaw
....hmmm... I see you haven't been paying attention !
George Gretsas
OK, I'd better help ..... this interview is with the Fort Lauderdale Mayor from 1982 through 1986 ..........
Meet Rob Dressler
current Mayor Jack Seiler with former Mayor Rob Dressler
TIM: So Rob ......... tell us a little about yourself , after all some of us were just babies when you were Mayor !
ROB: As to my roots, I am truly a Fort Lauderdale native. I was born in Broward General Hospital, grew up first in Victoria Park on Victoria Park Road and later on NE 7 Street. I went to East Side Elementary, Sunrise Junior High School and Fort Lauderdale High School.
Fort Lauderdale when I grew up, was a small town, and we could ride our bicycles all over town, had to go past farms to get to Wilton Manors. I could ride, fish or hunt just west of State Road 7. After I graduated from high school in 1963, I was out of the area in college, law school and the Marines, but moved back to Victoria Park in 1975.
TIM: And when you moved back to Fort Lauderdale, had things changed?
ROB: yes, and not for the better. The neighborhoods were overrun with traffic and very rundown, without adequate code enforcement or trash pick-up, and prostitutes lined Federal Highway throughout the City.
The recession in the late70's had ended the City's ambitious Downtown Development Plan and left nothing but empty lots, which were eventually put to short term use as tennis courts.
TIM: and seeing all that made you want to get involved?
ROB: yep ... I got involved by bringing feuding neighbors together to form the Victoria Park Civic Association. Then, after Clay Shaw's election to Congress there was an "empty seat"on the Commission, so I became a candidate. In my first term, I served with Bob Cox, former Mayor Virginia Young, and Dick Mills, as well as John Rodstrom who was also elected that year.
TIM: so how did your political career end?
ROB: I resigned to run for the Florida Senate. Unfortunately, the sense of community and enthusiasm we had in those days seems to have gotten lost.
However, rather than focusing on past problems, I want to say that Mayor Seiler and the new commission will lead us in a new, much more positive direction.
No, ........ this interview is not with him
Jim Naugle
.... we are planning an interview with Naugle soon , but when I asked him when he'd be available he said something cryptic, I'm not sure what he meant. He said to give him a call when "swine are in flight!"
No sillies, not him either! He should have been Mayor, but lost to the above! No No ... now you've gone way too far back ! Clay Shaw
....hmmm... I see you haven't been paying attention ! George Gretsas
OK, I'd better help ..... this interview is with the Fort Lauderdale Mayor from 1982 through 1986 ..........
Meet Rob Dressler
current Mayor Jack Seiler with former Mayor Rob Dressler
TIM: So Rob ......... tell us a little about yourself , after all some of us were just babies when you were Mayor !
ROB: As to my roots, I am truly a Fort Lauderdale native. I was born in Broward General Hospital, grew up first in Victoria Park on Victoria Park Road and later on NE 7 Street. I went to East Side Elementary, Sunrise Junior High School and Fort Lauderdale High School.
Fort Lauderdale when I grew up, was a small town, and we could ride our bicycles all over town, had to go past farms to get to Wilton Manors. I could ride, fish or hunt just west of State Road 7. After I graduated from high school in 1963, I was out of the area in college, law school and the Marines, but moved back to Victoria Park in 1975.
TIM: And when you moved back to Fort Lauderdale, had things changed?
ROB: yes, and not for the better. The neighborhoods were overrun with traffic and very rundown, without adequate code enforcement or trash pick-up, and prostitutes lined Federal Highway throughout the City.
The recession in the late70's had ended the City's ambitious Downtown Development Plan and left nothing but empty lots, which were eventually put to short term use as tennis courts.
TIM: and seeing all that made you want to get involved?
ROB: yep ... I got involved by bringing feuding neighbors together to form the Victoria Park Civic Association. Then, after Clay Shaw's election to Congress there was an "empty seat"on the Commission, so I became a candidate. In my first term, I served with Bob Cox, former Mayor Virginia Young, and Dick Mills, as well as John Rodstrom who was also elected that year.
TIM: so how did your political career end?
ROB: I resigned to run for the Florida Senate. Unfortunately, the sense of community and enthusiasm we had in those days seems to have gotten lost.
However, rather than focusing on past problems, I want to say that Mayor Seiler and the new commission will lead us in a new, much more positive direction.
Researching the career of Rob Dressler, you will find some very positive things that happened in the city - progressive, inclusive and moved us forward. The vision that was generated during that time was achieved but not maintained. Many of those that followed failed to have any vision or execution...it is good to see that the new commission is very interested in looking and planning ahead.
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I was not really a baby when Rob was the Mayor (moved here in 1960 when I was 8 years of age) Not really "politic material"
However, I must agree with Rob that the new commission & Mayor Seiler will lead our city to a new & better direction than it has been in the past. They just need to get rid of Georgie & his cronies!
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Thank God the interview was not with Naugle! We would hear nothing but bull shit as we have heard in the past how many years?
Thank you Tim for.
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Tim: Mayor Jim Naugle may have been referring to the recent outbreak of Swine Flu. Must be giving you the nod. Time to flesh out those midnight revelations.
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Tim, I am so glad that you are back in town and sending out your blog regularly again as it is one of my favorite things to see in my mailbox. Your articles are always very interesting and you do a great job of keeping the community in touch with so many issues. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into keeping us informed and for all that you do in the community and you are right on target when you say that you should have kicked Naugle's ass in the mayoral race, but you gave him a great run for the money and you were sure very well loved by your supporters. Good luck to you and Cindy in everything you ever endeavor.
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