Fort Lauderdale, FLVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fort Lauderdale City Commission Election 2026

1 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 1

3 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Commissioner District 1 · 1 seat

Only the District 1 seat is on this ballot. Voters who live in District 1 pick one candidate to serve the rest of the term, through 2028.

4 notes on these statements

The seat is open because Commissioner John Herbst resigned, effective Nov. 2, 2026, two years into his four-year term. Florida Politics

The city clerk lists Garry Smyth as withdrawn from the District 1 race. City of Fort Lauderdale

Garry Smyth's name still appears on the Supervisor of Elections' Nov. 3 candidate list for District 1. Broward County Supervisor of Elections · Oct 1, 2026

Fort Lauderdale voters will also decide 10 charter amendment questions on Nov. 3. City of Fort Lauderdale (Spotlight FTL)

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Pamela Beasley-PittmanCommissioner, District 33sourcedSteven GlassmanCommissioner, District 24sourcedBen SorensenVice Mayor and Commissioner, District 46sourcedDean J. TrantalisMayor6sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesBallot Questions 9 and 10: who hires the police and fire chiefs, Ballot Questions 7 and 8: selling, leasing and licensing city land, A new City HallKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Voter registration deadline (book closing)

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Ballot Questions 9 and 10: who hires the police and fire chiefs

Where it standsThe commission voted 3-2 on June 2, 2026 to put two charter amendments on the ballot that would make the police chief and fire chief report to the commission instead of the city manager.

What's on the tableIf voters approve, the City Commission appoints the police and fire chiefs and sets their pay by resolution.

Ballot Questions 7 and 8: selling, leasing and licensing city land

Where it standsVoters decide on Nov. 3 whether to rewrite the charter's rules for selling and leasing city property (Question 7) and to tighten protection of park land (Question 8).

What's on the tableThe commission must follow whatever rules voters adopt each time it considers a sale, lease or use agreement for city land.

  • Question 8 would require a unanimous vote of the entire City Commission for license, concession, facility-use or other use agreements longer than one year on city-owned park land. City of Fort Lauderdale · Jun 2, 2026
  • The commission adopted the park-land amendment on second reading 5-0 on June 2, 2026. City of Fort Lauderdale · Jun 2, 2026
  • Question 7 would let the commission sell real property to private parties by a resolution adopted by at least four commissioners, with a finding that the sale is in the city's best interest. City of Fort Lauderdale (Spotlight FTL)
  • Question 7 would also remove the charter's 50-year ceiling on leasing city property to a private party. Florida Politics
  • The Sun Sentinel reports the park-land amendment was crafted after controversial deals with developers, including the One Stop Shop, Bahia Mar and Snyder Park pickleball agreements. Sun Sentinel · Sep 1, 2026

A new City Hall

Where it standsOn July 2, 2026 the commission voted 3-2 to approve an interim agreement with FTL City Hall Partners to plan a new City Hall.

What's on the tableThe commission decides whether to approve a final Comprehensive Agreement with the developer; the interim agreement does not commit the city to the project.

Property tax rate, budget and Amendment 3

Where it standsOn Sept. 14, 2026 the commission adopted a 2026-27 operating tax rate of 4.1193 mills, passing 4-1 with Commissioner Herbst voting no.

What's on the tableThe commission sets the tax rate and adopts the budget every year, and will have to respond if statewide Amendment 3 reduces city property tax revenue.

Building heights: the Pier Sixty-Six towers

Where it standsTavistock Development Company has proposed four 270-foot towers at Pier Sixty-Six in an area with a 120-foot height cap; the plan is in city review.

What's on the tableThe rezoning needs at least four votes on the five-member commission, so the District 1 winner could help decide it.

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Ballot Question 8 would require a unanimous City Commission vote for any license, concession or other use agreement longer than one year on city park land. Where do you stand?

  2. 2. Fort Lauderdale's operating property tax rate for 2026-27 is 4.1193 mills, the same rate as the year before. Where should the city's tax rate be?

  3. 3. Developers often ask the commission for more height or density than the city's plans allow, such as the 270-foot towers proposed at Pier Sixty-Six where the cap is 120 feet. What should the commission do?

  4. 4. Fort Lauderdale uses public-private partnerships (P3s) for big projects on city land, including the new City Hall. What approach should the commission take?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Pamela Beasley-Pittman, Steven Glassman, Ben Sorensen, Dean J. Trantalis1 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

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