Margate, FLVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Margate City Commission Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

7 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Commissioner Seat 3 · 1 seat

Commissioner Seat 5 · 1 seat

Every Margate voter picks one candidate for Seat 3 and one for Seat 5; all commissioners are elected citywide.

1 note on these statements

The Broward County Supervisor of Elections lists seven candidates for the two seats: four for Seat 3 and three for Seat 5. Broward County Supervisor of Elections

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Anthony N. CaggianoElected to the Margate City Commission in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Appointed mayor for a one-year term in 2022.7sourcedTommy RuzzanoMargate business owner and state-licensed general contractor. Elected to the Margate City Commission in 2012.7sourcedArlene R. SchwartzFormer Broward County public school teacher and administrator, first elected to the commission in 1991.7sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesFire rescue assessment, Redevelopment at 3011 N. Rock Island Road, Downtown City CenterKey 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

Fire rescue assessment

Where it standsOn July 8, 2026 the commission approved the fire rescue assessment rate for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2026; the preliminary rate it set on June 3 was $305.

What's on the tableHow Margate pays for fire rescue as its costs rise, including whether to raise the assessment in larger or smaller steps.

Redevelopment at 3011 N. Rock Island Road

Where it standsMargate Talk reported that at the Sept. 2, 2026 meeting the commission approved two ordinances for the project: a land-use plan amendment and a rezoning.

What's on the tableHow the project moves through the remaining approvals and what the city requires of it.

  • On Nov. 5, 2025 the commission passed on first reading, 3-2, a land use plan amendment changing 148.7729 acres of commercial recreation land to 74.1259 acres of residential, 7.618 acres of commercial and 67.029 acres of park land. City of Margate · Nov 5, 2025
  • The June 17, 2026 agenda listed a development agreement for about 143.5 acres at 3011 North Rock Island Road: 540 townhouses at up to 10 units per acre, up to 30,000 square feet of commercial space and at least 65.3 acres of open space. City of Margate · Jun 17, 2026
  • Margate Talk reported a maximum of 540 residential units, 24,800 square feet of permitted commercial development and 67 acres preserved as recreation space. Margate Talk · Sep 6, 2026

Downtown City Center

Where it standsThe Margate Community Redevelopment Agency approved Brookfield Holdings' final concept design for City Center on Sept. 9, 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city and its redevelopment agency handle the next steps of the 50-acre City Center project.

  • The commission voted 2-3 against a motion that the city look into a ballot question on City Center development (April 15, 2026). City of Margate · Apr 15, 2026
  • The city manager said putting a question on the ballot through the Supervisor of Elections cost approximately $106,000. City of Margate · Apr 15, 2026
  • The city attorney said it was his opinion that a ballot question could not be put on for this development agreement and that the CRA had a valid binding agreement. City of Margate · Apr 15, 2026
  • Margate Talk reported that, according to city information, the first phase may include 350 residential units, stores, restaurants and a pavilion for large events. Margate Talk · Sep 10, 2026

Youth sports programs on city fields

Where it standsOn July 1, 2026 the commission voted 4-1 to issue a request for proposals for youth soccer and multi-sports programming, after a public workshop.

What's on the tableWhat the city asks for in the request for proposals and who runs youth programs on city fields.

Budget and property taxes

Where it standsThe commission approved a fiscal year 2026/2027 millage rate of 7.5159 mills and a $251,248,610 total budget at its Sept. 16, 2026 final hearing.

What's on the tableNext year's budget and millage rate, and how the city responds if property-tax revenue falls.

Term limits and the elected mayor

Where it standsUnder a charter amendment voters approved in 2022, Margate will begin directly electing a mayor to two-year terms in 2028.

What's on the tableWho sits on the commission as Margate moves to a directly elected mayor and a commission of four commissioners plus the mayor.

Smoking and vaping in city parks

Where it standsA first-reading ordinance regulating smoking and vaping in city parks failed 2-3 on Nov. 25, 2025.

What's on the tableWhether to put park smoking and vaping rules in the city code, where an administrative policy applies now.

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. Fire rescue costs are rising. How should Margate set its annual fire assessment?

  2. 2. The land at 3011 N. Rock Island Road is designated for commercial recreation. Should the city allow housing, shops and park space there?

  3. 3. An outside club wants to run youth soccer on city fields. What should come first?

  4. 4. Smoking and vaping in city parks is barred by administrative policy. Should the city code regulate it?

  5. 5. If property-tax revenue dropped sharply, what should the city do first?

  6. 6. Margate commissioners may serve three consecutive terms. Should the limit change?

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

3 stay (not up this year): Anthony N. Caggiano, Tommy Ruzzano, Arlene R. Schwartz2 on this ballot

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

  • The City Commission has five members, elected citywide. Seats 3 and 5 are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot and both carry four-year terms. Margate Talk · Sep 30, 2026
  • Each November the commission chooses a mayor and vice mayor from among its members for one-year terms. Margate Talk · Sep 30, 2026
  • The mayor votes on commission items; the minutes list Mayor Antonio V. Arserio among the yes and no votes. City of Margate · Jul 1, 2026
  • Seat 5 is open because Commissioner Joanne Simone is term-limited; Antonio V. Arserio is seeking a third consecutive term in Seat 3, the maximum Margate allows. Margate Talk · Sep 30, 2026
  • Under a charter amendment approved by voters in 2022, Margate will begin directly electing a mayor to two-year terms in 2028, and the commission will shrink to four commissioners plus the mayor. Margate Talk · Sep 30, 2026

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