Lawyer Patrick Ferguson is running for the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Commission, pledging to protect the town’s coastal character and keep local government focused on residents.
Ferguson, an environmental advocate, announced his candidacy this week, pitching himself as a community-focused candidate prioritizing preservation, transparency and what he described as nonpartisan leadership.
“Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a special place, and I’m running to make sure we preserve what makes it so unique,” he said in a statement.
“That means protecting our beaches and environment, maintaining thoughtful growth, and keeping partisanship from overshadowing the sense of community that defines our town.”
Ferguson is running for Seat 2 on the five-seat panel, now held by Vice Mayor Randy Strauss, a fellow Democrat. He enters the race with a background in environmental organizing and local activism.
He has spent nearly a decade as a Senior Organizer with the Sierra Club’s Florida Chapter, where he led campaigns across South Florida. Among them is the “Stop the Burn” initiative, which advocates ending sugar cane field burning and promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.
Ferguson’s environmental work has also included efforts to prevent overdevelopment in Florida’s state parks and local initiatives through Residents for Resilience, a Broward County-based nonprofit where he serves on the board.
There, he co-founded a “Restaurants for Resilience” program to promote sustainability in the local hospitality industry.
Ferguson has also been active in local civic debates. He recently organized opposition to a proposal to name a local roadway after President Donald Trump, helping to form the “No Politics in Paradise” initiative and urging officials to require voter approval for such decisions through a charter amendment.
He is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law and previously interned with the Broward County Public Defender’s Office and the Fort Lauderdale City Attorney’s Office.
He also holds a political science degree from The Catholic University of America, where he was recognized as an NCAA All-Conference Academic football player.
Ferguson said his campaign will emphasize resident input and long-term planning.
“Local government should always put the interests of the town and its residents over partisan agendas,” he said. “I believe in thoughtful, transparent leadership that reflects our community’s values.
Ferguson’s brother, Michael, launched a campaign earlier this month for House District 100.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s General Election is Nov. 3.