Name: H. Wayne Clark, Jr.

Campaign website: hwayneclark.org

Date and place of birth: March 24, 1974; Pinehurst NC.

List in order of importance the three most important issues in your community and briefly explain what you would do about each.
Public Safety: Keeping Plantation safe must remain one of our highest priorities. I support giving our police and fire departments the staffing (by hiring more police officers and growing our volunteer fire department), training and resources they need while making sure public-safety technology is used responsibly and transparently. Technology should not be used in public safety as a money grab; it should be used to solve crimes protect our community.

Responsible Development and Infrastructure: Plantation is a mature city, and development decisions made today will affect our neighborhoods for decades. I support responsible redevelopment that respects surrounding neighborhoods, addresses traffic and infrastructure impacts, and produces tangible benefits for residents. We also need to make sure our roads, drainage, utilities and other infrastructure keep pace with growth. Growth should strengthen Plantation and not overwhelm the neighborhoods that make our city special.

Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability: Residents deserve to know that their tax dollars are being spent wisely. As an attorney and businessman, I understand budgets, contracts and accountability. I would scrutinize spending, prioritize essential services and infrastructure, and demand measurable results from major expenditures. Residents should be able to easily understand where their money is going and what they are receiving in return.

Do you support or oppose Amendment 3, and why?
I support meaningful property-tax relief for Plantation homeowners, but any change must also protect the essential services residents expect from their city.  Amendment 3 would substantially increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes—to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028—and reduce the assessment-growth cap for non-homestead property from 10% to 5%. It would also restrict property-tax revenue to specified governmental purposes while providing a mechanism for other expenditures. Homeowners, particularly those on fixed incomes, are feeling the pressure of rising housing costs, insurance and taxes. They deserve relief. At the same time, Plantation relies on property-tax revenue to fund services residents depend on, including public safety and infrastructure. If Amendment 3 passes, City Council will have a responsibility to carefully evaluate the fiscal impact, protect core services and look for efficiencies before asking residents for additional revenue. My approach would be straightforward: protect taxpayers, prioritize essential services, eliminate unnecessary spending and make every dollar work harder.

Can you cite a program or service in your city that in your opinion is wasteful or unnecessary? 
Rather than identify a city employee or department as “wasteful” without a complete review of its budget and performance, I believe Plantation needs a more rigorous process for evaluating spending.

As a council member, I would support reviewing programs and major expenditures based on measurable results: What was the stated objective? What did taxpayers spend? Did the program achieve that objective? Is there a less expensive or more effective way to accomplish the same goal?

I am particularly interested in examining administrative and consulting expenditures, contracts, technology purchases and programs that have grown over time without meaningful performance review.

Fiscal responsibility is not simply cutting for the sake of cutting. It is making sure taxpayers receive value for what they spend. Public safety, infrastructure and essential services should remain priorities, while discretionary spending should receive greater scrutiny.

What is your opinion of the proposed mixed-use development by Barron Development and Hudson Capital near the 7000 block of West Broward Boulevard, and is it consistent with the city’s character?
I support responsible redevelopment, but I do not believe Plantation should approve major projects simply because redevelopment is desirable. For the proposed project near the 7000 block of West Broward Boulevard, my evaluation would focus on density, height, traffic, infrastructure capacity, compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods, public-safety impacts and the overall benefit to Plantation residents.

Mixed-use redevelopment can be appropriate in certain locations and can help revitalize aging commercial properties. But the details matter. A project should fit the location rather than forcing the location to accommodate a project that is too intense.

Plantation has a character that residents value. Growth and redevelopment are inevitable, but they should be thoughtful and responsible. Developers should demonstrate how their projects address traffic and infrastructure impacts and how they benefit the broader community.

My standard would be consistent: development should work for Plantation—not the other way around.

Do you support or oppose the use of surveillance cameras known as LPRs or license plate readers in your city, and what changes would you support?
Technology that helps police solve crimes and locate dangerous suspects can make Plantation safer. But public safety and individual privacy are not mutually exclusive.

I would support clear written policies covering data retention, authorized access, information sharing, auditing and accountability. Residents should know what information is being collected, how long it is kept, who can access it and under what circumstances it can be shared. Our information should not be accessible by corporations and individuals not employed by the city.  And those employed by the city should be held accountable if they access the information inappropriately.

I support the use of license plate readers as a legitimate public-safety tool, but I also support strong safeguards governing how the information is collected, retained, accessed and shared.

Plantation’s “strong mayor” form of government and at-large or city-wide commission elections are unusual in Broward. Do you believe the system works well for all city residents, and if not, what changes would you support?
Plantation’s form of government works, but no governmental structure should be considered beyond examination.

The most important question is whether residents throughout Plantation believe they have meaningful representation and access to their elected officials. At-large elections mean every voter has a voice in selecting every council member, which has advantages. At the same time, council members must make a deliberate effort to understand the concerns of individual neighborhoods throughout a diverse city.

I would not support changing Plantation’s governmental structure simply for the sake of change. Any significant change should begin with public discussion, objective analysis and substantial resident input.

Regardless of structure, I believe council members should be accessible throughout the city. I intend to regularly engage residents, neighborhood associations, businesses and community organizations rather than expecting people to come to City Hall to be heard.

Government works best when residents believe their voices matter.

Would you support an increase in salary and/or benefits for elected officials in your city? Why or why not?
NO! I would not make increasing compensation for elected officials a priority.

Serving on the Plantation City Council is public service. Any discussion about changing compensation should be transparent, supported by objective comparisons with similarly situated municipalities, and considered in the context of the city’s overall finances.

My priorities are public safety, infrastructure, responsible development, fiscal discipline and delivering better results for Plantation residents. I do not believe at increasing salaries fits these beliefs.

Like all cities and counties, Plantation must comply with a state law (SB 1134) that prohibits funding or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion policies, starting Jan. 1, 2027. Do you support or oppose this law and what impact will it have?
Beginning January 1, 2027, Florida law will prohibit municipalities from funding, promoting or taking specified official actions related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The law also contains requirements affecting local contracts and grants.

As a lawyer and prospective council member, I believe the City of Plantation has an obligation to follow state and federal law. The city’s administration and attorneys should review existing ordinances, policies, contracts and programs before the effective date to identify any necessary changes.

At the same time, complying with the law does not change the city’s obligation to provide excellent municipal services to every Plantation resident. Every resident deserves to be treated fairly, respectfully and equally when dealing with their local government.

My focus would be on ensuring Plantation complies with the law while continuing to serve every neighborhood and every resident professionally and fairly.

What factor most distinguishes you from your opponent(s) and why?
My combination of professional, military and community-service experience distinguishes my candidacy.

I am an attorney and businessman, an Army veteran, a husband and father, and I have spent years actively serving this community. My experience has taught me how to analyze complicated issues, negotiate solutions, read contracts, understand legal obligations and hold people accountable.

But my involvement in Plantation goes beyond my profession. I have volunteered my time in our community, including working with youth sports and serving families through Plantation Athletic League and Little League. When I took over our little league program, it was nearly $30,000 in debt, today it is completely out of debt, thriving and able to provide scholarships to those in need.

I am not seeking office because I need a title. I am running because I believe my experience can be useful to the city where my family and I live.

I would bring an independent perspective to City Council, ask difficult questions when necessary, and approach decisions by asking a simple question: Is this in the best interest of Plantation residents?

List in reverse chronological order colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
Nova Southeastern – JD in 2004

UNCG- Bachelors in 2001.

List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
Shareholder- Bush Ross

Partner- Foley Mansfield

Partner – Wicker Smith

Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition.
I recently was the Plaintiff in a lawsuit to remove Francis Petrocellie from the ballot.  He did not follow Florida law when qualifying.  I won that lawsuit.  I was also a Plaintiff in a suit against Greg Toney due to his eligibility.  That lawsuit was dropped.  I previously filed a lawsuit against Raymond Hicks and won that lawsuit.

Have you ever been charged or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates and terms of sentence.
NO.

Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
I am asking voters for the opportunity to serve because I believe Plantation needs leadership focused on results, accountability and residents.

My background as an attorney and businessman has taught me to analyze facts, understand contracts and budgets, negotiate effectively and ask difficult questions. My military service taught me responsibility, teamwork and that leadership means service. My years of community involvement have given me the opportunity to work directly with Plantation families and understand the issues that affect them.

On City Council, my priorities will be protecting public safety, demanding fiscal responsibility, improving infrastructure, supporting responsible development and making city government more transparent and responsive.

I will not agree with everyone on every issue, and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. But residents will always know where I stand, why I reached a decision, and that I listened before making it.

I am running to represent the entire City of Plantation and to help ensure that the city we love remains safe, financially responsible and a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.