Name: Alex Recio

Campaign website: AlexForHollywood.com

Date and place of birth: 11/5/87 in Hollywood, FL’s District 3

In your opinion, is your city generally on the right track or wrong track, and why or why not?  
While no city is perfect, I believe our city is generally on the right track. Our budget is structurally balanced, our police and fire departments are rated Class 1, and we have an AA- bond rating. We are also finishing up with the successful implementation of our General Obligation Bond, which saw over $200 million of investment into Hollywood’s parks, infrastructure, and public safety. With that being said, I believe we need to be mindful of how we plan and develop our city for its next 100 years. Project specifications and locations must be appropriate, and must respect our current codes and current residents. We must also keep a watchful eye on our resiliency standards, as South Florida continues to adapt to evolving weather and tide patterns.

List in order of importance the three most important issues in the city and briefly explain what you would do about each.
Lowering taxes and fees: Hollywood is one of the highest taxed cities in Broward County. Residents and businesses are struggling every day to stay afloat. Hollywood’s annual budget increased by $100 million this year, while LOWERING the millage rate and with its population growing at less than 1%. I would focus on reducing non-essential administrative spending, audit consulting contracts and user fee schedules, and continue to lower the millage rate.

Support public safety and first responders: As the son of a retired Hollywood police officer with over 25 years of service, I offer a unique and personal perspective on Hollywood’s public safety. I would focus on community policing programs and new technology force multipliers, while always being respectful of individual privacy rights.

Stormwater Master Plan: Thankfully, Hollywood now has a Stormwater Master Plan. Unfortunately, it will cost approximately $1 billion and take decades to implement. I would focus on frontloading projects for our most severe “hot spots” and on ensuring we are working with our intergovernmental partners on funding mechanisms to help take the burden off of Hollywood residents and businesses.

Do you support or oppose Amendment 3, and why?
I support Amendment 3. While I believe Amendment 3 is another Tallahassee attack on Hollywood’s home rule, I welcome any opportunity to save taxpayers money. Hollywood’s budget grew from roughly $900 million last year to $1 billion this year—a $100 million increase. Hollywood’s budget has grown an average of 10% year-over-year, every year, for the past 10 years. That is to say, Hollywood’s budget has doubled over the past 10 years. If Amendment 3 passing creates a projected $15–20 million gap, that is only 1.5–2% of this year’s budget. Even after absorbing that cut, the city would still have a $980–985 million budget; $80–85 million more than last year. I had to cut far more than 2% from my restaurants’ budgets during COVID. If I could do it as a Hollywood small business owner, I can do it as a Hollywood City Commissioner.

If you are elected and Amendment 3 passes, you will have to reduce services or raise other fees. Can you cite a specific city program or service that is wasteful or unnecessary?
As a small business owner, I understand the importance of budgeting. And as a restaurant owner who navigated the challenges of COVID, I also understand the importance of setting priorities, making adjustments, and finding efficiencies when circumstances change. If Amendment 3 passes, our budget would return to 2023 levels. I look forward to working with the Assistant City Manager for Financial Management and Administration, Adam Reichbach, to identify areas of the budget that have grown disproportionately since 2023. That doesn’t necessarily mean returning to the past, but it does mean asking an important question: if a program or expense wasn’t necessary in 2023, is it necessary today? We should also keep in mind that both of Hollywood’s CRAs are expected to sunset in the coming years, which will provide additional resources that can be used for priorities across the entire city.

How would you assess your city’s ability to manage growth, development and related issues such as traffic, noise, pollution and demands on city infrastructure?
Hollywood is growing, and I believe our ability to manage that growth needs to keep pace with it. We have a strong foundation, including a new Comprehensive Plan, development-review processes, and major investments in transportation, stormwater, and other infrastructure. But residents are right to ask whether we are doing enough to make sure growth and development are accompanied by the infrastructure and services needed to support them. As a small business owner and longtime Hollywood resident, I understand that growth can bring opportunity—but it also comes with impacts. Traffic, noise, flooding, parking, pressure on roads and utilities, and the overall character of our neighborhoods all need to be considered when we make development decisions. My approach would be simple: infrastructure first, responsible development, and accountability. Before approving significant new development, we need to understand its impact on our roads, drainage, utilities, public safety, and surrounding neighborhoods—and make sure the appropriate improvements are part of the equation. Hollywood is already investing in critical infrastructure, including stormwater improvements and transportation projects, but we need to make sure those investments keep pace with the development we approve. I’m not opposed to growth. I’m opposed to growth that leaves residents carrying the costs. We can welcome investment and new businesses, while protecting the character of our neighborhoods and making sure our infrastructure is ready for the future.

What single factor most distinguishes you from your opponent and why?
What distinguishes me from my opponent is my widespread community support, because of our vastly different histories and experience levels in Hollywood. My opponent moved to District 3 only two years ago. He has never once attended a civic association meeting (including our candidate forum), never once spoken before the City Commission on any issue, and never once served on any city boards or committees. He does, however, own commercial property in Hollywood’s downtown Regional Activity Center that he is currently selling for $4 million (specifically marketing the property’s potential density and height). Conversely, I was literally born in District 3 at Memorial Regional Hospital. I was educated in District 3 (my children now attend the same school I did). I served on the Board of Directors and I am a member of all three civic associations in District 3 (Hollywood Hills, Park East, and North Central Hollywood). I have spoken out at countless City Commission meetings over the years, and I am on record for every major issue facing our city. I served on Hollywood’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, General Obligation Bond Advisory Committee, and Charter Review Committee (where we fundamentally changed and enhanced the public’s role is deciding long-term leases of Hollywood’s most precious public lands); and I currently serve as Hollywood’s citizen representative on the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). One of my proudest campaign accomplishments is my Host Committee. From the beach to west of the Turnpike, some of my Host Committee members absolutely hate each other; they cannot agree on the color of the sky – but they agree on me. Because they know me, they’ve seen me in action on city, county, and nonprofit boards; and because they know my ability to bring different sides together for the betterment of Hollywood.

List in reverse chronological order colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
University of Miami School of Law
2011
Left to start my company
Florida State University
2006-2010
Bachelor’s Degree, Magna Cum Laude
Double Major: Public Relations & Political Science

List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
Chief Executive Officer, Miramar Bakery and Colada Cuban Cafe

Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition.
No.

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)?
My opponent talks about a Residents First “Approach,” because he has no real experience at which to point. I believe District 3 voters should elect me because I have a record of Residents First “Results.” As a member of the Charter Review Committee, I voted: 1) to take power away from the City Commission and gave it to the people (when it comes to long-term leases of Hollywood’s most precious public lands), 2) to double the amount of “public comment” opportunities at City Commission meetings, and 3) to keep our Charter Review process at intervals of every six years, as opposed to every ten years. As a member of the GO Bond Advisory Committee, I helped oversee the successful implementation of over $200 million capital improvement projects across Hollywood. While my opponent has yet to receive any public endorsement from any individual or organization, I am proud of my many endorsements, which include but are not limited to:

Hollywood Fraternal Order of Police
Hollywood Professional Firefighters
Hollywood Municipal Employees
Broward Teachers Union
Broward County AFL-CIO
The Hispanic Vote
Miami Realtors + R World
SAVE
Broward County Democratic Environmental Caucus
Dozens of elected officials and community leaders