Name: Michelle Whitman

Campaign website: michellewhitman.com

Date and place of birth: Jan 12, 1962, Hollywood Memorial

In your opinion, is your city generally on the right track or wrong track, and why or why not?
Davie is doing a lot right, but that doesn’t mean we should ever get comfortable or stop listening to residents.

We’ve tried to stay focused on what local government is supposed to do: public safety, roads and infrastructure, responsible budgeting and protecting our neighborhoods. This year, I voted for the rollback rate, which is 5.1% lower than last year’s rate, while still funding police, fire, roads, drainage and the services residents expect.

What I hear about most from neighbors is affordability, traffic, drainage and growth. Those are the things we need to keep working on.

List in order of importance the three most important issues in the city and briefly explain what you would do about each.
Affordability (responsible budgeting). We have to recognize that homeowners and families are dealing with rising costs everywhere. I supported reducing Davie’s operating millage rate to the rollback rate this year and I want to continue looking for ways to control costs while protecting core services.

Protecting neighborhoods while managing growth. Growth has to fit the area around it. It has to take traffic, drainage, public safety and nearby neighborhoods into account. We have worked hard to protect Davie’s western character and open space. Through agreements with developers, hundreds of acres have been placed in the Davie Area Land Trust. We also put our golf courses in the land trust so we don’t face the same development pressures other communities have faced.

Traffic, roads and drainage. These are everyday quality of life issues. I represent Davie on the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization and have worked to bring tens of millions of dollars back to Davie for road improvements. We need to keep pushing for those infrastructure projects and make sure Davie gets its fair share.

Do you support or oppose Amendment 3, and why?
No, I don’t support Amendment 3. But I understand why people are looking for relief. The cost of living keeps going up, and homeowners are feeling it.

Davie is in a strong financial position. We have healthy reserves and a broad mix of property uses that gives us some flexibility.

I think local governments still need to look for creative ways to reduce the tax burden and give residents meaningful relief, and I’m proud we were able to lower taxes to the rollback rate without cutting services our neighbors expect.

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? 
I wouldn’t want to name a program just to have something to cut. We would first need to know exactly how much revenue Davie would lose and then go through the budget carefully.

Government also has to tighten its belt just like families and businesses do. That is why we rolled back the tax rate this year. We shouldn’t simply turn around and go back to higher rates when budgets get tighter.

69% of the town’s property tax revenue currently goes toward public safety, and Police, fire and emergency services have to remain a priority. At the same time, Davie can help lead the conversation about consolidating services with local cities where it makes sense, and finding efficiencies before asking residents to pay more.

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?
Davie is in a unique position because we have major universities and colleges, an established downtown and commercial corridors where growth can strengthen the town without changing the character of our neighborhoods. We should continue partnering with Nova Southeastern University, Broward College, Florida Atlantic University and the other institutions in the South Florida Education Center to attract jobs, research and new businesses.

We also need to focus higher intensity development along 441.

A developer proposed increasing to 5 units per acre in an established neighborhood outside the areas where I believe we should be concentrating higher intensity growth. So we voted it down.

At the same time, redevelopment can be a real step forward. We should not confuse protecting Davie’s character with preserving every outdated commercial property. The goal should be better development in the right places, while protecting established neighborhoods from density that does not belong there.

What single factor most distinguishes you from your opponent and why?
Experience and deep understanding of what makes Davie special.

I have lived in Davie for 64 years, operated a business here for 33 years, and I’ve represented District 1 on the Town Council since Sept 2020. I currently serve as vice mayor and represent Davie on the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization.

I know the neighborhoods. I know the people. I know the issues that come up over and over again, and I know how to work through Town Hall to get things done for residents.

List in reverse chronological order colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
None

Graduated Nova High School class of 1980

List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
Full Time Councilmember – Davie District 1, Sept 2020 to Present

Business Owner – First Place Trophy of America, Inc.

1987 to August 2020

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)?
I think voters ought to look at my record and the work I’ve done for Davie.

I’ve always tried to give back to our town. I’ve served on the Town Council since September 2020. During that time, I’ve stayed focused on the things neighbors talk to me about every day: taxes, traffic, public safety, flooding and protecting the character of our neighborhoods.

I look out for our veterans and seniors. I also pay attention to the little things that make a difference in people’s daily lives, like potholes, flooded swales and even the goats on 61st Avenue that are always escaping! Those things may not sound like major government issues, but they matter a lot to the people dealing with them. When folks call me, I listen and try to help.

I’ve lived here my whole life and owned a business here for more than 30 years. I know Davie. I know how the town works. I understand the responsibility that comes with making these decisions.