Voters in western Hollywood will choose a new District 5 commissioner on Nov. 3 to replace Kevin Biederman, a 14-year commissioner who is term-limited.
Their choices: Erin Marvasti, a real estate broker, and Adam Roberti, executive director of an arts nonprofit.
With two other commissioners exiting the seven-member board, the District 5 winner will be one of three new commissioners helping decide important issues, from whether to approve controversial development projects or increase the city’s tax rate.
Marvasti, 46, and Roberti, 30, both oppose Amendment 3, the statewide property tax cut proposal.
Marvasti said she was worried it would merely shift the financial burden.
“I understand why Amendment 3 may sound appealing to families and seniors facing rising costs,” she said. “As a homeowner and business owner in District 5, I feel these cost pressures too. However, I am concerned the amendment could create unintended consequences that lead to tax shifting, fee shifting or reductions in essential services.”
Roberti describes the measure as a short-sighted idea that would strip Hollywood of the revenues it needs to make desperately needed long-term investments.
“Homeowners certainly are looking for relief,” Roberti said. “However, Amendment 3 would actually provide a net negative economic impact for most Florida families. The adverse effects on municipal budgets would far outweigh the immediate short-term savings.”
Marvasti has won endorsements from city unions representing the police, firefighters and municipal employees as well as Mayor Josh Levy, Vice Mayor Traci Callari and Biederman.
Roberti has been endorsed by Caryl Shuham, a Hollywood commissioner who has been elected to the County Commission, outgoing County Commissioner Beam Furr, Hollywood Commissioner Idelma Quintana, state Sen. Shevrin Jones and Broward School Board member Debbi Hixon.
“I’ve had people tell me explicitly that they’re voting for me because I don’t have the mayor’s endorsement,” Roberti said. “We’re at a moment where people are really in need of change and really asking for change. And they don’t want more of the status quo. A lot of people are tired of the leadership that they feel is not representative of the people. They feel as though we need a more responsive and transparent commission.”
Marvasti, a “PTA mom” with three children, says she was honored to get the mayor’s backing.
“In District 5 he’s very well liked and loved and respected,” she said. “I support him as well. Do I agree on everything? No. But he’s our mayor. He’s done a good job. We’re not just kicking the goalpost down the street.”
Roberti, who has a master’s degree in ecosystem science and policy from the University of Miami, lists flooding and climate change as the top issue facing Hollywood. He argues that flooding improvements across the city have been taking far too long.
“We understand that sea levels are rising, that our water table is rising. It’s not just the sea level rise we have to factor in, it’s also the storm surge. I’m very glad that we have a stormwater master plan that we can accelerate,” Roberti said. “But there’s a lot of drainage infrastructure that needs to be improved.”
As a member of Broward County’s Climate Change Task Force and Hollywood’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, he says he is uniquely equipped to help find solutions.
Marvasti says she believes Hollywood has made great strides by investing in public safety, parks and infrastructure.
“At the same time, we should not pretend everything is perfect,” she said. “Hollywood has experienced financial challenges before and has had to make difficult decisions when revenues and expenditures fell out of balance. I never want the city to return to a position of financial urgency and decisions driven by a lack of options.”
Marvasti recommends the city maintain its infrastructure, grow its tax base and encourage redevelopment that creates jobs and a healthy business climate.
“Hollywood is moving in the right direction,” she said. “But being on the right track requires planning ahead, protecting our investments, strengthening essential services, and maintaining financial stability so the people who live here today can continue to be part of Hollywood’s future.”
Both candidates describe District 5 as a working-class district with its own unique needs.
Marvasti argues she has the experience to meet those needs.
“The single factor that most distinguishes me is experience,” she said. I have been serving District 5 long before asking for a vote. I am a parent, homeowner, small-business owner, and longtime community volunteer. For more than 20 years, I have lived, worked, and invested in this community. I did not decide to get involved because there was an election. I have spent decades showing up, listening, advocating, and working to make District 5 a better place to live.”
Marvasti points to her former role as vice chair of the Housing Authority of Hollywood and current role on the city’s Community Development Advisory Board. She is also the founder of United We Stand, a nonprofit organization that has worked to connect residents with needed resources.
Roberti says many of his District 5 neighbors feel their side of the city has been neglected and forgotten for a long time.
Roberti has a long list of improvements he’d like to see in his district, including more trees to provide shade, speed humps to slow down traffic and cracked sidewalks getting repaired.
“We saw a lot of investment in the beach,” Robert said. “We see a lot of investment downtown. And so folks don’t know who to blame. They just feel like they’ve been failed. And so they’re eager for something new.”
In July 2025, the commission voted 5-2 to give themselves a significant pay increase. The item was not listed as a resolution on the commission agenda, only as a presentation.
Halfway through the discussion, Commissioner Peter Hernandez made a motion to increase the mayor’s pay from $54,873 to $100,000 and commission pay from $51,943 to $70,000.
Two commissioners — Shuham and Quintana — voted against the salary increase.
Both Roberti and Marvasti say they disagree with the way the salary increase was handled, with no advance notice and no public input.
Roberti says he would have voted against it.
Not every resident knows about the surprise raises, but several do and they’re not happy about it, he said.
“I’ve knocked on thousands and thousands of doors,” Roberti said. “There are a lot of people who don’t mention it, have never heard of it, have no idea what’s going on. And then there are definitely people who are aware of it. Given that we have a city manager who’s doing the heavy lifting, that just didn’t really make sense to me — and it doesn’t to residents.”
Marvasti said she would have voted for the raise, but would have preferred to see it listed on the agenda as an item set for a commission vote.
“I don’t agree with the way it was done,” she said. “But if you want good quality people, the salary should be there. This is not part-time. This is a full-time job. I think it’s deserved.”
If elected, Marvasti said she will be ready to serve her district from the get-go.
“I’m heavily involved in our community,” she said. “I’ve been doing this for years. I want to take this to another level. And I will be ready on day one. My finger’s on the pulse. I want to continue putting us in the right direction. I’m excited for our future.”
If voters choose him, Roberti vows to be an independent voice on the commission who will help solve flooding woes and other important challenges facing Hollywood today and decades into the future.
“There are very real issues we have over the course of the next 40 years,” Roberti said. “And I think we need someone that has that long-term plan, has those roots in the community and knows how to have a sense of unity around the whole city. Yes, we represent District 5, but we’re also making decisions that affect the entire city of Hollywood. And I’m excited to be that candidate.”
Editor’s Note: This is the third of three news articles about the contests in Hollywood for the Nov. 3 election.
There are other Hollywood commission races on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Caryl Shuham, who has represented District 1 since 2018, was elected to the Broward County Commission in August.
Catherine “Cat” Uden, Brian Paruas and Itzhack Feldman are running for the District 1 seat.
Traci Callari, who represents District 3’s central neighborhoods, was elected 14 years ago and cannot run due to term limits.
David Raskind and Alex Recio are running for the District 3 seat.
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan