Increasingly, cities across Broward County are experiencing the same polarization and division that has seeped into national politics. Public meetings have become more contentious. Personal attacks sometimes replace productive dialogue. If left unchecked, the discourse will overshadow the important work that must be done.
On March 27, 2026, the Broward League of Cities hosted the “Rooted in Dignity, Growing One Broward Leadership” workshop. The event brought local elected officials from nearly every municipality in the county together to reaffirm a shared commitment to integrity, civility and purposeful leadership. It was a powerful reminder of how and why we must serve.
Plantation City Councilwoman Denise Horland is the 2025-2026 president of the Broward League of Cities. (courtesy, Denise Horland)
Serving as a municipal elected official is one of the most important, and often most misunderstood, roles in public service. We are the government leaders closest to the people. We are the individuals that residents see at the grocery store, at neighborhood meetings, at school events, and walking through local parks. We are the ones residents call when a streetlight goes out, when flooding occurs after a storm, or when a new development raises questions about the future of a neighborhood.
Unlike other elected positions, municipal leadership here in Broward County is nonpartisan. City commissioners, council members and mayors are not elected to represent a political party. They are elected to represent their community. Their responsibility is not to advance partisan agendas, but to make thoughtful, balanced decisions that serve the best interests of their residents and the long-term health of their cities.
Municipal elected officials carry the weight of decisions that affect daily life, including public safety, parks and recreation, infrastructure such as water and wastewater systems, economic development, and the character of the communities people call home. These decisions are rarely simple. They require listening to diverse viewpoints, weighing competing priorities, and finding practical solutions that will move a community forward.
At its best, municipal government is where democracy works. It is where respectful debate, thoughtful compromise, and shared purpose lead to tangible results. As municipal leaders, we accept a responsibility that goes beyond casting votes on an agenda. We accept a duty to lead with integrity, to listen with respect, and to engage our fellow colleagues and stakeholders in ways that elevate, not diminish, the civic process.
Municipal leadership should model the very best of democratic governance. It requires patience, humility and the willingness to place community above ego. It requires remembering that disagreement does not make someone an enemy, and thoughtful dialogue is far more powerful than division.
Simply put, we must do better.
Cities function best when their leaders demonstrate that it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable. When debate focuses on ideas rather than individuals. When civility becomes the standard rather than the exception.
The work that happens at the local level is too important to be lost in conflict. Roads still need to be repaired. Public safety must be maintained. Parks must be cared for. Businesses must be supported. Residents deserve leadership that is focused on solving problems, not creating them.
As municipal elected officials we hold a unique and powerful responsibility to show that democracy can still work the way it was intended.
The path forward is clear. Lead with integrity. Govern with dignity.
Our communities deserve nothing less.
Plantation City Council President Denise Horland is the 2025-2026 president of the Broward League of Cities.