A renewed push to rename Broward County as Lauderdale County met strong resistance on Thursday, leading commissioners to withdraw an agenda item on the proposal amid concerns over cost, logistics, and public support.
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The idea—championed by State Rep. Chip LaMarca—argues that “Lauderdale” carries stronger name recognition thanks to Fort Lauderdale’s prominence and its use in tourism branding. Broward Commissioner Michael Udine echoed that sentiment, saying people outside the region often don’t know where Broward County is, while the Lauderdale name is widely recognized.
But most commissioners balked at the change. They pointed to the expensive overhaul that would be required for county signs, logos, uniforms, and government materials—similar to the rebranding Miami-Dade County underwent in 1997. “What benefit would Deerfield Beach get?” asked Commissioner Mike Hudak, while Commissioner Daniel Shanetzky said the move “would be a waste of money.”
Deerfield Beach Mayor Todd Drosky called the proposal “a bad idea and a mistake,” saying it was more exclusive than inclusive. Commissioner Tom Plaut, after researching the county’s namesake, defended keeping the name honoring former Gov. Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, who spearheaded efforts to drain the Everglades and make South Florida habitable. “Without Broward we would still be a swamp,” he said. Vice Mayor Ben Preston questioned why the idea was even raised.
County Commissioner Nan Rich has also voiced opposition, and criticism has spilled beyond county lines. The Boca Raton Tribune published an editorial blasting the renaming as “a truly terrible idea,” noting that only about 10 percent of Broward County’s two million residents live in Fort Lauderdale.
LaMarca said he intends to file a bill to place the question on the 2026 ballot, though lawmakers in Tallahassee could theoretically approve such a change with a supermajority vote. He stressed he would “never take the power away from the voters” on the issue.
The existing Broward name traces back to Florida’s 19th governor, while the Lauderdale name is tied to William Lauderdale, a Tennessee soldier. At least three other U.S. states—Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi—already have a Lauderdale County.