CarylShuham.com <\/a><\/p>\nDate, place of birth: 02\/11\/60 Baltimore, Maryland<\/p>\n
Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Johns Hopkins University; Juris Doctor, University of Maryland.<\/p>\n
Occupation: Attorney, City Commissioner<\/p>\n
Work history, past 15 years. List in reverse chronological order.\u00a0
Commissioner, City of Hollywood; 2018-present<\/p>\n
Partner, Shuham & Shuham, PA; 2002-present<\/p>\n
Corporate Counsel, Moss & Associates; 2014-2018<\/p>\n
Corporate Counsel, The Kirlin Group; 1997-2014<\/p>\n
Will you vote for or against Amendment 3, the November ballot question to cut local property taxes and expand the homestead exemption, and why?
I will vote against Amendment 3. Homeowners deserve relief from rising insurance, housing, and everyday costs, but this proposal expands the homestead exemption so dramatically that it could significantly reduce funding for counties and cities without identifying a replacement source of revenue.<\/p>\n
Those losses could force cuts to services residents rely on, including drainage and flood protection, roads, libraries, parks, affordable housing, and public health programs, while shifting more of the tax burden to businesses, renters, and properties without homestead exemptions.<\/p>\n
As a city commissioner with a civil engineering background, I know infrastructure does not become less expensive simply because revenue disappears. Broward and its cities face major investments in stormwater systems, water and wastewater infrastructure, and other long-term projects that protect both public safety and property values.<\/p>\n
We should pursue targeted property tax relief for homeowners, seniors, and longtime residents while continuing to review spending, eliminate waste, and improve transparency. But we should not make a permanent constitutional change with farreaching fiscal consequences without first identifying a responsible, sustainable way to replace the lost revenue.<\/p>\n
If you had to cut spending in one area of county government, what would it be, and why?
Broward is a fiscally healthy county with no debt and an excellent bond rating \u2013 in fact, Florida\u2019s DOGE selected Broward County as the first location to audit in the state and found virtually no true waste. Notwithstanding, as with any large organization, there may be room to find some savings. I would begin with a search for any possible duplicative administrative spending and outside professional services contracts. Broward should review consulting agreements, studies, software subscriptions, public relations expenses, and overlapping contracts across departments before cutting any frontline service. We should also review fleet life of county vehicles to determine if the same could be extended.<\/p>\n
The county should continue using competitive procurement, ensuring it establishes clear deliverables, publishes performance measures, and reserves its contractual right to terminate contracts without cause that do not produce measurable value.<\/p>\n
This approach \u2013 a genuine belief in good government, but one with transparency and responsibility \u2013 protects essential services such as public safety, drainage, transportation, libraries, parks, and human services while making county government more efficient and accountable. Residents deserve a careful review of each budget line, not broad cuts across all departments that weaken services or simply shift costs elsewhere.<\/p>\n
The county has approved spending $20 million for Tier 1 resilience projects, and District 6 is an area highly prone to coastal flooding. What types of resiliency solutions do you think the county should pursue first?
Tier 1 is intended to prepare Broward for 2 feet of sea level rise by 2050. Projects such as upgrading stormwater pipes and conveyance systems, replacing undersized culverts, modernizing pumps, improving outfalls, installing backflow prevention systems, and strengthening canals and other water control infrastructure are needed throughout the county. Planning must account for the combined effects of intense rainfall, rising groundwater, higher tides, and storm surge rather than treating each threat separately.<\/p>\n
The county should focus first on projects that are shovel-ready and can attract outside funding to stretch local dollars. Green infrastructure, like expanding water storage, reclaiming swales, increasing permeable surfaces, restoring wetlands and living shorelines work to slow and absorb water while improving water quality and should be included wherever they can be provided at a reasonable cost. The county should also ensure that routine maintenance, including the clearing of drains, canals, and debris, is performed consistently so existing systems operate at full capacity.<\/p>\n
The goal is to reduce repeated property damage, protect residents, lower repair costs, and build infrastructure that keeps Broward safe and functional for decades. As a member of the county\u2019s Climate Change Task Force for the past 8 years, and city commissioner for one of the most climatically impacted Broward communities, this focus on projects that deliver immediate and measurable flood reduction will be one of my top priorities.<\/p>\n
More than half of every dollar in property taxes collected by the county is spent on public safety. Do you believe that Sheriff Tony has been a responsible steward of taxpayers\u2019 money, and why?
I strongly support the deputies, firefighters, detention personnel, dispatchers, and civilian employees who keep Broward safe. Public safety is the county\u2019s highest priority, and the sheriff\u2019s office plays an essential role in protecting our residents.<\/p>\n
Like any department that receives a significant share of taxpayer dollars, the sheriff\u2019s office should have a budget process that is transparent, collaborative, and predictable. Given the size of the public safety budget, both the county commission and the sheriff\u2019s office have a responsibility to work together to build trust, improve communication, and ensure taxpayers have confidence that resources are being used effectively. Regular financial reporting, clear budget assumptions, and meaningful dialogue throughout the year can help avoid misunderstandings and produce better outcomes for everyone.<\/p>\n
I have a reputation for independence and willingness to conduct vigorous oversight and will continue that as it relates to the sheriff\u2019s budget, while respecting the sheriff office\u2019s constitutional independence. That includes receiving clear reporting on staffing, overtime, equipment, contractual obligations, and other major expenditures, along with periodic budget updates so adjustments can be discussed openly rather than becoming points of contention during the annual budget process.<\/p>\n
I am fully aware of the current county commission\u2019s concerns with the level of spending and budget requested by the sheriff\u2019s office. As a new county commissioner, I will consider these concerns carefully. I believe that greater transparency and communication will identify opportunities for savings and efficiencies. The objective should never be to weaken public safety, but to ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent as effectively as possible while providing our first responders with the personnel, training, and equipment they need to keep Broward safe.<\/p>\n
What is your opinion on the proposal, now under study, for an independent airport-seaport law enforcement agency to replace the sheriff\u2019s office there?
The first and most important step is the completion of the independent analysis. I am open-minded to the findings of this analysis, though I suspect an independent airportseaport law enforcement agency would cost more and be less effective than fixing some of the financial and transparency issues in the existing structure. While an independent agency could provide the county with greater control over staffing, deployment, training, and costs, transitioning to an independent agency would be very expensive and create new unknowns. Currently, the airport and seaport have access to all the assets of the entire sheriff\u2019s office. To duplicate the equipment and training facilities of the sheriff\u2019s office would be wasteful at a time of significant budget questions, and I would not support creating a new agency simply as leverage in a budget dispute or without a detailed comparison of costs and other benefits over time.<\/p>\n
Despite the current tense relationship between the county commission and the sheriff\u2019s office, I am hopeful these ongoing discussions will yield a more collaborative relationship between the parties. The next few months will be telling. With the upcoming budget discussions and the release of the independent analysis, we will have much stronger information on both the collaboration with the sheriff\u2019s office as well as the feasibility of this proposal. Ultimately, any decision I make will be based on security, accountability, service quality, and long-term value, not politics.<\/p>\n
Why are you running for this office?
I am running because Broward needs experienced, practical leadership that can turn good plans into results. Since 2018, I have served the large City of Hollywood as a city commissioner, working on expanding the inventory of obtainable housing, flood resiliency, responsible development, public safety, transportation, environmental protection, and strengthening our local economy without sacrificing the character and quality of our neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
I have a degree in civil engineering and am an attorney with decades of experience in construction contracts, insurance, bonding, risk allocation, and complex projects. I also serve on countywide boards addressing transportation, climate change, solid waste, construction coordination, and mobility for residents with disabilities. I bring practical experience to the issues with a political sensibility and an emotional connection to our community that makes me a uniquely qualified candidate.<\/p>\n
Our current District 6 county commissioner, Beam Furr has done an outstanding job for the past twelve years. He has worked diligently and pragmatically on complicated issues, many of which can take decades to resolve or improve, like rectifying the county\u2019s solid waste crisis. I am proud to have his endorsement, and I hope to continue his work and expand on these efforts once elected. I am ready to work with residents, cities, labor, businesses, and community organizations from day one, while continuing the strong environmental leadership and constituent service that District 6 expects.<\/p>\n
Do you agree or disagree that special interests often have too much influence over county government decisions, and why?
I agree that residents should be concerned when special interests have greater access or resources than members of the public. At the same time, developers, businesses, labor organizations, neighborhood associations, environmental advocates, and other stakeholders often bring useful expertise and perspectives to county decisions. The responsibility of a commissioner is to hear from everyone while ensuring that no voice outweighs the public interest. Striking this balance is difficult work, and I believe that my experience as a Hollywood commissioner, all of which is available for public judgement and vetting, is proof that I listen to residents and put the needs of the community over any special interest.<\/p>\n
In good government, an open and transparent process is vital. Meetings and lobbying contacts should be disclosed as required, procurement and ethics rules should apply fairly, campaign finance information should be accessible, and residents should have meaningful notice and real opportunities to participate in major development and contracting decisions. It is good county policy that county commissioners are no longer involved in selection committees \u2013 as defense against \u201cpay to play\u201d concerns.<\/p>\n
The proof is in the pudding \u2013 I have been recognized as a stalwart fighter for open government and for the residents during my tenure on the Hollywood city commission. Over the past 8 years, I made it my mission to listen and do independent research on controversial issues that come before the commission to ensure my decisions are objectively informed. At the county, I will continue those practices and will educate myself on the facts, tradeoffs, and public benefits to our residents and businesses before I vote.<\/p>\n
Do you support or oppose giving voters the option to create the office of county-wide elected mayor, and why?
I expect to have a clearer basis to answer this after serving on the county commission for a year or so, but generally, I would support giving Broward voters the option to decide on a charter proposal that clearly defines the office, its authority, its cost, and its relationship with the nine district commissioners and the professional County Administrator.<\/p>\n
A countywide elected mayor could provide clearer public accountability and a unified voice for Broward over at least a 4-year term versus the 1-year rotation under the current system. It could also concentrate too much power and weaken district representation if the structure is not carefully designed.<\/p>\n
For an example of real-life tradeoffs, the COVID-19 crisis highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of an elected mayor. I know from working with Commissioner Furr\u2019s office that issues like the Holland America tragedy, which saw sick residents stranded at sea without clear permission to land at any port, illustrates how having a single elected point of contact for residents to reach out to and hold accountable could be helpful in emergencies. At the same time, the COVID-19 crisis saw each of the nine commissioners take the lead on different elements of the recovery, according to their expertise, and over the years this egalitarian system has worked well in bringing out the collective skills of the commission.<\/p>\n
Before placing a proposal on the ballot, the county should conduct an independent analysis, hold public hearings throughout Broward, and present voters with a clear organizational chart and fiscal impact. I would want strong checks and balances, preservation of meaningful district representation, transparent appointment authority, and safeguards against unnecessary bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Broward\u2019s residents should decide if we change to a countywide elected mayor.<\/p>\n
Broward pays more than 30 contract lobbyists in the annual legislative session a combined total of several hundred thousand dollars a year. Is this an effective use of tax dollars, and why?
As an overall concept, yes \u2013 though we must make sure these lobbying efforts are effective. While not always a popular position to take, lobbying can be an efficient use of tax dollars because decisions made at the state and federal level directly affect Broward\u2019s transportation, resilience, affordable housing, public safety, water, and local authority. A county of Broward\u2019s size needs experienced representation to pursue funding, explain local impacts, and respond quickly during the legislative session. This is especially critical given that Broward County is a blue county with nine Democratic commissioners and having a variety of lobbying voices in Tallahassee and Washington D.C. can help to ensure that we receive fair treatment and our fair share.<\/p>\n
The number of lobbyists alone does not determine value. Some firms may provide specialized expertise that is particularly useful on transportation, resilience, public safety, or local government issues. However, the lobbying team needs to be coordinated and each member held accountable. The county should periodically assess whether the overall lobby team is appropriately sized and delivering results. Where responsibilities overlap, contracts should be adjusted or combined through a fair process.<\/p>\n
The county must have a focused legislative agenda, clearly assign responsibilities, avoid unnecessary overlap, and regularly review performance. There should be detailed criteria to analyze whether a particular lobbying contract is fruitful, and if not, the county should have the option to terminate the contract. In addition, the commission should receive regular reports about how our lobbying teams are performing, exactly what they have delivered, and whether there has been a return on investment benefiting Broward residents.<\/p>\n
The goal with every decision the commission makes should be effective advocacy and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. This issue is no different.<\/p>\n
Have you been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime, received a withheld adjudication or had a matter sealed or expunged? If yes, explain.
No<\/p>\n
Have you been a plaintiff or defendant in a civil action, including bankruptcy or foreclosure or had a restraining order issued against you? If yes, explain.
Never in my personal life nor in my decades-long career as an attorney. As a city commissioner, I was named as a defendant in one lawsuit along with the City Attorney, the City Engineer and the city itself. The case stemmed from a permit being granted for a very large private dock in a neighborhood within the district I represent. Neighboring homeowners, the neighborhood civic association and the city\u2019s marine advisory committee maintained the permit should not have been granted for several reasons including their concerns over environmental and navigational issues. The plaintiff in the suit was the person building the large dock and he alleged several causes of action. The City Attorney and I counterclaimed for malicious prosecution. Ultimately, the case was settled with neither party acknowledging fault, and the case was dismissed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Name: Caryl Shuham Campaign website: CarylShuham.com Date, place of birth: 02\/11\/60 Baltimore, Maryland Education: Bachelor of Science in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":346833,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[483,249,251,250,482],"class_list":["post-346832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fort-lauderdale","tag-commentary","tag-fort-lauderdale","tag-fort-lauderdale-headlines","tag-fort-lauderdale-news","tag-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=346832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346832\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/346833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=346832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=346832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=346832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}