johnrodstrom.com<\/a><\/p>\nDate and place of birth: 5\/1\/1992, Fort Lauderdale, FL<\/p>\n
Is Fort Lauderdale generally on the right track or the wrong track, and why or why not?
We live in an incredible city, so I think it would be difficult to simply say Fort Lauderdale is on the wrong track. So much of what makes Fort Lauderdale special is inherent: our waterways, beaches, neighborhoods, weather, businesses, and the people who choose to call this city home.<\/p>\n
With that said, I don\u2019t think our city commission has always kept pace with the city Fort Lauderdale has become. We have fallen behind on infrastructure, made questionable deals involving valuable public assets, struggled with traffic and affordability, and too often reacted to problems instead of planning ahead for them.<\/p>\n
Fort Lauderdale is going to continue to grow because people want to be here. Our challenge is making sure that growth doesn\u2019t come at the expense of our neighborhoods, waterways, infrastructure, or quality of life. We need to be more disciplined with taxpayer dollars, invest in the basics, protect what makes this city special, and plan for where Fort Lauderdale will be 20 years from now.<\/p>\n
Fort Lauderdale has an incredibly strong foundation. I think the question is whether our City government is making the most of it.<\/p>\n
List in order of importance the three most important issues in the city and briefly explain what you would do about each.
1. Affordability and Cost of Living<\/p>\n
Affordability is my number one issue. Local government cannot control inflation, insurance premiums, or many other costs affecting residents, but it can control how much it taxes, charges, and spends. I would prioritize core services, scrutinize spending and contracts, negotiate better deals involving City assets, and look for efficiencies before asking residents to pay more. We also need more attainable workforce housing so teachers, first responders, young professionals, hospitality workers, and working families can afford to live in the community they serve.<\/p>\n
2. Infrastructure and Responsible Growth<\/p>\n
Fort Lauderdale has paid a high price for allowing infrastructure problems to become emergencies. We need sustained investment in water, sewer, stormwater, roads, traffic, and resilient infrastructure, supported by long-term maintenance and replacement plans. That responsibility is even more important as Fort Lauderdale continues to grow and the Live Local Act creates additional development pressure. Our waterways are central to our city, and stronger infrastructure is essential to reducing sewage spills, stormwater pollution, flooding, and other threats to them.<\/p>\n
3. Public Safety<\/p>\n
Keeping residents safe is one of local government\u2019s most fundamental responsibilities. I would make sure Police and Fire Rescue have the personnel, equipment, technology, facilities, and training necessary to serve a growing city, while maintaining professional leadership and accountability.<\/p>\n
I also believe commissioners should understand firsthand the work City employees perform. I participated in a live-fire training exercise with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and was told I was one of only four civilians to have ever done so. It gave me a greater appreciation for the conditions firefighters face and the resources and training they need.<\/p>\n
That experience reflects how I approach public service: being present, listening, learning, and understanding challenges firsthand before making decisions.<\/p>\n
Do you support or oppose Amendment 3, and why?
I oppose Amendment 3 and will be voting no. I support meaningful property tax relief for homeowners, but I believe Amendment 3 is too broadly drafted and could have significant unintended consequences for municipalities, special districts, and other local government services. At the same time, I understand why many homeowners, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, may reach a different conclusion. Rising property values and the cost of living have placed real pressure on residents, and people deserve relief. It is unfortunate that voters were presented with such a blunt and poorly constructed measure rather than a more thoughtful approach to property tax relief that could provide meaningful savings while minimizing unintended consequences.<\/p>\n
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?\u00a0
The City\u2019s budget has grown substantially alongside rising property values and increases in non-ad valorem assessments, fees, and other charges. I believe there are opportunities to find efficiencies before we consider reducing core services or asking residents to pay even more.<\/p>\n
The first place I would look is to review vendor contracts. Fort Lauderdale has a substantial portfolio of active and upcoming contracts, and we should systematically review major agreements to determine where we can competitively rebid, renegotiate, consolidate services, or obtain better pricing.<\/p>\n
I would then ask the City Manager to conduct a department-by-department and program-by-program review. I would protect public safety and essential infrastructure, but other areas deserve scrutiny. For example, in recent years the City created a standalone Office of Strategic Communications, with an FY2027 budget of approximately $3.9 million. It would be worthwhile to evaluate departments like this to determine whether they operate most efficiently as standalone departments or whether some functions could be consolidated within other departments to reduce administrative costs without reducing services.<\/p>\n
Finally, fiscal responsibility is not only about cutting expenses. We need to negotiate better deals and generate appropriate value from City assets. Fort Lauderdale has entered public-private partnerships and public-land agreements where I believe taxpayers could have received substantially greater value. When the City leaves revenue on the table, residents ultimately make up the difference.<\/p>\n
My goal would be to find savings through contracts, administrative efficiencies, better procurement, and better deals before asking residents to pay more or reducing public safety, infrastructure, parks, or other core services.<\/p>\n
How would you assess the city\u2019s ability to manage growth, development and related issues such as traffic, noise, pollution and demands on city infrastructure?
Fort Lauderdale needs to recognize that we live in a highly desirable city and will continue to face significant development pressures. Growth itself is not necessarily the problem. The challenge is making sure our infrastructure, transportation network, and public services can keep pace with it. That growth should also strengthen our economy by attracting a more diverse mix of businesses and higher-paying jobs that create greater opportunities for residents.<\/p>\n
The Live Local Act creates additional development pressure while limiting much of the City\u2019s traditional land-use and zoning authority, making infrastructure planning even more important. We need to get serious now about water, sewer and stormwater improvements, traffic and transportation, and the impacts of development on surrounding neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
We also cannot talk about growth without talking about our environment and waterways. Our waterways are the lifeblood of Fort Lauderdale and central to our economy, quality of life, and identity as the Venice of America. Construction runoff, sewage spills, stormwater pollution, and failing infrastructure continually threaten the very resource that makes our city special. As development increases, we need stronger infrastructure, effective enforcement, and better safeguards to prevent additional pollution from reaching our canals and waterways. Infrastructure investment, environmental protection, and responsible planning have to keep pace with development, or the traffic, flooding, utility, water-quality, and quality-of-life problems we already experience will only become more difficult and expensive to solve.<\/p>\n
What single factor most distinguishes you from your opponent and why?
I think the single biggest distinction is the combination of my professional background and my longstanding commitment to staying actively involved in Fort Lauderdale, whether I was running for office or not.<\/p>\n
My experience spans finance, law, business, entrepreneurship, municipal budgeting, charitable leadership, and neighborhood advocacy. I am a business attorney who works with complex contracts, transactions, and litigation every day, I have started and operated businesses for more than two decades, and I have served on Fort Lauderdale\u2019s Budget Advisory Board reviewing the City\u2019s billion-dollar budget.<\/p>\n
I think District 1 deserves a Commissioner who is unquestionably committed to serving it. I have been a regular presence at City Commission and civic meetings for years, served on community and nonprofit boards, donated countless hours of legal work to resident and neighborhood causes, and created www.FTLPolitics.com (my local political blog) to research and write about the issues facing our City. That involvement did not begin when a Commission seat became available.<\/p>\n
I believe public service is something you demonstrate long before you ask voters for a title. My record shows that I have consistently made the time to show up, do the homework, ask difficult questions, and work on behalf of this community. That is the same commitment I would bring to the City Commission.<\/p>\n
Fort Lauderdale placed 10 separate questions on the ballot dealing with charter changes. If you oppose any of the proposed changes, please explain.\u00a0
I oppose Fort Lauderdale Charter Amendments 9 and 10. These amendments would make the Police Chief and Fire Chief charter officers who report directly to the City Commission rather than the City Manager.<\/p>\n
I believe that change risks unnecessarily politicizing two of the most important professional positions in City government. We have experienced significant turnover in the City Manager\u2019s office, and I would be concerned about creating similar instability in the leadership of our Police and Fire Rescue departments.<\/p>\n
There is also an important management and financial issue. Police and Fire Rescue together account for approximately 60% of Fort Lauderdale\u2019s General Fund expenditures. Under the FY2027 budget, Police represents 35.1% and Fire Rescue 24.8% of General Fund spending. Moving both department heads outside the City Manager\u2019s chain of command would remove direct managerial oversight over departments responsible for a majority of General Fund spending. The City Manager needs the authority to manage the organization as a whole, balance competing needs, and develop a coordinated budget for Commission consideration.<\/p>\n
More broadly, I am concerned about moving Fort Lauderdale away from the professional council-manager form of government and concentrating more operational authority with elected officials. The Commission should set policy, establish priorities, approve budgets, demand accountability, and hold the City Manager responsible for implementation. Professional department heads should generally remain within that management structure.<\/p>\n
I am also concerned with the process. These proposals were not studied by the Charter Review Board. They were introduced at a commission meeting and approved only two weeks later on a 3-2 Commission vote. A permanent structural change deserves careful study and extensive public input.<\/p>\n
Public safety is too important to become unnecessarily political. Police and Fire Chiefs should be selected and managed based on professional qualifications, performance, stability, and their ability to lead. For these reasons, I oppose Amendments 9 and 10.<\/p>\n
The next District 1 commissioner will play an important role in selecting a permanent city manager. How should the next search differ from the last one, to avoid a repeat of the quick departure of Rickelle Williams?
I think it is paramount that Fort Lauderdale conducts a true national search led by an independent third-party firm that specializes in recruiting experienced municipal executives. We need to identify the strongest possible candidates and be candid about why Fort Lauderdale has experienced so much turnover in this position. We also need to listen to the recommendations of the search firm.<\/p>\n
My concern is that much of that turnover has been driven by politics rather than performance. Fort Lauderdale has developed a reputation for instability in the City Manager\u2019s office, and that can make it difficult to attract experienced managers who might otherwise be interested in leading a city of our size and complexity.<\/p>\n
For that reason, I would not rush into another permanent appointment simply to fill the position. We currently have experienced professionals within the organization, and I would be open to allowing a qualified internal candidate to continue serving on an interim basis while we stabilize City Hall and determine the best long-term path forward.<\/p>\n
With a regular City election only two years away, there is also value in ensuring the next Commission has an opportunity to affirm or participate in selecting the manager it will work with. That does not mean waiting two years if an exceptional candidate emerges sooner, but I would rather have stability with a capable interim manager than repeat a rushed process that results in another short tenure.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Fort Lauderdale needs a professional City Manager who can manage the organization without unnecessary political interference, earn the confidence of employees and residents, and provide stable leadership for years rather than months.<\/p>\n
In this District 1 race, one candidate is a homeowner and one candidate is a renter. How is home ownership, or lack of it, a relevant issue in this election?
I think homeownership is relevant to this election primarily because housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing Fort Lauderdale, and I experience that challenge personally.<\/p>\n
I am 34 years old, an attorney, and a small business owner, and even with a successful professional career, purchasing a home in Fort Lauderdale is difficult. I pay substantial rent to live in District 1, and property taxes and other ownership costs are ultimately reflected in rental costs. I understand why so many younger residents and working professionals question whether they will ever be able to afford a home here.<\/p>\n
At the other end of the spectrum, I regularly meet longtime homeowners and seniors concerned that rising taxes, insurance, utilities, and other costs may make it difficult to remain in homes they have owned for decades. Young people are struggling to afford to put down roots, while longtime residents are struggling to afford to stay.<\/p>\n
I also don\u2019t believe receiving a TRIM notice is what qualifies someone to understand municipal budgeting. I have a degree in finance, experience in municipal finance, own businesses, and served on Fort Lauderdale\u2019s Budget Advisory Board helping create the City\u2019s billion-dollar+ budget. I understand how property taxes fund City government and how decisions about millage rates and spending affect homeowners and renters alike.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, I am not going anywhere. My family has called Fort Lauderdale home for generations. I have lived in my current District 1 home for five years, and before that lived just a few blocks away in District 2 near the District 1 boundary. Renting makes this no less my home or me any less invested in my neighborhood. This is where I have built my career, businesses, and life. Whether you own or rent should never determine how much your voice matters.<\/p>\n
List in reverse chronological order colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
Stetson University College of Law | 2014\u20132017<\/p>\n
Juris Doctor (J.D.), 2017<\/p>\n
Stetson University School of Business Administration | 2015\u20132017<\/p>\n
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), 2017<\/p>\n
University of Florida | 2010\u20132014<\/p>\n
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.), Finance<\/p>\n
Minor in Entrepreneurship, 2014<\/p>\n
List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
Rodstrom Law, PLLC | Managing Partner & Founder | 2022\u2013Present<\/p>\n
Founded and manage a Fort Lauderdale law firm (www.rodsdtromlaw.com) focused on mergers & acquisitions, corporate matters, and business litigation.
Advise clients on complex contracts, negotiations, transactions, and disputes.
Real Web Technologies, Inc. | CEO & Founder | 2006\u2013Present<\/p>\n
Founded the technology company at age 13 and have operated it for more than 20 years.
Experience in entrepreneurship, budgeting, technology, and small-business management.
Burrell Diversified Investments, LLC | Deputy General Counsel | 2022\u20132023<\/p>\n
Provided legal counsel across a diversified portfolio of businesses.
Negotiated complex airport ground leases and agreements with public entities.
Conrad & Scherer, LLP | Associate Attorney | 2017\u20132022<\/p>\n
Practiced complex commercial and securities litigation in state and federal courts.
Managed high-stakes matters involving complex legal and financial issues.
Oppenheimer & Co. | Analytical Support | 2013\u20132014<\/p>\n
Worked in public finance analyzing municipal debt portfolios.
Gained experience with municipal finance, capital projects, and public debt.<\/p>\n
Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition.
No.<\/p>\n
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.
On my 20th birthday on May 1, 2012, I was charged with possession of alcohol by someone under the age of 21 in Gainesville, FL while attending the University of Florida. The charge was later dismissed.<\/p>\n
Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
Many of the issues I am raising in this campaign are not new concerns for me. I was speaking out about City spending, questionable public-private partnerships, public land, infrastructure, and accountability long before becoming a candidate. I believe Fort Lauderdale has too often approved major deals without getting sufficient value for taxpayers.<\/p>\n
The biggest distinction I would ask residents to consider, however, is commitment. District 1 deserves a Commissioner who is unquestionably committed to the job and community. I have been a regular presence at City Commission and civic association meetings for years, including throughout my opponent\u2019s previous tenure. I have served on City, civic, and charitable boards, donated countless hours of legal work to community causes, and remained actively engaged whether I was running for office or not. My opponent left the Commission before completing her term and is now seeking to return. Voters should consider our respective records of consistent engagement.<\/p>\n
That commitment has continued throughout this campaign. I have personally walked to more than 5,500 homes across District 1, talking directly with residents about their neighborhoods and concerns. There is no substitute for being on the ground and listening firsthand.<\/p>\n
I am proud to have the endorsement of current District 1 Commissioner John Herbst, who previously led the City Auditor\u2019s Office and served as City Auditor during my opponent\u2019s tenure. I also have the support of At-Large School Board Member Dr. Allen Zeman and other elected officials and community leaders with differing political perspectives. I am humbled that people with different viewpoints have placed their confidence in me and the work I can do for this community.<\/p>\n
Public service was instilled in me from a young age. Both of my parents served this community in local government, and I have carried those lessons into my own service. Public service is something you demonstrate before you ask voters for a title. I have consistently shown up, done the homework, asked difficult questions, and stood up for residents. District 1 deserves that level of commitment every day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Name: John E. Rodstrom Campaign website: johnrodstrom.com Date and place of birth: 5\/1\/1992, Fort Lauderdale, FL Is Fort…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":420356,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[483,249,251,250,482],"class_list":["post-420355","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\/420355","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=420355"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420355\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/420356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=420355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=420355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=420355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}