Tom4Pompano.com<\/a><\/p>\nDate and place of birth: Fort Lauderdale FL 1981<\/p>\n
Overall, is Pompano Beach on the right track or the wrong track, and why?
Overall, I think Pompano Beach has made great progress. Through the G.O. Bonds and the CRA, we invested in our parks, fire stations, roads and infrastructure across the city. I am proud of the many accomplishments we made during my time on the Commission.<\/p>\n
Where I believe we have gotten off track is in the way we govern. We have seen repeated 3-3 votes on important issues. Commissioners don\u2019t have to agree on everything, but ultimately we have a responsibility to work together, find common ground and make decisions. Residents expect us to debate issues, but they also expect their government to function.<\/p>\n
Something I learned during my four years in office is that progress doesn\u2019t happen overnight. Major projects can take years to plan, fund and build. Many projects residents see being completed today were started years ago by previous commissions. The decisions we make today will have the same effect on Pompano five or six years from now. I want to help bring respect and progress back to the Commission. We can disagree without being disagreeable and still work together to get things done.<\/p>\n
If you are elected or re-elected, would you support or oppose the retention of City Manager Greg Harrison, and why?
I support retaining Greg Harrison as City Manager. During my time in office, Greg provided stability and professional leadership. One thing anyone who has worked around City Hall knows is his phrase, \u201cDo Good.\u201d It\u2019s simple, but it means something: treat residents like customers and go above and beyond to serve them.<\/p>\n
Greg has also built a strong management team and treats his employees with respect. He brings years of experience managing both private and public organizations.<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t mean the City Manager should be above scrutiny. Commissioners have a responsibility to ask difficult questions, demand accountability and disagree with staff recommendations when necessary.<\/p>\n
But disagreement over an individual issue shouldn\u2019t automatically become a reason to remove professional staff. I believe stability and experience matter, especially with the number of major projects Pompano has underway.<\/p>\n
Does Pompano have a problem with overdevelopment, yes or no, and why?
I think Pompano has a growth management issue. People continue moving to South Florida and properties are going to be redeveloped. Our job is to make sure development makes sense for the area where it is being proposed.<\/p>\n
I look at density, traffic, infrastructure, drainage, parking and the character of the surrounding neighborhood. I support redevelopment and additional density in areas specifically planned for it, including our New Downtown. But that doesn\u2019t mean every project belongs everywhere.<\/p>\n
During my time on the Commission, I was willing to vote against development proposals when I thought the density or impact was too much for the surrounding area.<\/p>\n
Development also serves an important financial purpose. New taxable value helps pay for police, fire-rescue, roads, parks and other services residents depend on. The New Downtown alone is projected by the City to generate more than $40 million annually in local tax revenue at full buildout. So I don\u2019t look at development as simply good or bad. I look at whether it is the right project in the right place and whether the benefits justify the impact.<\/p>\n
List in order of importance the three most important issues in your district and briefly explain what you would do about each.
1. Public safety and quality of life. I believe this is the number one responsibility of local government. We need to support law enforcement and Fire Rescue and make sure they have the staffing, equipment and resources necessary to keep our neighborhoods safe. Public safety also includes the everyday things residents talk to me about: speeding, reckless driving, traffic and neighborhood concerns. When residents bring these issues to City Hall, they deserve to know someone is listening and following through.<\/p>\n
2. Infrastructure. We need to continue investing in capital improvements. There are still areas throughout Pompano that need paving, better drainage, street lighting, sidewalks and other improvements. These projects aren\u2019t always exciting, but they are some of the most important things local government does. It is much better to maintain infrastructure now than wait until problems become more expensive.<\/p>\n
3. Effective, respectful government. District 3 needs a commissioner who can work with all five other members of the Commission. Working together doesn\u2019t mean voting yes on everything. Sometimes the right vote is no. But disagreement shouldn\u2019t stop us from working together on the next issue.<\/p>\n
Do you support or oppose Amendment 3, and why?
I oppose Amendment 3 as it is currently written.<\/p>\n
I absolutely support lowering property taxes and providing much-needed relief to homeowners. The cost of living in South Florida continues to rise, and residents are feeling it through insurance, groceries, housing and everyday expenses.<\/p>\n
My concern is with the way Amendment 3 was crafted and the number of unanswered questions about the financial impact it could have on cities and counties across Florida.<\/p>\n
Local property taxes help fund essential services residents depend on every day. Before making a major permanent change to that revenue structure, I believe we need to fully understand the consequences and make sure we aren\u2019t creating financial problems that could affect police, fire rescue, infrastructure and other essential services or simply shift the cost somewhere else.<\/p>\n
Pompano Beach is fortunate to have a diverse tax base that includes commercial, industrial, rental and non-homestead properties. That puts us in a stronger position than some communities, but many cities and counties across Florida could face much more difficult financial challenges.<\/p>\n
If I am elected, I will work hard with the rest of the Commission to provide meaningful property-tax relief to our residents at the local level. That means going through our budget, looking for efficiencies, reviewing contracts and expenses and making responsible cuts where we can.<\/p>\n
Tax relief and responsible government should go hand in hand. I support lowering taxes. I simply don\u2019t believe Amendment 3, as currently written, is the right way to accomplish it.<\/p>\n
Do you generally support or oppose the planned \u201cnew downtown,\u201d and why?
I generally support the New Downtown, while continuing to closely monitor the finances and implementation. This has been decades in the making. The plan is for a mixed-use downtown with residential, retail, office, hotel, civic and community uses. Current projections are approximately $1.8 billion in private investment alongside roughly $200 million in public investment.<\/p>\n
This is about more than new buildings. It\u2019s about creating a real downtown where people can live, work, eat, open businesses and gather as a community. The City currently projects that the development will eventually generate more than $40 million annually in local tax revenue and thousands of jobs. My support doesn\u2019t mean giving anyone a blank check.<\/p>\n
The Commission needs to continue asking questions about costs, financing, traffic, infrastructure and, most importantly, what return our taxpayers will receive.This is a major long term investment in Pompano Beach. I support the vision, but I also believe it is our responsibility to make sure it is implemented responsibly and delivers what has been promised.<\/p>\n
Can you cite a program or service in your city that in your opinion is wasteful or unnecessary?
I don\u2019t think responsible budgeting means picking a city service at random and calling it wasteful just to have something to put in this answer. As a business owner, I am constantly looking at expenses and asking whether we are getting value for what we are spending. The government should do the same thing.<\/p>\n
The City should continually review every department, program and outside contract. Are contracts still competitive? Is a program producing results? Are we duplicating something somewhere else? Can we provide the same service for less money?<\/p>\n
If something isn\u2019t delivering value to residents, we should be willing to reduce it, renegotiate it or eliminate it. But I would rather make those decisions based on facts and financial analysis than arbitrarily name a city service as wasteful.<\/p>\n
Do you support or oppose the use of surveillance cameras known as LPRs or license plate readers in your city, and what changes would you support?
I support license plate readers as a law-enforcement tool, but there need to be safeguards. If this technology helps law enforcement locate a stolen vehicle, identify someone wanted for a serious crime or solve a crime, I see real value in it.<\/p>\n
Pompano already uses automatic license plate recognition technology as part of its public safety system. At the same time, I understand the privacy concerns residents have. The government needs to be transparent about who can access the information, how long it is retained, who it can be shared with and what happens if someone misuses it. I would strongly support an outside auditing company doing regular audits of the data security. I don\u2019t think public safety and privacy have to be an either or decision. We can give law enforcement modern tools while still protecting the privacy and constitutional rights of our residents.<\/p>\n
Like all cities and counties, Pompano Beach must comply with a new state law (SB 1134) that prohibits funding or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Do you support or oppose this law and what impact will it have?
As a City Commissioner, I have a responsibility to follow state law, and Pompano Beach will comply with SB 1134.<\/p>\n
However, I do not support the law as it is currently written. I believe parts of it go too far and interfere with local home rule. Every community in Florida is different, and I believe locally elected officials should have some ability to make decisions that reflect the residents and culture of their own community, while of course following state and federal law.<\/p>\n
Pompano Beach is a very diverse city, and that diversity is part of our history and our culture. We have always been proud to bring people together and recognize the different people, traditions and communities that make Pompano what it is.<\/p>\n
The law does include exceptions that allow cities to recognize federal and state holidays and certain special observances. But I still have concerns about how broadly the law is written and how it could affect other local programs, partnerships, grants and community activities. I believe the Legislature should look at amendments that provide greater clarity and preserve more local control.<\/p>\n
What factor most distinguishes you from your opponent(s) and why?
I think what distinguishes me most is my experience, my approach to governing and my connection to this community.<\/p>\n
I am a hometown local who truly loves Pompano Beach. This is where I grew up, built my businesses. I have more than 20 years of experience as a small business owner, and I have spent many years serving our community on several nonprofit boards and organizations. My involvement in Pompano didn\u2019t start when I ran for office, and it didn\u2019t stop when I left office.<\/p>\n
I also served four years on the City Commission. During that time, we made a lot of progress. We invested in parks, public safety, infrastructure and projects throughout the city. I learned that one commissioner can\u2019t accomplish much alone. You need to be able to work with the other commissioners, even when you disagree.<\/p>\n
Lately, I believe we have come to a standstill on too many issues. Personal disagreements need to be put aside so we can get things done for our residents. I\u2019m willing to ask tough questions and vote no when I believe something isn\u2019t right, but after that vote, we still have to work together on the next issue.<\/p>\n
I am also concerned about the mistrust that has developed in our community. Too often residents hear only part of the story or information presented from one point of view. That creates confusion and mistrust. I believe residents deserve the whole story, including facts that may not support your own position.<\/p>\n
I want to help restore trust, respect and cooperation at City Hall and get Pompano moving forward again.<\/p>\n
List in reverse chronological order colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
Southern New Hampshire University, 2020\u20132022<\/p>\n
Associate Degree in Business Administration<\/p>\n
List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
Power & Play Motorsports, Pompano Beach, Florida<\/p>\n
Owner, 2006\u2013Present<\/p>\n
T & M Services, Pompano Beach, Florida<\/p>\n
Managing Partner, 2015-Present<\/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. I have never been a party to a lawsuit, bankruptcy or foreclosure.<\/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.
No. I have never been charged with or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.<\/p>\n
Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
I believe voters should look at my record, my experience and how I have served this community both in and out of elected office.<\/p>\n
Pompano Beach is my hometown. My family has been here for generations. I built my businesses here and have spent much of my life giving back to this community.<\/p>\n
For more than a decade, my family has hosted the McMahon Mix & Mingle, bringing people together while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local nonprofits and charities. My family and I have also given countless volunteer hours to organizations throughout our community. I serve on several nonprofit boards because I believe public service is about much more than holding elected office.<\/p>\n
I also bring more than 20 years of experience as a small business owner. I know what it means to make payroll, manage employees, balance a budget and make difficult decisions when costs go up.<\/p>\n
During my two terms on the City Commission, we got things done. We invested in fire stations, parks, roads, bridges, public safety and infrastructure throughout Pompano. We didn\u2019t always agree, but we were able to put personal differences aside and work together.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what I believe is missing today.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve seen too much division, too many 3-3 votes and too much mistrust. Residents deserve the whole story from their elected officials, even when all the facts don\u2019t support your own position.<\/p>\n
I love Pompano Beach. I\u2019m running because I know what this city can accomplish when its leaders work together.<\/p>\n
I want to bring respect and progress back to City Hall, get the government working together again and get things done for our residents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Name: Tom McMahon Campaign website: Tom4Pompano.com Date and place of birth: Fort Lauderdale FL 1981 Overall, is Pompano…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":424472,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[483,249,251,250,482],"class_list":["post-424471","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\/424471","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=424471"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424471\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/424472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=424471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=424471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=424471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}