The Gazette 11/24/22 V9iss22

GAZETTE

WILTON MANORS

MIKE BRACCHI CHOSEN AS WILTON MANORS’ NEW VICE MAYOR

By John Hayden

Mike Bracchi’s seat wasn’t up for election this year, but he still won a major vote.

Wilton Manors’ City Commissioners chose him to be Vice Mayor for the next two years.

“I have a unique skill set that I bring to the table and I did the job [as commissioner] really well. I’m already working with city staff and I will do well at it.”

Bracchi said that his skill set includes management experience and collaborative workmanship.

City commissioners choose who will serve as Vice Mayor. Earlier in the meeting Bracchi announced his interest in the office. He was elected 4-1, with new commissioner Don D’Arminio supporting Chris Caputo.

“There was a lot going on with this election, a distraction. Some fresh blood in the Vice Mayor role is good.”

BRACCHI SAID THAT HIS SKILL SET INCLUDES MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE AND COLLABORATIVE WORKMANSHIP.

CONGRATULATIONS

& CONCILIATORY WORDS

The distractions Bracchi refers to are related to the campaign, which saw lots of dirty tactics. But at Tuesday’s organizational and swearing-in meeting Paul Rolli and D’Arminio both pledged to put that behind them and work to improve the city.

“We put the election behind us and look

forward,” D’Arminio said in his first remarks after being sworn in. “I look forward to working with the entire city commission. I congratulate Paul Rolli on his re-election.”

Moments later Rolli took his oath and echoed the conciliatory tone.

“In these difficult political times in a world of negativity, I would ask that the commission and the community be leaders of positive change. I will do my part to keep

the positive spirit alive.”

Both Rolli and D’Arminio were sworn in by their longtime partners.

Mayor Scott Newton, who cruised to reelection with no significant opposition, was sworn in by his son, who is a detective in the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Newton’s wife, daughter, and granddaughter were also there to support him.

No other business was discussed.

The Wilton Manors Commission. Photo by John Hayden.

Submit photos taken on Nov. 26 to Jason Parsley at Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com. Please include the date and time that the photo was taken, complete names of all people, city you live in and a short description of what’s taking place.

Submit photos taken on Nov. 26 to Jason Parsley at Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com. Please include the date and time that the photo was taken, complete names of all people, city you live in and a short description of what’s taking place.

TWO FORMER COMMISSIONERS RETURN TO OAKLAND PARK

By Christiana Lilly

There will be no new faces on the Oakland Park dais, as voters chose two former commissioners to lead the city.

Tim Lonergan and Steven R. Arnst, who were the top two choices from a field of six candidates, won the two open at-large commission seats. They won 25.99% and 23.88% of the vote, respectively, according to unofficial results from the Broward Supervisor of Elections.

Oakland Park’s commissioners serve atlarge seats and rotate mayor and vice mayor each year. Vice Mayor Aisha Gordon will

be stepping up to the plate as mayor, with Commissioner Mitch Rosenwald moving up to vice mayor.

Lonergan, who served on the commission from 2013 to 2020, took the spot of mayor in 2016 and 2018. Having served two terms, he was forced to take a two-year hiatus before being allowed to run again. Lonergan, who is gay, helped make positive changes in the city for the LGBT community. This included making conversion therapy illegal in Oakland Park, adding gender reassignment surgery coverage and domestic partnership benefits

for employees, and requiring contractors and vendors to provide domestic partnership benefits to employees.

Arnst took a long break from the commission after reaching term limits for a second time. He was on the Oakland Park commission from 1993 to 2001 and then again from 2003 to 2011. During that time, he also held vice mayor and mayor seats. He told the Sun Sentinel this summer that City Hall is “burning through money like there’s no tomorrow. I want to get a hold on the taxes.”

Wilton Manors, FL 33305

954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943 Publisher/Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Publisher•Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com

Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com

South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.

Tim Lonergan (left) and Steven Arnst. Courtesy photos.

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:  Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you: 

Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY. 

Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.



BIKTARVY and other medicines may a ect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.





POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.

Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

 Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.



Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, lightcolored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.



The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

You are encouraged to report negative side e ects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

GET MORE INFORMATION

WILTON MANORS NEWS

DIVING DEEP INTO WILTON MANORS ELECTION RESULTS

By John McDonald

A deep dive into the Wilton Manors election results reveal the city’s two precincts to be some of the bluest in Broward County.

Data from the Broward Supervisor of Elections show there are 9,072 active voters in the city with 63% registered as Democrats, 21% unaffiliated and 14% Republican.

Wilton Manors is divided into two precincts with Andrews Ave. the boundary. Addresses to the east of Andrews Ave. are in P001 and addresses to the west are in P002. There are 6,707 active voters in P001 and 2,365 active voters in P002.

The top of the Democratic ticket ran up big margins in the precincts with Congresswoman Val Demings getting the most votes at 4,663 to 1,118 for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio. In the race for governor, Congressman Charlie Crist got 4,600 votes to 1,205 for Gov. Ron DeSantis. In the race for the open Congressional District 23 seat, Broward County Commissioner Jared Moskowitz got 4,568 votes to 1,091 for Republican Joe Budd.

Photo via Adobe.

OAKLAND PARK NEWS

OAKLAND PARK WELCOMES AISHA GORDON AS NEW MAYOR

3 LGBT MEMBERS OF COMMISSION

By Christiana Lilly

“I don’t win until you win,” she said after being sworn in. “I embrace my new role with a sincere passion to serve. I am honored for the opportunity to be here tonight and to serve as your next mayor.”

After two years of service on the city’s commission, the businesswoman has rotated into the position after serving as vice mayor. The city’s electoral process has candidates run for at-large positions on the commission and rotate its mayor each year.

Aisha Gordon is sworn in as mayor of Oakland Park at city hall on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Courtesy of City of Oakland Park.

for

Mayor Scott Newton won re-election with 4,014 votes to 1,284 for challenger Boyd Corbin.

The commission has said goodbye to Jane Bolin and Michael Carn, both of whom have served as mayor during their time on the dais. Before Gordon took her oath of office, Carn recited a poem he wrote for his colleagues as a goodbye.

Vice Mayor Mitch Rosenwald, a social worker and Barry University professor, was

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also sworn in. He told SFGN that affordable housing continues to be a priority

him, as well as green initiatives and increasing public participation. He said that there are plans for a workshop in the spring to invite the public to give feedback on how we can improve housing in the city.

In the race for circuit judge in the 17th judicial circuit, group 23, Gary Farmer overwhelmed Tania Marie Williams in Wilton Manors – 3,447 to 1,379 – on his way to victory. It was much closer in the group 51 circuit judge race with Tamar Hamilton defeating Lorena Mastrarrigo, 2,385 to 2,330, in the Island City only to lose overall by 51,199 votes.

TERM LIMITS QUESTION GETS MOST VOTES IN WILTON MANORS ELECTION

By John McDonald

All three ballot referendums passed in Wilton Manors with little fanfare.

“The voting results on the three city referendums demonstrate the residents strongly agree with them,” said Commissioner Paul Rolli. “The question on terms limits passed with an 83% approval rate.”

Indeed, Question 3 garnered the largest amount of support from voters with 4,400 yes votes to 900 no votes. Data from the Broward Supervisor of Elections show more people voted on Question 3 than in the mayor’s race. The measure caps terms for elected officials at 12 years – six two-year terms for mayors and three four-year terms for commissioners.

Question 1 collected the next highest support at 76% with 3,743 yes votes to 1,204 no votes. This measure gives tax-collecting authority to the city clerk and eliminates the Civil Service Board. Ex-Charter Review Board chairman Michael Rajner had expressed concern that eliminating the six-member

board could leave non-union employees with no recourse for grievances. Rolli disagreed.

“City employees like all other employees have the right to take their case to the judicial system,” Rolli said.

Question 2, which expedites the process of filling vacancies on the commission in the event of a death, resignation or removal from office, passed with 66% support – 3,237 yes votes to 1,644 no votes. The charter referendum also deleted a provision about forfeiture of office in the event a mayor or commissioner is found in violation of the code of conduct or code of ethics.

Photo via Adobe Stock.