2 minute voter guide: Hollywood's key races and ballot questions
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The midterm election is nearly here, with early voting underway in Broward County.
Why it matters: From the city commission to future sales of public land, there's a lot on the ballot for Hollywood voters that could shape the future of the beachside town.
Zoom out: Voters will decide Florida's next governor, agriculture commissioner, chief financial officer, attorney general and U.S. senator.
- They'll also determine the fate of a constitutional amendment, which, if passed, would raise the homestead exemption and overhaul the property tax system.
Zoom in: In addition to Amendment 3, residents will vote on renewing an existing property tax that's critical for Broward public schools and teacher pay.
Here's a look at key races and local ballot questions:
City Commission
District 1: Lawyer Brian Parúas; civic advocate and former teacher Catherine Uden; and Itzhack Feldman, known for the Hollywood Beach TV Facebook page, are running to replace Caryl Shuham, who was elected to the county commission.
- Mayor Josh Levy and Vice Mayor Traci Callari endorsed Parúas while Shuham and outgoing County Commissioner Beam Furr endorsed Uden.
District 3: Miramar Bakery CEO Alex Recio is facing off against David Raskind, a co-founder of a Jewish nursery and preschool, for the seat held by term-limited Callari.
- Mayor Levy, every city commissioner except Shuham, and city unions have endorsed Recio. Raskind is running as a self-described political outsider.
District 5: Real estate agent Erin Marvasti and Adam Roberti, the executive director of an arts foundation focused on the climate crisis, are running to replace term-limited Kevin Biederman.
- Marvasti is endorsed by the police and fire unions, County Commissioner Steve Geller, Mayor Levy, and Commissioners Biederman, Peter Hernandez, Adam Gruber and Callari.
- Roberti is backed by Commissioner Idelma Quintana, County Commissioners Furr and Nan Rich and state Sen. Shevrin Jones.
Ballot Questions
Charter Amendment (Question 1): Requires a five-sevenths vote of the city commission to approve a lease of city property that lasts 20 years or longer.
- Leases lasting 50 years or longer, including renewals, and sales of city-owned properties that are parks, golf courses or recreational facilities, have historic designations or are east of the Intracoastal Waterway would require voter approval.
Question 2: Authorizes the city to sell or transfer beachfront property north of the Dania Beach Pier to the county for conservation.
What we're watching: The first ballot question comes weeks after the city commission approved a 99-year lease of city-owned beachfront land for Related Group's Portofino Hollywood development, despite resident opposition.
- A lawsuit challenging the project claims the lease should have gone before the voters.
State Legislature
- House District 101: Incumbent Hillary Cassel, who switched from Democrat to Republican in 2024, is facing Democrat Todd Delmay, the executive director of the LGBTQ+ rights organization SAVE.
Congress
Congressional District 24: Democrat Oliver Gilbert, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner and former mayor of Miami Gardens, is facing Republican Te Brown, a self-described "successful businesswoman, educator, and trailblazing real estate developer," to succeed U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson.
Congressional District 25: Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz faces Republican and former Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer in the redrawn district stretching from Miami-Dade to Palm Beach counties.
🗳️ Review your sample ballot here.
What's next: Early voting runs through Nov. 1 (7am–7pm).
- The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5pm.