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Tamarac District 4 Election Preview: Incumbent Kicia Daniel Faces Carol Mendelson in November Rematch 5

Kicia Daniel and Carol Mendelson.

Tamarac voters in District 4 will decide whether to give incumbent Commissioner Dr. Kicia Daniel another four years in office or elect challenger Carol Mendelson when they head to the polls on November 3.

The nonpartisan race is a rematch of the 2022 election, when Daniel defeated Mendelson to win her first term. This year’s contest comes as Tamarac faces questions about infrastructure improvements, government spending, public safety, and the future of its water treatment facilities.

Early voting in Broward County begins October 19 and runs through November 1, with polls open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open during the same hours.

Vote-by-mail ballots have already been distributed, and the deadline to request one is October 22.

Kicia Daniel

Tamarac Talk contacted Daniel for an interview about her reelection campaign but did not receive an immediate response. If she responds, Tamarac Talk will give her the same opportunity to share her positions and priorities with readers.

Daniel, a longtime Broward County educator and school principal, holds degrees from Florida A&M University and Nova Southeastern University, including a doctorate in educational leadership.

In December 2024, the City Commission unanimously appointed Daniel vice mayor, making her the first Black woman to hold the position in Tamarac’s history. She has also served on the Broward League of Cities Board of Directors.

During her first term, Daniel has highlighted neighborhood improvements, public safety, and redevelopment efforts.

In a city publication earlier this year, Daniel pointed to progress at the former Winn-Dixie shopping plaza, neighborhood landscaping, construction of a wall along Southgate Boulevard and Northwest 81st Avenue, and roadway repaving in eastern District 4.

She also highlighted improvements to street lighting, installing speed cameras, and increasing Broward Sheriff’s Office visibility as ways to address neighborhood safety concerns.

Daniel has described her approach to governing as one focused on collaboration, responsiveness, and improving residents’ quality of life, according to the publication.

Carol Mendelson

Mendelson, a retired Broward County School Board administrator and longtime Tamarac resident, is campaigning on fiscal accountability, infrastructure improvements, and restoring public trust in City Hall.

A former member of Tamarac’s Planning Board and Affordable Housing Committee, Mendelson said her unsuccessful 2022 campaign strengthened her understanding of residents’ concerns.

“I knocked on doors, sat in living rooms, and listened to residents across District 4 talk about what they needed and what they felt was being ignored,” Mendelson told Tamarac Talk.

She said many of those concerns remain unresolved, particularly drinking water quality, public spending, and emergency services.

Mendelson identified building a new water treatment plant as her top priority, citing PFAS contamination concerns and what she described as $24 million in settlement funds designated for the project.

“Getting this plant built, funded, permitted, and under construction during my first term would be the most important thing I could accomplish,” she said.

Mendelson also criticized discretionary spending, alleging that more than $133,000 was distributed over 13 months without publicly established criteria. Those figures have not been independently verified.

“I will advocate for independent audits, clear criteria for every discretionary expenditure, and a budget process that is fully open to the public,” she said.

She also emphasized funding police and fire services, maintaining infrastructure, and improving responsiveness to residents.

“What I am most looking forward to is the ability to act, not just observe,” Mendelson said. “I have spent years at those meetings watching decisions get made that I believed were wrong for residents. Serving on the commission means having a vote, and I intend to use it.”

Mendelson has received endorsements from the Dolphin Democrats, a Broward County LGBTQ+ political organization, and the Sun-Sentinel.

Only registered voters residing in District 4 can participate in the commission race.

Residents can find early voting locations, check their registration status, and review election information at BrowardVotes.gov.

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.