By: Sharon Aron Baron
Not only is Tamarac Mayor Harry Dressler extremely tight-lipped on future projects in the City citing that he cannot legally discuss them with his very own constituents, but he’s been missing from action from several important events in Broward County.
And people have noticed.
Tamarac Talk is the source where residents go to find out what’s going on and lately people are asking, “Where is your mayor?”
Now, I’m not going to beat up our mayor if he took a long well-deserved vacation and missed an event or two, but this is what vice mayor’s and commissioners are for: to fill in the place of the mayor when they can’t make it to important events.
In February, Coral Springs Mayor Skip Campbell invited Mayor Harry Dressler to the “Mayor’s Chess Challenge” and invited all local mayors to help get kids enthusiastic about chess which is a pet project of both Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan and Lauderhill Mayor Richard Kaplan. Not only would Dressler not RSVP, after several emails to both his administrative coordinator and Tamarac’s public information officer, there was no reply from Dressler. Nothing.
The Mayor’s chess challenge was a fantastic event which alternates to various Broward County cities and it would have been great to seeing our mayor joining the others for the event, but it was a no-go with Dressler.
Last week, the Broward League of Cities held an event where Parkland City Commissioner Dave Rosenof was inducted as their new President. The Broward League, was created in 1957 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization where elected officials from Broward County’s 31 municipal governments identify and resolve issues. Mayor Harry Dressler is our Broward League of Cities Representative and Commissioner Pam Bushnell is the alternate. Every city in Broward County was represented at the event, except ours.
It was obvious that Tamarac missing in action from the event and yes, people noticed.
These Mayors want you to buy a home in their City: Sunrise Mayor Michael Ryan, Margate Commissioner Le Peerman, Parkland Mayor Michael Udine and Coral Springs Mayor Skip Campbell – Photo Courtesy Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors
Mayor Dressler also went missing to an event affecting community and property owners alike on May 8 when the Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors held their Mayor’s Breakfast and Municipal Expo.
This was a chance for representatives like Coral Springs Mayor Skip Campbell, Dania Beach Mayor Marco Salvino, Dania Beach Commissioner Walter Duke, Davie Councilman Bryan Caletka, Deerfield Beach Vice Mayor William Ganz, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Dean Trantalis, Hallandale Beach Commissioner Anthony Sanders, Hollywood Commissioner Patricia Asseff, Lauderdale By The Sea Vice Mayor Chris Vincent, Margate Commissioner Le Peerman, Cooper City Commissioner John Sims, Oakland Park Commissioner John Adornato, Parkland Mayor Michael Udine, Pembroke Pines Vice Mayor Iris Siple, Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher, Sunrise Mayor Michael Ryan, West Park Mayor Eric Jones and Weston Mayor Daniel Stermer to talk about their cities to a captive audience of real estate agents.
These are the professionals that are bringing buyers to purchase homes in their communities. What kind of public official would forgo an opportunity to be the ambassadors of their Cities for a day?
One Tamarac Realtor who wishes to remain anonymous was shocked when she discovered that Tamarac’s mayor wasn’t even on the list of those had confirmed their attendance, so four days before the event, she sent him an email asking why. His administrative coordinator replied, not the mayor himself, and told her, “Sorry to inform you that Mayor Dressler is out of the City at this time. He will be returning to the office on Monday, May 11 for the City Commissioner Workshop and will review his emails at that time. The organization was advised that he was unavailable due to a long standing commitment out of the City and his apologies on missing the event were sent when the invitation was first received.”
The Realtor told Tamarac Talk that if the mayor couldn’t make it for some reason or another, or if knew about the event that far in advance, then he should have made arrangements to send someone else in his place.
“This wasn’t the first time that Tamarac fell short,” she said. “I just feel that Tamarac hasn’t shown any Broward community participation at these functions.”
The Realtor said that the mayors discuss future plans of the City and there is a lot of information to be learned at the seminars as well as one-on-one with the agents.
“This is an important event to showcase Tamarac’s growth; to create interest and reasons for people to move in to the cities.”
