Cooper City is not alone. Across Florida, a quiet but alarming trend is taking hold: city commissions are changing their charters to replace voter-elected vacancies with self-appointed successors — almost always framed as a 'cost-saving' measure. Here is what is happening in your state.
In November 2024, Venice voters approved a charter amendment — by nearly 68% — that ended special elections for commission vacancies. When Commissioner Joan Farrell resigned in April 2025, the council appointed her replacement to serve the full remaining term with zero voter input. One dissenting council member called it undemocratic, arguing that 18 months without a voter-elected representative was too long. The majority disagreed. The appointment stood.
In May 2026, the Gainesville City Commission voted to place a charter amendment on the November 2026 ballot that would allow appointment for any vacancy — regardless of how much time remains in the term. If passed, an appointed commissioner could serve up to two full years with no vote by residents. The justification? Saving money on special elections.
The Cooper City Commission passed Ordinance No. 26-08, placing a referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot to eliminate special elections and replace them with commission appointments. The timing is no coincidence — Commissioner Jason Smith's resignation had already created a vacancy and triggered a mandatory special election for March 9, 2027. This referendum is the commission's attempt to take that vote away from you and gives Smith the direct chance to be appointed if he looses his race for the 102 District this coming August 18 in the primary or November 3 of 2026 in the general election
Tarpon Springs and North Port have long had charter provisions allowing commission appointments to fill vacancies when limited time remains in a term — bypassing special elections in those windows. These cities set early precedents for the appointment model that others are now expanding upon.
Cooper City's Ordinance 26-08 goes dramatically further. It eliminates special elections entirely — for ANY vacancy, regardless of how much time remains in the term. The commission appoints a permanent successor who serves until the next regular election, up to two years away. No special election. No voter input. Ever. This is not a procedural tweak — it is a complete transfer of power from residents to commissioners.
In November 2024, Sanford voters went the opposite direction — approving a charter amendment that moved TOWARD elections for vacancies, replacing the prior appointment-heavy system. Sanford residents made clear: they want to choose their own representatives, not have them chosen for them.
In July 2026, Miami City Commissioner Rolando Escalona proposed a charter amendment to eliminate appointments entirely and require special elections for ALL vacancies. The proposal was deferred after debate, but it signals a growing resistance to the appointment trend. Miami residents are pushing back — and winning the conversation.
"Each municipal legislative body shall be elective."
— Article VIII, Section 2(b), Florida State Constitution
The same 'cost-saving' argument is being used in city after city across Florida to justify stripping residents of their right to vote. When the same playbook appears in Venice, Gainesville, Tarpon Springs, North Port, and Cooper City — that is not a coincidence. That is a strategy.
Large cities like Miami are pushing back. It is smaller communities — where fewer residents are paying attention, where local media coverage is thin, and where commissions have outsized influence — that are most vulnerable to these charter changes.
Every city that has made this change has done so permanently. There is no automatic reversal. Once voters approve an appointment system, getting it back requires another referendum — and the commission controls when and whether that happens.
Florida's Constitution says your legislative body must be elective. But city by city, that principle is being quietly eroded — one charter amendment at a time. Cooper City residents have a chance to say NO on November 3, 2026. Don't let Cooper City become the next Venice.
The Cooper City Commission has passed Ordinance No. 26-08, placing a charter amendment on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot. If approved by voters, this amendment would permanently eliminate your right to elect a commissioner through a special election when a vacancy occurs — replacing your vote with a backroom appointment made by the remaining commissioners themselves.
Today, when a commissioner seat becomes vacant, the City is required to hold a special election so that YOU — the residents — choose who represents you. Your vote fills the seat.
Under the proposed change, the remaining commissioners would simply appoint whoever they choose to fill the vacancy — with NO input from residents. You would have no say in who represents you.
Yes. If voters approve this referendum on November 3, 2026, it becomes a permanent change to the City Charter. Future vacancies — for any reason — would be filled by appointment, not by your vote.
"The Charter currently requires special elections to fill certain vacancies on the City Commission. Shall the Charter be amended to require that, when a vacancy occurs, the remaining commission members shall, by majority vote, appoint a qualified successor to fill such vacancy until the next regular City election in November of even-numbered years, thereby avoiding the cost of special elections to fill vacancies? This proposed Charter amendment will save the cost of special elections. YES / NO"
— Ordinance No. 26-08, Cooper City, Florida (On the November 3, 2026 Ballot)
The appointed commissioner serves out the full remainder of the term. No election is ever held. Residents never get a vote.
The appointed commissioner serves until the next regular November election in an even-numbered year — which could be up to 2 years away.
If vacancies reduce the commission below a quorum, the remaining members can still appoint replacements among themselves — with zero resident input.
Cooper City is facing a rare and consequential moment: Commissioner Jason Smith resigned his commission seat to run for the Florida State House, creating a vacancy that — under the current City Charter — must be filled by the voters in a special election (a special election has been triggered), but now he has an option to be reapointed to the commission if he looses. Here is exactly how we got here, and why it matters.
📅 April 2025
Commissioner Jason Smith (Seat 3) announced his candidacy for Florida House District 102, the seat being vacated by term-limited Rep. Michael Gottlieb. Under Florida law, a sitting commissioner must resign their local office to qualify and run for another office — this is known as the "resign-to-run" rule.
📅 May, 2026
To comply with Florida's resign-to-run law, Commissioner Smith formally resigned from the Cooper City Commission. His resignation immediately created a vacancy in Seat 3 — with more than two years remaining in the term. Under the current City Charter (Section 3.10), this triggers a mandatory special election. Smith will have the opportunity to run during this special election
📅 Post-November 3, 2026
Because the effective resignation was submitted to be in effect after November 3rd of 2026. This confirms the reckless intetion to spend Thousands of dollars of tax payers money. The Broward County Supervisor of Elections officially scheduled the Cooper City Special Election for March 9, 2027. City Attorney Jacob G. Horowitz of Goren, Cherof, Doody & Ezrol, P.A. confirmed the legal obligation in official correspondence.
📅 March /June 2026
While this vacancy was already known and the special election was foreseeable, the City Commission passed Ordinance No. 26-08 — placing a referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot to eliminate future special elections entirely. This is giving an additional opportunity for Smith or any other The timing has raised serious questions among the entire community of Cooper City regardless of Party. See the video here with the details of how this evolved at the Commision meetings
"The proposed Charter amendment revises the process for filling vacancies on the City Commission by clarifying when a special election should be scheduled and by recognizing the Broward County Supervisor of Elections' role in determining the earliest available election date. Specifically, the amendment provides that when more than 180 days remain, the Commission shall schedule a special election to be held within 60 days of the vacancy, or as soon as practicable, as may be required by the Broward County Supervisor of Elections."
— City Commission Staff Report, May 12, 2026 | Jacob G. Horowitz, City Attorney — Goren, Cherof, Doody & Ezrol, P.A.
The March 9, 2027 Special Election gives Cooper City residents the right to choose who fills Seat 3. This is democracy working exactly as it should. Show up and vote.
If the November 3, 2026 referendum passes, there would be no special election — the commission would simply appoint whoever they choose. The vacancy created by Smith's resignation would have been the first test case of that new power.
If the charter amendment ever passes in a future election, every future vacancy — for any reason — will be filled by appointment. Cooper City would join a small group of cities where residents have permanently surrendered their right to vote for their own commissioners.
2027 Cooper City Special Election (3/9/2027) listed as an active reporting group. Source: voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?c=muncoopercity
Cooper City listed with a Special Election (SE) notation for the 2027 cycle. Source: browardvotes.gov — Municipal Election schedule, rev. 01/12/2026
Subject: Motion to Reconsider Ordinance No. 26-08. Authored by City Attorney Jacob G. Horowitz, Goren, Cherof, Doody & Ezrol, P.A. Source: Cooper City Commission meeting records, May 12, 2026
Section 99.012, Florida Statutes — requires a public officer to resign before qualifying as a candidate for another public office. Source: Florida Division of Elections, dos.fl.gov
Official press release confirming Commissioner Angelo Castillo's resignation and the appointment of an interim commissioner pending a special election in November 2024. Source: ppines.com/DocumentCenter/View/21330
An Ordinance submitting to referendum an amendment to Charter Section 3.10 regarding the filling of vacancies on the City Commission. Adopted March 26, 2026. Source: Cooper City Commission official records
A grassroots movement by long-time residents, families, and neighbors — fighting to preserve the Cooper City we love.
For generations, Cooper City has been a haven for families — a place of quiet streets, lush green spaces, and a strong, unbreakable sense of community. Neighbors know each other by name. Children play outside safely. The natural world breathes alongside us.
Now, the shadow of "big city" development looms over our town. Powerful outside developers are eyeing our land, eager to transform Cooper City into another sprawling, overbuilt suburb — just like what has happened in Davie. We are long-time residents, the heart and soul of this community, and we are standing up to protect what makes our home irreplaceable.
Built by families over generations, Cooper City's close-knit spirit is one of a kind.
From golf courses to wetlands, our natural landscape defines who we are.
Big developers and bureaucrats want to overdevelop and erase our town's character forever.
This is not a distant possibility — it is happening right now. Developers are targeting Cooper City with plans for high-density construction that would overwhelm our roads, our schools, and our way of life. Every acre of open land they see, they see profit. Every wetland, every fairway, every quiet street is a potential building site in their eyes.
High-density projects will overwhelm our infrastructure, flood our roads with traffic, and permanently alter the character of Cooper City.
Our precious golf courses and vital wetlands are prime targets for bulldozers. Once destroyed, these irreplaceable natural spaces are gone forever.
The unique, close-knit feel of Cooper City — built by generations of families — risks being buried under concrete, congestion, and strangers.
Davie, our next-door neighbor, stands as a cautionary tale of what happens when big developers are allowed to run unchecked. Once a similarly quiet, family-oriented community, Davie has been transformed by wave after wave of overdevelopment — dense apartment complexes, strip malls, clogged arterials, and disappearing open land.
Massive residential and commercial projects in Davie have created chronic, daily traffic congestion that degrades quality of life for every resident.
The character and charm of the original community have been replaced by impersonal high-density construction catering to outside investors, not local families.
Schools, utilities, and emergency services buckle under the pressure of population density that infrastructure was never designed to handle.
Natural areas, wetlands, and open recreational land have been paved over in Davie — a loss that is permanent and irreversible.
Cooper City residents deserve better. We will not let what happened to Davie happen to us.
We do not oppose all progress. We oppose reckless, developer-driven overdevelopment that serves profit over people. Our vision for Cooper City is clear: a town that honors its past, protects its natural beauty, and puts its residents — not real estate investors — first.
Every planning decision should serve the families who live here, not outside developers seeking returns on investment.
Our golf courses, wetlands, and open green spaces must be preserved as permanent, protected community assets.
The established character of our neighborhoods — the scale, the feel, the quiet — must be defended against high-density encroachment.
We are a movement for Cooper City and from Cooper City — building a future our children and grandchildren will be proud to inherit.
This movement is built on four unshakeable pillars. Each one represents something irreplaceable — something worth every ounce of effort, every petition signature, and every hour of advocacy.
Our golf courses are far more than recreational amenities. They are open green spaces that provide environmental balance, manage stormwater, support wildlife corridors, and anchor our town's identity. Losing them to development would be an irreversible blow to our community.
Wetlands are our natural flood defense, our wildlife sanctuary, and our environmental heritage. They cannot be rebuilt once paved over. Protecting them is not just about beauty — it is about the long-term safety and sustainability of every Cooper City family.
Unchecked growth brings overcrowded schools, heavier traffic, and a higher cost of living — all of which harm the families who have made Cooper City their home for decades. We are fighting for the quality of life every resident deserves.
Cooper City is not just another suburb. It is a community with deep roots, a proud history, and a unique spirit. That spirit was built by the people who have lived here for generations — and it is ours to defend.
Real change happens when neighbors come together. Whether you have lived in Cooper City for 40 years or 4, your voice matters in this fight. Here is how you can make a difference starting today:
Add your name to our growing list of committed residents. Every signature sends a clear message to developers and elected officials that Cooper City will not be sold out.
Show up to local government sessions and planning meetings. Your physical presence in those rooms makes an undeniable statement to decision-makers.
Talk to your neighbors, share our message on social media, and help build a united, visible front that no city commissioner or developer can ignore.
Lend your skills, your energy, and your passion to help us organize events, canvass neighborhoods, and advocate at every level of local government.
We are the long-time residents — the older folks who built this community brick by brick, the families who raised children on these streets, the neighbors who have watched Cooper City grow and flourish. That history gives us both the right and the responsibility to protect what we have built together.
We have something that no developer can buy: deep roots, shared values, and the collective will of a community that knows exactly what it stands to lose. Together, we have the experience, the dedication, and the passion to ensure that Cooper City remains a place we are all proud to call home — not just today, but for every generation that follows.
Decades of lived experience in Cooper City give us the credibility and the motivation to lead this fight.
A united community is the most powerful force in local government. When we speak with one voice, we cannot be dismissed.
This is not just about today. It is about preserving Cooper City for the children and grandchildren who will inherit what we protect — or lose.
This is our town. These are our streets, our parks, our golf courses, our wetlands, and our families. No outside developer, no distant bureaucrat, and no amount of money should be allowed to take that from us. We have seen what happened in Davie. Cooper City will be different — because we will make it different.
Get connected, stay informed, and stand with your neighbors. The movement starts here — with you.
3057335900
PAID FOR AND APPROVED BY JUAN CARLOS SANCHEZ NON PARTISAN CAMPAIGN FOR COOPER CITY COMMISSIONER SEAT #3 2026
Content, including images, displayed on this website is protected by copyright laws. Downloading, Republishing, retransmission or reproduction of content on this website is strictly prohibited. Created in whole or in part with the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)