Keeping “someplace special”: Here are the candidates for Cooper City’s District 4 Commissioner race

Joshua Giancarlo

⎋ https://www.facebook.com/pg/VoteGiancarlo2020/posts/

✉ [email protected]

1. What is the main issue(s) or topic(s) you believe is most important to Cooper City and that you are primarily fighting for in this race? Why do you think this impacts the Cooper City community the most?

Cooper City faces a number of issues, from financial stability (budgeting, taxing, spending), public safety, to the deterioration of the sense of community. I think out of all of these things, the most important is public safety. Two key factors that make Cooper City great are the schools and the safety. Due to understaffing and cuts, we have less police officers on the street than we have previously had and wanted, we have also reduced lobby hours to the police department. Speeding is a tremendous concern for hundreds of families that live along 106th, 90th and many more streets. There also is a feeling in the community that crime is happening more frequently. The city needs to work with the Broward Sherrif’s Office (BSO) and not against them to improve community policing and create opportunities for the police to improve efficiency. 

The second largest problem plaguing Cooper City is how we are all treating each other and carrying ourselves on social media and off. As someone who grew up in Cooper City, I see much less positive communication among neighbors, fewer block parties and fewer events where everyone can enjoy each other and bond as a community. I want to improve communication between the schools, nonprofits and the city so that we can all take pride and become involved in celebrating our achievements instead of attacking differences. A closer community will reduce crime and improve the well-being of our city.

2. Why should a first-time voter, particularly those still in high school, cast their vote for you? What can you offer them?

There are a number of reasons that a vote for me is the right decision for everyone, especially first-time voters. The biggest reason is that I cared about the first time voters LONG before they could vote and I will continue being there to support them. I believe that young people are always the key to the future and have demonstrated that in how I have chosen to spend my free time. I volunteer in coaching youth sports even though I have no children. I have volunteered as a coach at CCHS for the girls’ basketball team. I have met with members of the boys’ team and opened the gym so they can practice. I do my best to make sure all the kids I coach or interact with know they have my time and guidance if it is ever needed. As a commissioner, I would continue to offer my time and support, whether it is a letter of recommendation (of which I have written many), guidance on what to do with their life, how I like being an attorney or simply a text checking up on them and making sure they are doing well. I grew up a child of two teachers and the one thing I took most from that experience is that children (and young adults) are the most impressionable and have the most time to impact and shape society and that they are our greatest gift. While I can continue to tell you how much I value all of you, regardless of whether you are first-time voters, you should reach out to classmates and/or neighbors your age and ask them about me. 

3. How do you plan to improve the lives of Cooper City residents and students in Cooper City schools?

Improving public safety and trying to effect positive change in the interactions of residents are of significant importance to me. Both of these things have clear benefits to the residents of the city. I think the city short changes students of all grades. As a true community, we should celebrate everyone’s accomplishments. Our city commission celebrates a “Yard of the Month,” but does nothing to recognize great acts of service by residents (including children): National Merit finalists, Silver Knight Award winners, a student who gets a college scholarship to play an instrument or for a sport. I want the city to honor people who are providing a positive impact on our community. In addition, I would like the city to improve communication with the schools so that they can work together to improve the education and lives of the students. Community involvement, like the parade that took place for last year’s graduating class, can happen even when there is not a pandemic. 

4. Various members of the Cooper City community are commenting on some factual discrepancies on your latest flyer, particularly referring to the depiction of your role and actions on the city’s Financial Advisory Board as untrue and misrepresented. How do you formally address these claims?

Unfortunately, another candidate– Mr. [Ryan] Shrouder and his supporters (specifically Mr. Nall)– have resorted to name-calling (Mr. Shrouder has called me Pinocchio) and accusations because the facts make him look bad. My mailer is unequivocally correct regarding the substantive nature of all claims. His camp and, to my knowledge, ONLY his camp has alleged that there are falsehoods on my mailer. Below is my response to each allegation: 

(1) I stated that the new BSO contract reduces positions. This is a FACT that can be verified by BSO. They claim that the only positions reduced were vacancies that are currently unfilled anyways. Mr. Nall in his own post on social media says the positions were reduced while claiming it didn’t matter. I also feel it does matter, because while there were vacancies that could have been filled, those no longer exist. We will not have any additional police officers on the streets in Cooper City unless changes are made to the contract that he was involved in negotiating.

(2) Mr. Nall attacks my involvement on the Finance Advisory Board and the fact that our board recommended a reduction in the tax rate. It is a matter of fact and public record that I was on this board and that the recommendation to reduce the millage was made and the commissioners saw fit to agree in lowering rates. The mailer states that I pushed to cut the City’s budget; as a member of this group, that is certainly the case. Unlike Mr. Nall though, I did not seek cuts to services to the extent that it would harm our city or look to increase revenue to the point where it harmed local non-profits.

(3) Mr. Shrouder separately accused me of lying when I said I volunteered as a coach at Cooper City High School. He was wrong on this matter also. Anyone can request records from Broward County Public Schools that I was a paid coach for one season from October 2018 through February 2019, but was a volunteer at all other times I was coaching at CCHS from October 2017 through when COVID closed the school down last [school] year (I chose to operate a volunteer the season after being a paid coach because of time commitment issues and a desire to still be involved with the team, allow[ing] someone else to take the paid position).

The fact of the matter is that people try and bring others down to make themselves look better. In addition, they lie about themselves so that they appear more favorably to others. I have been and will continue to be nothing but honest with this city and its residents. 

5. Lastly, why should Cooper City voters vote for you?

Cooper City voters should vote for me because I am going to put them and their families first. I want to ensure this community has excellent public safety. I want to build a stronger community for all of us to enjoy. I want to help support the businesses in our community, many of which are owned and operated by residents. I want to work with local schools to make sure the children of this city are given every opportunity to succeed and grow into adults we are all proud of. You should vote for me because as commissioner, my goal will be to improve and make a positive impact on the lives of all residents.