 On March 10, 2009, voters elected Bruce Roberts as Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner representing District I. He was reelected for a second three-year term on March 13, 2012.
As City Commissioner, Bruce Roberts is continuing a long and distinguished career of serving the citizens of Fort Lauderdale and working to enhance, improve and strengthen the community.
Commissioner Roberts may be reached at 954-828-5004 or via e-mail at BRoberts@fortlauderdale.gov.
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Biographical Information
Commissioner Bruce G. Roberts was elected to the City Commission on March 10, 2009 and reelected in 2012 with 84% of the vote. Commissioner Roberts graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration Criminal Justice from St. Thomas University, and is a graduate of the University of Louisville’s Southern Police Institute, Command Officers Development Course. He entered the law enforcement profession as a police officer for the City in 1973, was promoted through the ranks of the Department, culminating with his appointment as Chief of Police from October 2001 until May 2008. He is deeply rooted in the community, having grown up in the area he now represents. He has been married to his wife, Scharlene, since 1979, and they have resided in their current home in Imperial Point since 1992. The Roberts’ two children are also graduates of Cardinal Gibbons High School.
He has served professional and civic organizations, including the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the Florida and Broward County Police Chiefs Associations, the Advisory Board of the Broward County Crime Commission, the Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse, the Broward Workshop Criminal Justice Committee, the Fort Lauderdale Police Officers Association, and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Present appointments include the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association, the Florida League of Cities – Urban Administration Committee, and the Broward County Consolidated Communications Committee.
Accomplishments during his first term in office include:
- No increase in millage rate or fire assessment fee in three years.
- Reduced size of government by reorganizing 16 departments to nine and eliminating 300 positions.
- Reduced the General Fund Operating budget by $18 million.
- Maintaining General Fund Operating Budgets Reserves of 20%.
- Fort Lauderdale has the 2nd lowest millage rate of Florida's 25 largest cities.
- Thousands of new businesses opened creating new jobs for our citizens.
- Eight new parks have opened, 13 parks have installed lightning warning systems, and new recreational programs have been created.
- Has taken a lead role in addressing 911 communications and continues to work with Broward County emergency personnel in this endeavor.
- Retained and expanded Sun Trolley services.
- Spearheaded police and fire pension reform.
- Rejuvenated citizen participation in government decisions through active partnerships with advisory boards/committees, publications, emails and meetings.
- Protected and enhanced neighborhood quality of life.
- Maintained the delivery of vital city services, especially public safety.
- Supported economic development initiatives through public realm improvements, ordinance updates, process changes and partnerships
As City Commissioner, Bruce Roberts continues to serve the citizens of Fort Lauderdale, working to make Fort Lauderdale the best place to live, work, play, visit and raise a family. His top five issues are still citizen participation in government decisions; effective and efficient public safety; collegial leadership on the City Commission; balanced economic development that will protect our neighborhoods and green space; establishing a vision for the future and a budget for those priorities. He can be reached at 954-828-5033 or via e-mail at broberts@fortlauderdale.gov. |
