Learn About Broward County Candidates
This page is dedicated to educate our community and bring information about candidates that are dedicated to serving our community. These are either candidates that are running for an office or already incumbent in a political office that their terms are up for re-election, as well as judges that are up for retention.
All of them have something in common; They have a commitment to serving our Hispanic as well as the community at large. They have expressed and showed their good faith and their extraordinary job in their respective disciplines. They all have the qualification and we our confidence that they have or will do the right job.
Please remember them when on Election Day.
Is up for retention
Summary of Qualifications
Pedro E. Dijols, Circuit Court Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit, was born in New York City in 1959. He married Marlene in 1990 and they have two children – Brian and Madison. Pedro Dijols received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Biscayne College in 1983 and a J.D. from St. Thomas University Law School in 1987. He was admitted to law practice in New York and Florida in 1988. He served as Associate Counsel to the New York City Department of Corrections in the Investigation and Discipline Division from 1987 to 1989. He was an Assistant State Attorney with the Broward County State Attorney’s Office from 1989 to 1992.
After that, he became the Special Assistant to the Attorney General, assigned to the Office of Statewide Prosecution in Florida from 1992 to 1996. Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth called on him to serve on the important Hurricane Andrew Task Force. He was in private practice in Ft. Lauderdale from 1996 to 2005. He was appointed to the Broward Circuit Court Judiciary in the Seventeenth Circuit by Governor Jeb Bush on December 20, 2005. Upon his appointment he began in the Domestic Violence Civil Division hearing Domestic and Repeat Violence Injunctions in 2006. He currently presides in the Criminal Court Division. Judge Dijols devotes the same intensity to the welfare of the community as he does to his professional life
Is up for retention
Summary
of QualificationsSince being appointed in 2005, Judge Avalos has presided over civil and criminal matters in both the Circuit and County court. Consistently demonstrating the professional demeanor and other qualities we value in a judge, Catalina has earned a reputation as a dedicated jurist who treats all who appear before her with fairness and respect.
Prior to her judicial appointment, Judge Avalos served as an Assistant State Attorney and later Deputy Chief of the County Court Division. As a prosecutor, she tried second degree murders, 10-20-Life cases, and sexual battery cases, gaining the respect of her colleagues, opposing counsel, and the judiciary as a fair-minded, intelligent, and professional lawyer with vast trial experience. Before joining the State Attorney’s Office, Judge Avalos began her legal career as a civil trial lawyer with the law firm of Pzyka, Kessler, Massey, et al. She has also worked as an adjunct professor at Broward Community College.
She is up for reelection
Ms.
Beverly A. Gallagher
has been a School Board Member since 2000. She has a long and
successful history as a parent, a teacher, an education activist, and
community leader. She brings knowledge and experience gained from a
number of vantage points to a school board that faces the challenges
of providing a quality education to a diverse student body of nearly a
quarter of a million students.
During her first term as the School Board Member for District 2, Ms. Gallagher was successful at balancing new construction and meeting our class size requirements with repairs and renovations of our older schools. During her second term, her highest priorities have included keeping as many dollars as possible in the classroom, keeping important programs funded, providing services to our diverse population, and increasing teacher salaries.
Running for Broward County's Sheriff office
Summary of Qualifications
Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the third highest position
in an agency of 28,000 employees, with a history of upward mobility, increased
responsibility, and demonstrated results. Presidential Meritorious Award winner
during the Clinton administration and a member of the elite Senior Executive
Service (SES-06), at the equivalent rank of a four-star general. Extensive
leadership experience in decision making, strategic planning, operations,
finance and administration, congressional, media, and public relations.
Additional experience following 9/11 as Federal Security Director, organizing
and rolling out the newly created Transportation Security Administration,
meeting congressionally mandated aviation security deadlines under intense
pressure. Chief of Staff and second highest-ranking member of the largest fully
accredited sheriff’s office in America, responsible for a staff of 6,300 and a
$700M annual budget.
Running for State
Senate District 31
Cooper City · Dania Beach · Davie · Ft. Lauderdale · Hallandale Beach
Hollywood · Miramar · Pembroke Pines · Plantation · Sunrise
For the last eight years, Tim Ryan has been a strong advocate for his constituents as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, where he dedicated himself to the vision of a better Florida. During that time, he fought to improve our state's public schools, develop a stronger economy that provides opportunities for all Floridians and ensures that our state government is both efficient and responsive to the needs of our diverse population.
Read more about Tim, like he likes to
be called
Click for more information
Dale V.C. Holness
Candidate for Broward County Commission District 9
“He
is faster than a speeding bullet!” ”He is the ultimate multi-tasker!” These
words are often used to describe Lauderhill Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness!
Since he is active in so many organizations, causes, and philanthropic
endeavors, legend has it he never sleeps! Really, there is no one like him!
This Commissioner owns his own mortgage/real estate company, and belongs to and chairs several real estate boards. He has been active in the community for many years as a member of the NAACP, and the former Member Chair for Operation PUSH. He served on the Board of the NW Business Men’s Association and was a valuable asset at the Education Summit for churches and schools. But that was not enough for commissioner Holness. He worked relentlessly to secure $100,000 from the City Commission for education for two consecutive years.
Ray Torres Sanchez for Congress- Florida's 23rd District
After
years of witnessing lack of representation for our South Florida residents, I
have decided to seek your nomination and support for the 23rd Congressional
District Seat, Florida.
I believe that it is time for change! As a father of three who is dedicated to the South Florida community, I believe that it is time to focus on the core family values and fundamentals that make our communities a safer, better place to live. From attacking crime at its roots, to helping our homeowners reduce their property taxes, my goal is to be the "One Voice For All People." Most importantly, we are going to provide our law enforcement departments with financial support. I pledge that under my watch we will increase, not decrease, our law enforcement capabilities.
GHENETE WRIGHT MUIR for SUNRISE CITY COMMISSION
Ghenete Wright Muir,
attorney-at-law, mother of two sons, wife and active citizen of
Civic Participation: