Home Rule Hero Awards

More than 70 municipal officials from around the state were honored by the Florida League of Cities as recipients of 2017 Home Rule Hero Awards. These local government officials earned this prestigious recognition for their tireless efforts to advance the League’s legislative agenda and help protect the home rule authority of Florida’s cities during the 2017 regular legislative session.
“Our Home Rule Heroes are shining examples of local advocacy in action,” said Boca Raton Mayor and Florida League of Cities President Susan Haynie. “These dedicated municipal officials take time out of their busy schedules to cultivate relationships with their legislators and help them understand the issues that are most important to their constituents back home. The Florida League of Cities is proud to recognize them and say thank you for all they do to help protect home rule and preserve the quality of life in their cities.”
Home rule is the authority for a city to establish its own form of government and enact ordinances, codes, plans, and resolutions without prior state approval. Recipients of the Home Rule Hero Award are local government officials – both elected and non-elected – who consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective to an issue.
The 2017 Home Rule Hero Award recipients are:
Mayor Mitchell Reeves, City of Atlantic Beach
Vice Mayor Leo Longworth, City of Bartow
Commissioner Trish Pfeiffer, City of Bartow
Mayor Jordan Leonard, Town of Bay Harbor Islands
Commissioner Thomas Shelly, Town of Belleair
Debra Sullivan, City Clerk, City of Belleair Bluffs
Mayor Susan Haynie, City of Boca Raton
Mayor Peter Simmons, City of Bonita Springs
Mayor Wayne Poston, City of Bradenton
Councilmember Jim Burch, City of Cape Coral
Councilmember Bill Jonson, City of Clearwater
John Titkanich, City Manager, City of Cocoa
Mayor Greg Ross, City of Cooper City
Vice Mayor Dan Daley, City of Coral Springs
Commissioner Scott Black, City of Dade City
Mayor Robert F. Apgar, City of DeLand
Mayor Scott Fischer, City of Destin
Carisse LeJeune, City Manager, City of Destin
Bea L. Meeks, City Clerk, City of Edgewood
Lee Feldman, City Manager, City of Fort Lauderdale
Mayor Jack Seiler, City of Fort Lauderdale
Councilman Forrest Banks, City of Fort Myers
Mayor Randy Henderson, City of Fort Myers
Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown, City of Fort Myers
Mayor Linda Hudson, City of Fort Pierce
Michael Beedie, City Manager, City of Fort Walton Beach
Mayor Matthew Surrency, City of Hawthorne
Mark Ryan, City Manager, City of Indian Harbour Beach
Mayor Drinda Merritt, Town of Inglis
Councilmember Matthew Schellenberg, City of Jacksonville
George Forbes, City Manager, City of Jacksonville Beach
Mayor Charlie Latham, City of Jacksonville Beach
Vice Mayor Kimberly Glas-Castro, Town of Lake Park
Commissioner Phillip Walker, City of Lakeland
Mayor R. Howard Wiggs, City of Lakeland
Vice Mayor Jamie Robinson, City of Largo
Mayor Joe Durso, City of Longwood
Mayor Kathy Meehan, City of Melbourne
Councilmember Cal Rolfson, City of Mount Dora
Mayor Bill Barnett, City of Naples
William Moss, City Manager, City of Naples
Councilman William Schaetzle, City of Niceville
Councilman Anthony DeFillipo, City of North Miami Beach
Mayor George Vallejo, City of North Miami Beach
Mayor Linda Yates, City of North Port
Jim Hanson, Town Manager, Town of Orange Park
Mayor William Partington, City of Ormond Beach
Mayor William Capote, City of Palm Bay
Mayor Carol McCormack, Town of Palm Shores
Douglas J. Sale, Attorney, City of Panama City Beach
Councilmember P.C. Wu, City of Pensacola
Kenneth Buchman, Attorney, City of Plant City
Councilperson Dawn Pardo, City of Riviera Beach
Council Vice Chair T. Patrick O’Neill, City of Rockledge
Mayor Kevin Ruane, City of Sanibel
Commissioner Willie Shaw, City of Sarasota
Councilman Dominick Montanaro, City of Satellite Beach
Mayor Leslie Waters, City of Seminole
Commissioner Vincent Barile, Town of Sewall’s Point
Commissioner Tom Campenni, City of Stuart
Mayor Troy McDonald, City of Stuart
Commissioner Scott Maddox, City of Tallahassee
Kent Olson, Deputy Treasurer/Clerk, City of Tallahassee
Commissioner Gil Ziffer, City of Tallahassee
Council Chairman Michael Suarez, City of Tampa
Mayor Heyward H. Strong, Jr., City of Valparaiso
Terry Atchley, City Manager, City of Wauchula
Chevelle Nubin, Village Clerk, Village of Wellington
Mayor Daniel Stermer, City of Weston
Darrel Thomas, Assistant City Manager/CFO, City of Weston
Mayor Gary Resnick, City of Wilton Manors
Mayor Gary Bruhn, Town of Windermere
 
Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities. Florida’s cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.