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Commissioner Shawn Cerra Discusses Municipal Issues Ahead of Seat 2 Election

Shawn Cerra at the launch of his re-election campaign. {Facebook}

By Bryan Boggiano

As the November 8th election day approaches, races for governor, senator, and congressional representatives are gaining steam.

Amidst the high-profile races, voters will also decide who will represent them on Seat 2 of the Coral Springs City Commission.

Ahead of Election Day, Coral Springs Talk reached out to both candidates, incumbent Commissioner Shawn Cerra and School Board Representative Daniel Foganholi.

Cerra was first elected to the city commission in 2019. He was previously principal at J.P. Taravella High School for 14 years and currently serves as director of athletics and student activities for Broward Schools.

A 27-year Coral Springs resident, Cerra and his wife, Kerry, raised their three children, Kylie, Joshua, and Griffin, in the city.

Cerra said that serving as a commissioner over the past three-and-a-half years for the city’s 133,000+ residents and 6,400 businesses before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic has been rewarding.

During his term, Cerra listed a plethora of successes.

These include creating and implementing the Neighborhoods With Integrity initiative, which has, to date, resulted in three community service projects and one social. He also helped plan and develop a Neighborhood for Schools guide.

Cerra and his wife also volunteered at the first municipal-led vaccination site during the pandemic, which was in Coral Springs.

He also advocated for stormwater improvement,s a sustainability officer, approved a Habitat for Humanity affordable housing project, and helped select and hire the current city manager, Frank Babinec.

On sports, Cerra listed bringing additional and revamped youth sports programs, restructuring travel soccer, creating a travel baseball league, and partnering with local middle schools for a city-sponsored baseball/softball league as accomplishments.

“I strongly believe that I have a proven track record of getting things done and have consistently demonstrated a positive leadership style that comes from a strong work ethic,” he said.

These successes led to multiple endorsements, including the rest of the city commission, the Coral Springs Fraternal Order of Police, and fire, The Broward Principals and Assistants’ Associations, state representatives Dan Daley and Christine Hunschofsky, and State Senator Tina Polsky.

For Cerra, the issues that matter to him most include maintaining and enhancing all aspects of public safety, remaining fiscally responsible with transparency, and continuing to develop and foster a citywide effort to support and engage all 46 school communities and the students within.

He also listed fixing the current garbage and recycling crisis and supporting and delivering a sustainable future with noticeable change and proven results as priority issues.

If re-elected, Cerra said he would work to keep the millage rate the same for at least the next three years, advocate for ownership over rentals, work on a comprehensive 10-year plan, and continue engaging with and supporting residents and businesses.

Cerra said that he will accept the election results, regardless of the outcome.

Whether he wins or loses, Cerra said that he hopes to continue to work on behalf of the residents and businesses in the city in any capacity that he can.

“I am experienced and have no future political aspirations beyond this city position,” Cerra said. “I never plan to sell my home here, so I’m one hundred percent invested in making sure our city continues to thrive in all possible ways.”

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Bryan Boggiano

Bryan has a degree in journalism from the University of Florida and earned his masters in geosciences from Florida International University, where he focused in atmospheric sciences. His interests include weather, entertainment, and municipal government.