{Joe McHugh}
By Kevin Deutsch
Joe McHugh, a Coral Springs Police lieutenant with over 27 years of service in the department, is running for City Commission Seat Five, according to city campaign records.
McHugh seeks to replace Joy Carter, who will not seek reelection in 2024 due to term limits. McHugh’s only official competitor so far is Jose “Joe” Morera, president of the Sunshine Water Control District, who ran for Seat Three in 2020.
McHugh’s ties to the community run deep: He sits on the city’s Development Review Committee and referees youth and adult hockey at the Ice Den. His 13-year-old son Cole plays travel ice hockey for the Florida Junior Panthers.
McHugh was hired by the city as a road patrol officer in 1996, selected to the department’s traffic unit in 2001, and promoted to sergeant in 2005. In 2007, he was transferred to the training unit and selected as the department’s public information officer. In 2010, McHugh was promoted to lieutenant. He currently oversees several areas, including the department’s body camera program.
He said he is retiring from the police force later this year.
“I care so much about the residents and business owners in the city. I want to be able to listen to them and see what their wants and needs are,” said McHugh.
The veteran law enforcement officer said he has already won two endorsements: One from Coral Springs Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 87 and another from Metro Broward Firefighters and Paramedics Local 3080.
McHugh named several issues he will focus on, including prioritizing school safety, affordable housing for city employees, excellence in the city’s parks and recreation program, mental health in the community, “finding a way to have our children return to Coral Springs and live affordably,” and “making sure the beautification of our city is superior to any other city.”
On the issue of school safety, McHugh said, “The most important thing is the training of the staff at the school, to make sure they’re properly trained on what exactly to do if they have a threat on campus.”
As for affordable housing, “It’s extremely important to me because you want your employees to live in the city where they work … I think you’ll get more functionality out of an employee if they live locally and don’t have to drive an hour into work.”
McHugh said the city does an excellent job with mental health care for city employees, “but I’d love us to expand [that care] further.”
“Ever since COVID, we have seen an increase in mental health calls, and people need help … If we offer programs to people in the community, maybe they’ll seek that help.”
McHugh said he has strived to adhere to the highest professional standards and ethics throughout his law enforcement career, gaining a reputation for honesty and fairness. Casting himself as an open-minded leader who values deliberation, McHugh said the close relationships he has developed with many residents, business owners, and city employees would be an asset as a commissioner.
He described the support he has received from residents and business owners as “overwhelming.”
“The connections that I’ve gained in 27 years here in Coral Springs will be an invaluable asset to me as a commissioner.”
City Commission Seats One and Three are also up for grabs in the upcoming election cycle. Seat One incumbent Scott Brook, the current mayor, has filed to run again in 2024, as has Seat Three incumbent Nancy Bowen.
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