Dan Daley and Diane Gonzalez Simpson
By: Jen Russon
In 2012, when Dan Daley was elected to the Coral Springs city commission at the age of 22, he was not only the youngest person elected in the city – he was the youngest elected official in Florida.
After running unopposed for Seat 2 in 2014, Daley has continued to serve his constituents for the past six years, even while attending law school, graduating, then taking and passing the bar exam.
Daley is being challenged by political newcomer Diane Gonzalez Simpson, and on November 6, up to 80,000 registered voters in Coral Springs will decide between the two candidates.
Dan Daley
Daley said he hopes to finish what he started in his hometown.
“When I first ran, I committed to focus on economic development, public safety, and cleaning up the look and the feel of the city. We have made great strides as a community, but there’s still work to be done,” said Daley.
He added that downtown Coral Springs is finally becoming a reality, and that he has been intimately involved in helping to make that happen.
Daley has been a resident since 2001, attended local public schools, and graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. A cum laude graduate of Florida State University, Daley was a legislative aide to former State Representative, Ari Porth. His focus at that time was on issues facing the homeless community, as well as targeting government waste and corruption.
Daley holds a law degree from Nova Southeastern University and currently works as a land use attorney for Shutts & Bowen, LLP.
Daley makes his home in the Country Club of Coral Springs and said that if he is re-elected, he will continue his tradition of assisting his fellow residents with problems both big and small. He said he is committed to weighing all information and making decisions based on the long-term best interest of this city.
“I’ve worked hard to be the most accessible member of the commission when it comes to outreach and constituent concerns. I’ve been able to assist residents on issues as small as a pothole and as large as business relocation,” said Daley.
Daley serves as the commission liaison to the Economic Development Advisory Committee, the Customer Involved Government Committee, the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, the Coral Springs Charter School Advisory Board, and the Neighborhood and Environmental Committee.
To learn more about his Daley, go to electdandaley.com.
Diane Gonzalez Simpson
For the past thirty years, Diane Gonzalez Simpson, a certified public accountant and small business owner, has lived in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Coral Springs with her family.
Simpson, who describes herself as “100 percent Puerto Rican” or “New Yor-Rican”, moved to Florida from New York, and purchased her first and current home when she was 24. A part-time real estate investor, she manages rental properties in Ft. Lauderdale and Margate, and said that her financial acumen, broad knowledge of code enforcement and fines, makes her a formidable opponent.
“My husband Ron and I have been empty-nesters for five years now. Our daughters, Mary and Sarah attended local schools before graduating from the University of South Florida. Since the shock of the shooting in Parkland, I have said, I can do more. I am willing to help. If elected, I will serve.”
Although the city commission has no oversight in gun stores regulation, Simpson has met with the Broward Teachers Union to discuss the ubiquity of weapon stores and gun sales in the county. Her top concerns as Seat 2 commissioner are balancing the city budget, reigning in special elections overspending and helping with code enforcement.
“One of the weaknesses that I hear the most about is the punitive nature of code enforcement,” said Simpson. “People are quite clear that they love the way the city looks. However, the city is very quick to turn people over to the magistrate hearing.”
She added that after attending a hearing in May, she concluded that fines are too harsh. Simpson believes code enforcement must be done with understanding and heart.
Simpson has volunteered in many areas the last 30 years, including church, school and non-profit organizations. She is a past-president of the Business & Professional Women’s Club, Cypress Creek Chapter. She has given talks for the Broward League of Women Voters, and is always eager to discuss budgets and fiscal responsibility. Simpson is also an artist who loves to paint.
For more information on her campaign, go to electdianesimpson.com
Candidates at the League of Women’s Voters Forum
Election
Elections will be held on Tuesday November 6 at precincts located throughout Coral Springs. In addition to voting for important state officials and legislation, voters will elect two city commissioners for Coral Springs.
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13 comments
Good morning. What do you see as a need on the commission and how do you think you would be able to fill that need?
Daley doesn’t own a home in coral springs and doesn’t even work in coral springs so when he pushed to give home owners in coral a very large tax increase he did so knowing he would not be affected and no money would come out his pocket go dan just stick it to the residents of coral springs. More to come if not sensored
This is the guy who pushed for the 40million dollar city hall 30%over budget and for the 8 million dollar fake grass while the city’s infrastructure was ignored. He never passed on a chance to increase taxes. Tax and borrow dan.
Remember Daley. Is the guy who wanted to give away betty straddling park until he was stopped by coral springs residents. Daley is for Daley and will do whatever it takes to achieve his political ambitions. Coral springs residents will only be taxed more and receive less if he is elected. Tax and borrow dan must not be allowed to be reelected. Remember his buddy the previous city manager who told the residents that the city was in good financial shape only to be behind the largest tax increase in coral springs history. He quit and ran.
Daley has already served 6 years as a city commissioner. If he gets re-elected to a 4 year term, he will be serving 10 years. Term limits are 8 years but this does not apply to someone who came into office in a half term, when a commissioner left early. The first election that Daley won had 2 out of 4 years remaining.
It is time to have some fresh talent on the commission, aside from all of the other issues that Dan has.
It is time as well, that we have a city commission that represents the population. 50 % of the population are Women but there is only 1 woman on the city commission. Simpson would be a good choice.
If you are a senior citizen and a home owner in coral springs don’t expect to spend your increase in social security on anything except the Dan Daley backed real estate tax increase yup true and if reelected there is more and more tax increases on there way Daley loves to spend other peoples hard earned money.
Correction there are more and more
Diane and Dan—What are your position on medical marijuana and having dispensaries in CS?
Dan—-When will there be another vote on this matter? It has been two year since 71% of Florida voters support medical marijuana in the 2016 election. Do our votes matter?
If elected, I will ask for it to come up to a vote right away. It’s about time. We need to listen to the voters. Businesses that want to open up make that decision based on market forces: supply, demand, and their projected income. Dispensaries are for MEDICAL marijuana. And why should CS people have to drive to another town for their medicine?
I am in support of dispensaries in CS. BUSINESS FRIENDLY.
TJ, the vote could take place as soon as the next commission meeting. One of my colleagues has publicly mentioned she has had a change of heart (which I imagine would mean that the vote will prevail). That being said, in order to bring it back up someone on the prevailing side (my colleague) would need to make the motion. I plan to bring it up at the next commission meeting.
Can’t help but feel this push for code enforcement to “have more heart” is a direct result of her getting a fine she didn’t like.
Jen Russon. Something I would like to point out about the article…it says that Mr. Daley serves as the liaison to 5 different committees for the city. However, in one years time (8/2017-7/2018), he had MISSED 85% of those meetings.
And did not attend ANY meetings for the Martin Luther King committee of which he is co-chair during those 12 months.
He did not attend ANY of the neighborhood and environmental committee meetings either during the same time period.
I don’t think one can say that he ‘serves’ with an 85% absentee rate. More accurately, “he is the liaison”, but without addressing his absenteeism, the article is misleading in this regard.