News Politics

Shawn Cerra Sworn in as New Coral Springs City Commissioner

by Guest Contributor July 9, 2019

by Guest Contributor July 9, 2019 2 minutes read

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Shawn Cerra Sworn in as New Coral Springs City Commissioner

Shawn Cerra being sworn in by his cousin Tom Cerra. Photo by Jen Russon.

By: Jen Russon

In a ceremony held Monday evening, Shawn Cerra was sworn in as the new city commissioner for Seat 2.

Left vacant by former city commissioner, Dan Daley, who announced in March, he would soon become a Florida State Representative; his timing left Cerra and his opponents little time to campaign in the six-way race. Cerra edged out the competition with over 600 votes.

At his swearing-in ceremony, Cerra shared the personal detail of growing very close to all six candidates. He said that, in a way, it saddened him only one candidate could move forward.

He recalled the days when his father was a city commissioner, and remembered attending his meetings.

“I’m dedicating this commission of three and a half years of service to my parents because, without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” he said.

Cerra was introduced by City Attorney John Hearn, who said Cerra was one of the most dedicated people he knew when it comes to making time for the children of Coral Springs.

Joined on stage by his youngest son and only daughter, (his eldest son was away at college), his wife Kerry choked up on stage, stating that her husband had a unique quality of bringing people from both sides of the aisle together. She was touched by how so many residents in the community mobilized to help put together such a hard-fought campaign, so quickly.

Following the event, Cerra officially joined Vice Mayor Joy Carter, Commissioners Joshua Simmons and Larry Vignola, and Mayor Scott Brook as a member of the commission.

A former principal of J.P. Taravella High School for 14 years, and current director of athletics and student activities for Broward County Public Schools, Cerra’s roots run deep in South Florida, and in Coral Springs, where he has lived since 1993.

Cerra is a graduate of Cardinal Gibbons High School, the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University, with advanced degrees in educational leadership. Cerra was promoted to his current administrative post at BCPS in 2016.

Always an active member of the community, Cerra has led Coral Springs flag football teams to victory, as well as served on the city’s education committee.

Having devoted most of his professional life to education, Cerra told those in attendance that it was his mother and father who motivated him to take this turn into local politics.

“They would have been so proud knowing that our family name, our family integrity, and our family history will be a part of something bigger in trying to move this city forward in a very special way,”