By: Sharon Aron Baron

When asked at the Teen Political Forum where his favorite place in Coral Springs was, Vice Mayor Lou Cimaglia said without hesitation ‘Wings Plus’. So, it only seemed fitting for him to hold his campaign reelection kickoff party at the same local restaurant where he held his first one.

Elected in 2014 for commission seat four, Lou Cimaglia held his 2018 election kickoff party with long-time friends who were there to offer support for the 62-year resident of Broward County. 

Don Vettorel, campaign treasurer, has known Cimaglia for 15 years. He believes he is a great asset to the City of Coral Springs. “When people need to talk to a commissioner – call Lou and set an appointment. He’s there.  He’s open to anybody and supports the different organizations in the city.”

Cimaglia was ceremonially appointed vice mayor at last week’s commission meeting. “It’s wonderful to be commissioner, it’s twice as wonderful to be vice mayor,” he said.

He said the mayor and the commissioners all get along. “I’m having a great time and there are no politics involved.”

He said they don’t always agree on everything he said, but when they sit down to vote they vote for the good of the city and that is what he’s all about.

“I could say a lot of things to try to get votes, but that’s not me. I will not do that.”

Cimaglia served in the US Army for eight years in the reserves, first in Rhode Island, then in Fort Knox, KY and finally in South Florida. He has four children, grandchildren and even has great-grandchildren.

An active real estate broker, Cimaglia has been in the real estate business since the 1970s, and until the 1980s he was in the building business with his brother building single family homes in Coral Springs, Davie, Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton. 

Cimaglia now serves as the commission liaison to the Architectural Review Committee, Building Focus Group, Community Redevelopment Agency, Construction Review Committee, and General Employee Pension Board.

He has volunteered for many organizations over the years including the Community Relations Council of the Coral Springs Medical Center for 25 years, where raised funds for toys and entertainment equipment for the pediatric department. He also serves in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization, which helps raise funds for wheelchairs for those in need, and Camp Coral Kids, a local camp where children can interact with other diabetic kids.

Through his volunteer work with the Knights of Columbus, he helps with the Annual Harvest Drive which collects food for families.  They will either cook dinner or offer support for the volunteers who are organizing and packing supplies.

Cimaglia said he’s having a great time with the work that he is doing and is looking forward to continue the things that were started this term.