Longtime Fort Pierce resident Michael Broderick was elected to the City Commission Tuesday, replacing Tom Perona.
It’s the first time in over a decade a new commissioner will represent District 2, Seat 4.
Broderick, 62, received 57.34% of the votes, according to unofficial results from the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections office, beating his opponent James Clasby, who garnered 42.66% of votes.
“I’m very appreciative of the voters of the city of Fort Pierce,” Broderick said. “It’s an exciting day for the city of Fort Pierce.”
Broderick added he’s excited to get to work alongside the Mayor Linda Hudson and the City Commission and, in the coming weeks, plans to closely examine what issues he needs to address first in his new position.
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Broderick, who owns Trident Properties Management, moved to Fort Pierce in 2002. He served on the Historic Preservation Board for seven years, was the Planning Board vice chair for five years and was the Parking Committee chair for nearly two years.
He was endorsed by Perona, whose retirement prompted Broderick to run for office. Broderick, who also wspans recommended by the TCPspanlm Editorispanl Bospanrd, shares Perona’s views and said he believes it is important to maintain continuity as the city continues growing.
Moreover, Broderick has the financial edge over Clasby. Though nonpartisan municipal elections typically don’t involve large sums of money, here’s how much each candidate spent and raised for their campaigns as of Nov. 8.
- Broderick: $50,042 of $50,220
- Clasby: $19,995 of $24,716
Fort Pierce growth, development
Among the major issues the city faces are residential growth, commercial development, Indian River Lagoon water quality and beachside environmental concerns.
Residential and commercial development amid the area’s real estate boom — including projects such as King’s Landing, Fisherman’s Wharf and WaveGarden — have been at the forefront of many controversial City Commission decisions recently.
Residents are torn between adapting to growth and maintaining a small-town charm.
Broderick believes growth and development are inevitable, but said he plans to review proposed projects more carefully to ensure the city’s infrastructure and environment can handle the booming population.
The main priorities he hopes to tackle on the commission include continuing industrial, commercial and residential growth while ensuring proper planning goes into a development before approval.
Fort Pierce City Commission District 2
The District 2 boundaries, spanning parts of Hutchinson Island and southern Fort Pierce, were altered in May, over the objections of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. The ACLU said the new districts were unfair and based on incorrect racial data.
The City Commission shifted some residents into District 1, establishing new lines along Virginia Avenue to South 13th Street, then north to Georgia Avenue and east to U.S. 1.
Before this transition, as of 2020, there were 25,187 people residing in District 2. The racial breakdown was 55% white, 27% Hispanic, 19% Black and 26% “other,” according to city consultant Kurt Spitzer & Associates.
Broderick will serve a four-year term, from Dec. 5, 2022, to Dec. 6, 2026, that pays $27,815 annually plus $350 monthly per diems.