Name: Andrea McGee
Campaign website: McGeeforPompano.com
Date and place of birth: June 1, 1983 Fort Lauderdale
List in order of importance the three most important issues in your community and briefly explain what you would do about each.
Lowering taxes: I have worked continuously with city management and staff trying to find ways to keep our budget as low as possible while providing the services our residents need. Our citizens have put a lot into the rebuilding of Pompano and we are finally hitting that point where major projects are coming online tax wise and we can start to see a return on our investment. In this most recent budget workshop, I was able to work with staff to come up with a proposal that earned the consensus of the rest of the commission to lower our operating millage this year by half a percent; saving taxpayers an estimated $500,000.
Maximizing transportation opportunities: I have served on the Broward MPO for the past four years and was recently elected to the executive committee. I serve on MTECC (Metro Transportation Engineering and Construction Cooperative) as chair. I was instrumental in launching the circuit golf cart program that provides free shuttle service to residents and visitors on and around the beach and we are looking to expand coverage. I am also working with multiple parties trying to bring rail station commitments to Pompano Beach.
Attracting economic opportunity to Pompano Beach: It is extremely important that we work to attract jobs and careers with upward mobility to sustain the people and families who are looking to make a longterm commitment to Pompano Beach. The Downtown Pompano development is a great example of what we are trying to achieve and it’s important to work with developers, experts and the community to get this right.
Violent crime in the northwest is a major concern. Sheriff Gregory Tony targeted gangs and blamed lack of opportunities for young people. Do you agree or disagree, and is Pompano Beach safe enough?
I agree with Sheriff Tony that there is not enough opportunity currently in Pompano to allow socioeconomic growth and upward mobility. This is why I believe the downtown development is so important. We are looking to attract corporations and companies that will have career opportunities for those climbing the ladder or returning from college as well as create a destination for entrepreneurs and startups. We have a great working relationship with our current BSO officers and our new Major David Ellwood has recently executed a very successful operation joining forces with FBI, ATF, DEA, etc., that resulted in 139 arrests as well as gun and drug confiscations. where is this is not an issue that can be fixed overnight. We are committing to continuing to work for a safe Pompano Beach.
Pompano Beach is a “hot” destination. The city has revised its development codes to guide future growth. Do you believe that this growth is good or bad for the city, and how well is it managing growth?
I believe the results speak for themselves. The Pompano Beach I grew up in, really had very little going on and was sort of a drive-by town. Now we have a beautiful fishing village with great restaurants, a redevelopment project at Harrah’s Casino/TopGolf/Live! District and are under construction with a Ritz Carlton residence and the first Waldorf Astoria residence project among others. We have been recognized in articles such as by Forbes and Yahoo Finance as being a top town to live in Florida, and we recently were honored as one of TripAdvisor’s top destinations. We are also ahead of the curve with affordable housing units and working to make sure our housing supply and demand is balanced while all of Florida continues to see an influx in population.
The strategic development the city has pursued over the past decade or so has also allowed us to work with our master developers and consultants to be picky in the types of projects and businesses coming to Pompano. I believe so much of managing this growth has to do with keeping an eye on the big picture while cultivating relationships with the individuals who are investing millions to billions of dollars into these projects and our city. By doing so we are often able to create better projects.
A great example of this for me is the condo and hotel/condo going up on Atlantic and A1A. This project was approved back in 2006 before the market crashed as the second phase of a condo project. Since then, the city has leased and used it as a parking lot. With the immense success of the fishing village, the original approved plans not including public parking was going to be a problem. The property recently changed hands and over a series of meetings between myself and staff and the new owner, we have been able to get them to commit to at least 150 public parking spaces built into their parking structure.
Would you support an increase in pay and benefits for elected officials in your city? Why or why not?
Not at this time. My priority is focused on decreasing the individual tax burden on our residents as we see a return on investments made to the city.
What factor most distinguishes you from your opponent(s) and why?
My specific biography really has positioned me to be very effective in the City Commission. Having been born and raised in Pompano, I have full understanding of where we started. Meanwhile, my experience in development and real estate has given me understanding to all sides of this Renaissance; from investors to homeowners to renters. It’s also been fun how my experience in movies and concerts has also helped with the creation of our JazzFest, the film and television shoots that are happening around the city and the desire of the city to expand our cultural arts offerings. With that said, I work hard. I am involved in multiple city and county organizations, I travel to Tallahassee and DC to assist with lobbying efforts, and I do my best to keep my inbox at zero, working with staff to address resident issues brought to my attention as quickly as possible.
List in reverse chronological order colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
University of Miami 2010-2011: Pursued MFA in Film Production: program was canceled.
University of Miami 2009-2010: Graduate Business Certificate
University of Miami 2001-2005: Bachelor of Science in Communications: Motion Picture Production and Political Science
List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
2018-present: City of Pompano Beach City Commissioner District 1
2017-present: Broker/Owner McGee Real Estate LLC
2013-present: Realtor
2007-2009: Monument Realty, Washington DC Assistant to Acquisitions and Development
2006-2009: Production Assistant, Los Angeles “Balls of Fury”, “Towelhead”, “Reno 911!”
2006-2018: Production Runner LiveNation, AEG, RWD
Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition.
Slip and Fall vs Target- They had brought in dripping shopping carts on a rainy day with no warning signs and I injured my knee. Case was settled out of court.
Have you ever been charged or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates and terms of sentence.
No
Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
My opponent has only relocated somewhat permanently to Pompano Beach in the past couple of years. Now that she is here, she wants to pump the brakes on everything that brought her to Pompano by going against development? She has openly stated that what got her interested in running is a beachfront property two doors over from her house where the owner would like to put it up a condo. Around a year ago, I met with this owner’s representative as they were looking for more height and more density. I know this neighborhood is very sensitive to development, especially due to the narrow width of Briny Ave so I very succinctly told them that there was no way I could support additional height or density. The current site plan is entirely within the property rights. Still she is running that I am disconnected and not listening to residents or developing how she thinks we should develop, specifically when it effects her.
In politics, I believe the ability to understand what a government can and cannot do, should and should not do, is extraordinarily important. I also believe a candidate should be honest with the public and not spread misinformation. How can one say they want to make a better life for a population while making them fearful and anxious with half truths and promises that cannot be kept?
It is a delicate balance to keep aimed at the future Pompano residents desire and have repeatedly voted in favor of while helping everyone live through the growing pains it takes to achieve this vision. I absolutely love my town. We have come a great way in creating our own personality of a tight community beach town, but with great perks of a destination for our residents and visitors. I will continue to work to make any change we bring in as awesome as possible while keeping in mind the importance of individual rights and pushing for a lower tax rate. I have gained the experience and developed the relationships necessary to continue to make amazing things happen for all of Pompano Beach.