Broward County Mayor Beam Furr couldn’t hold back Tuesday. He couldn’t hold back his pride in how much county government has accomplished in the past year. He couldn’t hold back his clear frustration with having to deal with a federal and state government that he says has grown increasingly hostile toward the bluest county on the Florida map.
And he couldn’t hold back the emotions he felt as he prepared to pass the gavel to his successor, Vice Mayor (now Mayor) Mark Bogen.
The role of mayor in Broward County is largely ceremonial. It rotates among members of the commission, and Furr will continue to serve on the commission.
“This year has been one long test,” Furr said during his state of the county speech, an address marking the end of his term. “Many of this nation’s institutions and norms have been challenged, questioned and kneecapped. … We have witnessed government by decree and petulance rather than by discussion and persuasion.”
He said the result has been an erosion of trust in government at all levels, as well as a reluctance among travelers to visit the U.S. South Florida has seen a reduction in visitors from Canada and Mexico, Furr said.
But investments in tourism can go a long way toward bringing those numbers up again, Furr said. He pointed to the renovation of the convention center and the construction of an attached new hotel on the Intracoastal as examples of the county’s commitment to capitalizing on tourism for decades to come.
“We are positioned well for the future,” he said.
Although he did not mention the president or the governor by name, Furr did say he was proud of the county’s response to the state’s Department of Government Efficiency effort.
“Our response was to be totally transparent,” he said. “Invite them in. Show them our financial situation. … We haven’t heard much back from them. I’m sure we will. … I think they will have found that this county has its act together, and that we know the values and priorities of our taxpayers better than they do.”
DOGE wanted to make an example of Broward County, Furr said, predicting it will instead be compelled to hold Broward up as an example of government done right.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel phoned the office of Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, who oversees Florida DOGE, seeking comment. The office has not yet responded.
In September, Ingoglia presented his office’s initial finding that Broward spending grew faster than warranted by $190 million over five years. County officials at the time said they didn’t know where the state got its information to determine how much additional spending was necessary and how much was wasteful.
Bogen took office promising to continue emphasizing public health as one of his priorities. The nine-member commission elected him mayor without opposition. Commissioner Robert McKenzie was elected vice mayor. The two took office immediately and will serve for one year.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.