Name: Sophia Haynes
Campaign website: electsophiahaynes4seatb.com
Date and place of birth: 11/18/1972, Jamaica
Is Sunrise city government sufficiently transparent with its residents? If your answer is no, what should be changed?
Adherence to prescribed laws is touted by the City of Sunrise at all levels of the city’s government, which has adhered to aligns the city as being sufficiently transparent.
List in order of importance the three most important issues in your community and briefly explain what you would do about each.
⦁ Affordable housing: Championing efforts to incorporate affordable housing by collaborating with relevant stakeholders at the City, County, State and Federal levels to improve housing options and availability for current and potential residents. Renovate or reclassify communities to incorporate more affordable family units. Collaborate with banking/mortgage companies to make available courses on mortgage qualifications and financial literacy to improve qualification for loans.
⦁ Public School K-12: City led programming to give support for students’ academic growth in K-12 systems. Added City sponsored tutoring, homework, and test preparation to positively impact student achievement. Additionally, improvement to schools’ culture of achievement may attract families that have chosen to opt out of our K-12 City wide systems to revisit enrolling students.
⦁ Infrastructure Improvements to facilitate pedestrian, bicycle and all non-motorized traveling for residents’ safety and their ability to exercise and travel within the community beyond the use of city parks.
Assess the city’s policy of addressing the lack of affordable housing and what actions you would support.
Current policy emphasizes stabilizing those currently in homes and fall short in modifying current units to affordable housing or adding new affordable housing in my opinion. I am in support of plans to add or modify structures to increase affordable housing options within the city. Additionally, open to all ideas that fosters residence qualifying for home loans.
Would you support or oppose the merger of the North Broward and South Broward Hospital Districts, and why?
I support both systems current efforts to work collaboratively to service Broward county residents in more efficient and effective ways. If a merger of North Broward and South Broward Hospital Districts leads to hospital closures I would not support.
What factor most distinguishes you from your opponent(s), and why?
Attending to the needs of residents, businesses, and stakeholders, while acting to institute policies to address constituents’ prerequisites. I bring inclusive and reactive leadership, which analyzes data to set direction, then aligns its people and resources to accomplish community held goals. These efforts induce stakeholders attracted by neighborhoods consistently maintained and resourced. Additionally, positioning our City as the first choice of current residents, and businesses along with those looking to call Broward County home.
List in reverse chronological order colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
⦁ City University of Seattle – Seattle, WA, September 2019, Doctor of Education, Major: Organizational Leadership
⦁ Florida Atlantic University – Boca Raton, FL, August 2004, Master of Public Administration, Major: Public Administration
⦁ University of Miami – Coral Gables, FL, May 1997, Bachelor of Science in Communication, Major: Organizational Speech, Creative Writing; Minor: Business Administration
⦁ Springfield Technical Community College – Springfield, MA, June 1995, Associate in Arts: Liberal Arts/General Studies
List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
⦁ Broward County School Board – Broward County, FL. 2005 – Present
Social Science Teacher (2005 – 2011; 2013 – Present)
Curriculum Coach and Title1 Liaison (2011 – 2013)
⦁ Florida Atlantic University – Boca Raton & Davie, FL. 2002 – 2005
Coordinator, Testing and Evaluation, Davie campus (2004-2005)
⦁ SEARS – St. Petersburg, Fort Lauderdale & Pompano Beach, FL. 1997 – 2002
Manager and Management Trainee for multiple departments
Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition.
No.
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)?
I have been active in the community as an advisory board member for approximately ten years, as a member of the Economic Development Advisory Board. I have held the role of Chair on the Economic Development Advisory Board for several years. During my time on the Economic Advisory Board programs that were recommended are still being utilized currently or have been modified for current use across the city. I believe that my training, experiences, and background affords me the benefit of providing a dynamic world view to leadership in the role of Commissioner Seat B for the City of Sunrise.