LAUDERDALE LAKES – November saw the swearing in of the first English-speaking Caribbean American to the state legislature.
House District 94 Representative, Hazelle Rogers was sworn in as one of thirty-five newly elected members of the Florida House of Representatives as it convened for its 88 Organizational Session on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
Rogers was elected over 5 other contenders in the August 26 primaries. District 94 includes portions of eight cities representing over 130,000 residents in the areas of Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Margate, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Plantation, Sunrise and Tamarac.
This is not a first for Rogers who, in 1996, was elected to the Lauderdale Lakes City Commission after a 2 vote loss in 1995 and was subsequently re-elected. She then ran unopposed in 2006 a term she vacated to run for the House of Representatives. During this period she also served as president of the Broward League of Cities, a group comprising all 31 cities in Broward County; a member of the State of Florida Consumer Advisor Board; member and Vice Chair of the State Road 7 Collaborative; an Executive member of the Vision Broward 2020 Board, Broward County Management and Efficiency Study Commission and Vice Chair of Broward County Charter Review Commission. She also participated in numerous Florida and National League of Cities training programs, including the Institute for Civic Leadership Program sponsored by the Florida League of Cities, which studies state budget and issues.
Over 50 local supporters, including students and family members travelled to Tallahassee to witness the event. “I want to extend my deepest appreciation to you and to everyone on the trip for the attention, friendship, and mentorship which you afforded my son, Daniel. This was a life altering experience for him that he will never forget and will share with his children and grandchildren.” wrote Helene Sohn, parent of one of the students on the trip.
State Representative Rogers 2nd from left taking the Oath of Office
Also in November, the first local swearing in ceremony for newly elected Senate and House Representatives from Broward County took place at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale. The program was co-hosted by then Broward County Vice-Mayor, Stacy Ritter and Broward County Legislative Delegation Chair, Senator Jeremy Ring. State Senators Christopher Smith and Eleanor Sobel and State Representatives Gwyndolyn Clarke-Reed and Hazelle Rogers were all sworn in by Judge Carol Taylor of the Fourth District Court of Appeals. Representatives Gwyndolyn Clarke-Reed and Hazelle Rogers are the first two African American women from Broward to serve in the Legislature at the same time. Several other local elected officials, legislative staff members and a host of well wishers were in attendance. The event was followed by a reception.
Rogers has promised to work along with the Broward Delegation and the legislature on proposing alternative approaches to funding the budget while lessening the impact of budget cuts on major services. She awaits the revenue estimating committee report and will be back in Tallahassee mid December to address current budget shortfalls. Her committee assignment priorities are: economic development, appropriations, pre K-12 Education, local government, general government; elder affairs and transportation.
