LAUDERHILL – City of Lauderhill Commissioner, Dale Holness one of South Florida’s Caribbean-American elected officials will announce his candidacy for the District 9, Broward County Commission seat on Wednesday, January 23 at 3056 NW 12th Pl., Fort Lauderdale, at 4 p.m.
According to Commissioner Holness, not only is the venue a part of District 9, but it was where he first lived when he moved to Broward County 33 years ago on the same date.
District 9 is believed to have one of the highest levels of poverty in Broward County, and the highest illiteracy rate and high school drop-outs.
Commissioner Holness said, “These among many others are dire issues affecting the people of District 9, which have motivated me to contest the seat, so I can work to bring about viable solutions to their many problems.”
Commissioner Holness is prepared to champion the cause and address the burning issues affecting the residents of District 9 by working towards the following:
Economic Development & Job Creation
– Creating a Small Business Development Council that will assist in the growth of the district’s small business sector
– Developing mentoring and partnerships with contractors
– Promoting ‘District Brand Loyalty’ which encourages supporting businesses within the district
– Push for the creation of jobs to combat the high unemployment rate
Homeownership
– Creating opportunities for home ownership, especially with the current high foreclosure rates in South Florida
– Creating educational programs that will help residents to own their own homes and to maintain ownership
Education & Youth
– Increase security in schools and in the wider community
– Provide resources for job skills and education opportunities for adults
– Enhance education for the youth, such as voluntary tutoring programs and after school academic programs
– Implement life skills training programs
– Work to get the school board to place technical vocational centers in District 9
– Work to get Broward Community College (BCC) to put educational facilities in District 9
Safety & Security
– Work towards crime reduction
– Support ex-offenders re-entry programs
– Support community crime watch programs
– Work to strengthen homeowners associations
Better Access to Healthcare
– Support groups that offer preventative healthcare programs
– Seek to get Broward Health (North Broward Hospital District) to put additional healthcare facilities in District 9
– Provide information to residents as to where low cost healthcare is available
Senior Care
– Provide resource guide for seniors
– Provide regular seminars on health care issues, safety and support services
– Work towards finding funds for free medication and other services for seniors
– Develop programs to facilitate and maintain a higher quality of life
– Work to foster closer social interaction between seniors and the youth
Development & Beautification
– Enhance physical appearance of District
– Work with businesses in older sections of the district to improve façade
– Organize volunteers to help low-income residents to improve the appearance of their properties.
– Work with cities to annex the currently unincorporated areas
Community Relations
– Work to create better relationships between cities and the County
– Work to foster better customer service between the county and residents of District 9
The Primary elections in District 9 will be held on August 26, and the general elections on November 4.
District 9
District 9 is located in central Broward County and consists of the southern half of Lauderhill; south of Oakland Park Blvd.; all of Lauderdale Lakes; Fort Lauderdale, north of Sunrise Blvd. and east of Andrews Ave; Plantation east of N.W. 68th Ave; Sunrise, east of University, parts of the City of Oakland Park; North Lauderdale and parts of Pompano. The district has 88 precincts and consists of 77,160 registered voters, of which 54,688 are Democrats.
Commissioner Dale Holness
Commissioner Dale Holness is known in the community as a man of his word who delivers. Since taking office as a City of Lauderhill commissioner, Holness has spearheaded several major initiatives which include starting the Lauderhill Chamber of Commerce (now with over 200 paid members); the adoption of the Lauderhill Education A+ Plan, Kids and the Power of Work (KAPOW) and organizing FCAT tutoring for high school seniors at risk of not graduating.
He has also sponsored ordinances and resolutions including and setting up of a Sister Cities International Organization. He also led the effort to annex three new communities (West Kenlark, St. Georges and Broward Estates) and The Swap Shop to the City of Lauderhill and championed the effort for the redevelopment of business districts, especially the State Road 7 Redevelopment project.
In addition, he extended an invitation to the General Consulates of the CARICOM Bloc of Countries to relocate their consulate offices to the Carishoca development located at Sunrise Blvd. and US 441 in the City of Lauderhill; supported the efforts of the Institute of Professional Health Careers to implement a license practical nursing program in Broward County, got a resolution passed, bringing about an agreement with Broward Community College to provide certain life improvement classes to be offered in the City of Lauderhill, as well as special programs in Lauderhill to assist senior citizens.
Commissioner Holness was also instrumental in implementing Lauderhill’s beautification projects, including the project now underway on NW 56th Ave.
The commissioner’s involvement in civic life in Broward County is extensive and dates back to the 1970s. He served as Chairperson of membership for Operation People United to Save Humanity Rainbow Coalition (PUSH), served as a board member of the Greater Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the NAACP and many other rganizations.
As a businessman, Mr. Holness continues to run a successful realty and mortgage company, All Broward Realty, located in District 9 since he started it some 20 years ago. Dale Holness was born in Jamaica.
