Longtime Davie mayor gets challenge from political newcomer

DAVIE, Fla. — The incumbent mayor of Davie has held the seat for more than 15 years but her opponent in November’s election is a newcomer who says she has fresh eyes.

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Mayor Judy Paul has lived in Davie for 40 years and has served as mayor since 2009.

A town of just over 107,000 people, geographically it’s the largest town or city in Broward County.

Paul says Davie is all about land, and that’s what she fights to protect.

“We took over 200 acres out of development for the creation of the wetlands park and the farm park and we have more that is coming up,” said Paul.

Paul says Davie is the only municipality in Broward County to give a tax cut to residents.

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“We are saving our residents 5.1%, this was very important because with the way the economy is, every bit helps our residents and we couldn’t wait,” said Paul. “We had an opportunity because of some of the development that’s been going on in our town.”

Trucking company owner and lifelong resident Jacqueline Rocha is running against Paul.

She says overdevelopment in Davie is a problem.

“Now that’s happened a lot with the development, we have allowed to come to place here that’s considered market value and market value is not affordable,” said Rocha. “The HUD housing designation is not helping anyone, not everyday residents.”

Rocha said she’s also fighting for term limits.

“Residents have subsidized development and they don’t know it,” said Rocha. “They were attending the meetings, I think a lot of residents, and as a resident myself I can say that we are going unheard and that’s why I’m here today, to make sure residents have a voice.”

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