WILTON MANORS, Fla. – Three men are battling for the mayor’s seat in a small city in Broward County that is home to nearly 12,000 residents.
Wilton Manors is a small, vibrant community, known as much for its colorful business corridor as it is for its significant LGBTQ+ population.
But Mike Sansevero believes the city could be better.
“The lack of growth is catching up with us as a city,” he said.
The openly gay realtor and attorney from New York settled into town nearly 20 years ago and launched his bid to become mayor during a very crucial time.
“The big surprise this year was the 10% tax increase, so I think better fiscal management, financial responsibility is necessary,” Sansevero said.
Property taxes are going up, while pay raises for city workers are being slashed to help balance the budget, and the mathematics major thinks he knows why.
“The city has been kind of stagnant in terms of growth, so for the last 20 years there’s been almost no new construction or growth,” said Sansevero.
Sansevero is up against Mark Beigay in the nonpartisan race to try to unseat current Mayor Scott Newton.
“I’m a gay man, I support the LGBT community,” said Beigay. “There are always room for improvement and I think I can get in there from day one and make that city run smoother.”
Beigay is a political newcomer who has only lived in Wilton Manors for a year. He was asked if he thinks that is an asset or a detriment.
“I think it could be an asset, seeing things from a different view,” he said. “Some people, they are there all the time, or long periods of time, and it starts getting stagnant, but I can bring fresh ideas, fresh projects to the city.”
The incumbent in this race has spent more time at city hall than either of the candidates, serving on various boards and the city commission over the past few decades, but Newton became mayor after the untimely death of the city’s previous leader.
“Justin Flippin died in office, we were very good friends, we talked all the time,” said Newton.
A brain aneurysm claimed Flippin’s life in 2020 and the tragedy ended the city’s unique reputation of being run by an all LGBTQ+ commission.
“Everyone talks about equality,” said Newton. “Well, we have four LGBTQ+ members on my board and I’m straight, but we work beautifully together.”
Newton says his eyes are focused on the future. He applauds his work of uniting various groups and organizations across the city.
He was asked what still needs to be done under his leadership.
“Well, we started some things in our city about development, smart development, and they’re going to come to fruition in the next couple of years and I want to make sure I’m there to make sure that they do what they said they were gonna do,” he said. “Plus infrastructure.”
From preparing for imminent sea level rise to shoring up public safety, Newton believes the city is in good hands.