Longtime Hallandale Beach mayor faces challenger in heated race

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. ā€“ A mayoral race in Hallandale Beach is stirring up big political debates in the almost 100-year-old small city.

Carmen ā€œJackieā€ Gimenez, a Venezuelan-American community activist, is challenging longtime incumbent Mayor Joy Cooper, who has held office for 24 years.

Gimenez, who has been active in community service, working with the elderly and children, says the 97-year-old city has been neglected under Cooperā€™s leadership and is now financially irresponsible.

ā€œAfter Iā€™m sworn in as mayor, you will see a very good, prosperous city, Hallandale Beach,ā€ Gimenez said. ā€œThe money, the taxpayer money, are so misused.ā€

Flooding has become a central issue in the race, as Hallandale Beach was inundated by historic rainfall last year and again this summer, leaving roads impassable and homes flooded.

ā€œOur streets are ugly. Everything is broken,ā€ Gimenez said, criticizing the cityā€™s infrastructure. ā€œOf course, itā€™s about modernization, but also taking care.ā€

Cooper, who has served as commissioner, vice mayor, and now mayor, disagrees with her opponentā€™s assessment. She insists the cityā€™s finances are in good shape and that efforts are underway to improve aging infrastructure, including pipes that are more than 50 years old.

ā€œObviously, Ms. Gimenez is totally misinformed about our city,ā€ Cooper said. ā€œWe rolled back taxes, we are investing in our infrastructure, we are doing everything a city has to do.ā€

Cooper said that more than $300 million has been allocated for infrastructure improvements, with $10 million set aside for additional pumping systems to address flooding in the cityā€™s lowest areas after last summerā€™s storms.

The race has also resurfaced Cooperā€™s past legal troubles. She was arrested in 2018 on felony corruption charges for allegedly accepting $5,000 in illegal contributions. However, she was acquitted by a jury in November 2019 and reinstated as mayor.

ā€œWhen you have a leader, a model, who has a criminal background, and that is your model to follow, something is not good,ā€ Gimenez said.

Cooper, however, defended her record and her integrity.

ā€œI was vindicated, and that is old news,ā€ she said. ā€œIf you are running for office, have integrity, donā€™t disenfranchise people.ā€

As the race heats up, both candidates are making their cases to residents.

ā€œThe residents know me here, they know how committed I am,ā€ Cooper said. ā€œI have integrity.ā€

But Gimenez believes itā€™s time for change.

ā€œWe deserve better in this city, and this is the perfect moment for the city to move forward,ā€ she said.


About the Author
Sanela Sabovic headshot

Sanela Sabovic joined Local 10 News in September 2012 as an assignment editor and associate producer.Ā In August 2015, she became a full-time reporter and fill-in traffic reporter. Sanela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film from DePaul University.

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