SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. – The upcoming mayoral election in the rural town of Southwest Ranches has sparked a heated debate between incumbent Steve Breitkreuz and challenger Lori Parrish, both longtime residents with differing visions for how the town should move forward.
Breitkreuz, who has lived in Southwest Ranches for 25 years and served on the town council for 12, is seeking re-election, arguing that the town’s current approach to governance is what makes it special.
“I believe we are on the right track for a lot of different reasons,” he said.
His platform centers on a hands-off approach to code enforcement, which he believes maintains the town’s unique charm and allows residents to live with greater freedom compared to neighboring cities.
“We are a live-and-let-live community, and so, compared to a lot of our neighboring towns, we don’t enforce code to the degree that others do,” Breitkreuz added. “Unless you are infringing on the rights of somebody else, you should be able to do what you want to do.”
In Southwest Ranches, this philosophy translates into a town where residents can build their homes in a wide range of styles, park any number of vehicles on their properties, and even paint their homes in non-traditional colors. The relaxed enforcement of regulations appeals to many residents, but Breitkreuz’s challenger believes it’s time for change.
Lori Parrish, a former Broward County commissioner, school board member, and property appraiser, is running against Breitkreuz with the promise of implementing more structure and accountability.
Parrish, who has also lived in the town for many years, says she has heard from numerous residents who feel their concerns are not being addressed under the current administration.
“There are people out here who feel their voice doesn’t matter,” she said.
Parrish’s campaign is centered on reforming the town’s approach to code enforcement, drainage issues, potholes and speeding in residential areas.
“They don’t want to enforce the codes. They want to be reactive, not proactive,” she added.
Parrish also called for a code enforcement review board to identify and resolve issues that conflict with the town’s lifestyle. “I think we need a code enforcement review board, not to take years to study it, but to go through our code and find those things that don’t match our lifestyle and eliminate them.”
In her discussions with voters, Parrish has learned that many residents are frustrated by issues such as drainage problems, potholes, and speeding in neighborhoods.
“One was the drainage and the flooding. Two was potholes and three was interior road speeding,” Parrish said.
Breitkreuz, however, believes that the town’s less structured approach is exactly what appeals to many residents. He argues that Southwest Ranches is one of the few remaining places where homeowners can enjoy such freedoms without interference.
“If you want to live in a community where all that structure is not there, there is really only one place to go, and that’s Southwest Ranches,” he said.
For Breitkreuz, preserving the town’s rural feel and individual freedoms is paramount. He maintains that over-regulation could strip Southwest Ranches of its identity and uniqueness.
“The beauty of Southwest Ranches is that it allows people to live the way they want without the rigid rules found in other cities,” he said, emphasizing that the town’s loose approach to code enforcement is a reflection of that philosophy.
Parrish, however, believes that some level of regulation is necessary to address the community’s growing pains.
As Southwest Ranches evolves, she argues that the town must adapt its approach to issues like infrastructure and safety. Parrish, who has decades of experience in public service, feels she is the right person to bring about these changes.
“I think that working together, we can do better than we are doing, and I believe I have the skills and experience to make that happen,” Parrish said.
Both candidates have long histories of service in the community, and each has a distinct vision for the town’s future. While Breitkreuz advocates for maintaining the town’s rural character with minimal government interference, Parrish believes in a more structured approach that includes proactive code enforcement and infrastructure improvements.
The outcome of the mayoral race could significantly impact how Southwest Ranches manages its future growth and development, as the town continues to attract new residents while maintaining its reputation as a rural oasis in Broward County.
“I believe we are on the right track,” Breitkreuz said.
Meanwhile, Parrish remains hopeful that voters will support her call for change.
“I believe I have the skills and experience to make a real difference,” she said. “Southwest Ranches can be even better, and I’m ready to make that happen.”
Both candidates have laid out their visions. Now, it’s up to the voters to decide which path Southwest Ranches will take.