LAUDERHILL, Fla. – With Lauderhill Mayor Ken Thurston stepping down, two city commissioners are competing to fill his seat.
Vice Mayor Lawrence “Jabbow” Martin and Commissioner Denise Grant have both launched active campaigns as election day approaches, each hoping to bring their vision to the city’s leadership.
Martin, a Democrat who has served as Lauderhill’s vice mayor, emphasized his long-standing connection to the city.
“Being on the ground and watching this city mature over the past 20 years or so has given me a different outlook on what it needs to do,” Martin said.
Meanwhile, Grant, also a Democrat who has been a commissioner since 2018, shared her readiness to take on the role of mayor.
“I am ready to run, and I am ready to be mayor because I know that I can add great value to this city,” she said.
Grant is frequently seen engaging with local businesses, making sure to stay connected with residents. “We go into the businesses and see if there are any other needs,” she explained during a visit to the Lauderhill Mall, where she regularly checks in with business owners.
Martin, whose campaign office is a family affair with relatives helping distribute flyers, stressed the importance of community partnerships. “Those people who have run the city and have stakes in the city have always chosen to be on my team,” he said.
Both candidates are addressing key concerns facing Lauderhill, with crime being a top priority.
Martin has launched a quarterly program that brings convenience store owners together to address issues.
“What that does is give any opportunity to come to the table to do the right things in the community, to be partners,” he said.
Grant highlighted her “Unity in the Community” initiative, a program she began in 2019 that focuses on helping troubled youth.
“We want to ensure that we have effective programs — programs that they can identify who they are as a person, identify their purpose, their talents, and abilities, so they don’t have to go to that life,” Grant said.
Taxes are also a major issue for Lauderhill residents.
While the city’s millage rate has been lowered twice in three years, some homeowners still feel the financial strain. Martin believes development is key to reducing the burden.
“Once we get these developments up and moving, things like taxes will take care of themselves,” he said.
Grant, however, acknowledges that more work needs to be done to ease the financial strain on residents. “There is more to be done; it hasn’t really been to a point where they see the impact,” she said.
With the election fast approaching, both candidates are campaigning vigorously to convince Lauderhill residents that they are the right choice for mayor.