Three in race for Hollywood’s District 2 seat face off at forum

It's election season in Hollywood — as you can see from all those campaign signs all over town.

Voters got a preview of the candidates running in the Nov. 5 election at a recent forum hosted by the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. The forum, held at the DoubleTree Resort, was moderated by South Florida Sun Sentinel Deputy Opinions Editor Dan Sweeney.

Voters will choose a mayor and two commissioners in the city's upcoming elections. In Hollywood, the mayor is paid $53,276 a year. City commissioners earn $50,430 a year.

This news article focuses on the District 2 candidates: Jill Tracey Folmar, a former radio personality making her first run for office; Peter Hernandez, a small-business owner and former Hollywood commissioner; and Richard Walker, a retired South Broward High School basketball coach making his first run for office.

District 2 lies in east central Hollywood between Federal Highway and Interstate 95, extending from Pembroke Road all the way north to the city limits north of Sheridan Street.

Four years ago, Linda Anderson had the historic honor of being the first Black candidate elected to the Hollywood commission. Anderson has decided not to seek reelection.

Comments have been edited for brevity.

Opening remarks

Jill Tracey Folmar: "I am a longtime resident of South Florida. Native of Detroit, Michigan. I have been engaged in public discourse in media and arts over the past 30 years as a radio personality here in South Florida. And I've lived in South Beach and now in Hollywood. I worked as the morning show co-host on Hot 105. My goals are to magnify the exquisite small town, big city love of Hollywood. It's unique to so many of the places I've been. And the development happening in Hollywood now, yeah. I'll be there for you and for it."

Peter Hernandez: "I have lived in Hollywood since 1974. I'm a small-business owner and former commissioner of Hollywood. This is the city that opened up its arms to my family. We were able to start a business and flourish here. I love Hollywood. That is the reason I'm running. I like to be able to give back. I am from Cuba. I lived in Spain two and a half years. We arrived here in 1974. Every publication (my campaign has put out) has my cell number on it. I'm looking to be accessible and transparent."

Richard Walker: "Most of you know me as coach. Some know me as mentor. Some know me as minister. I have lived in this community practically all of my life. And I listen to the people. I have heard from young people struggling to find a home. The reason I am running is because I believe in the power of the people. I believe in the strength of the community. And I believe we can build a brighter future. Tonight, I believe I can show you my leadership abilities."

District 2 candidate Jill Tracey Folmar attends a candidates forum on Sept. 19 at the DoubleTree Resort hosted by the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

It's been 10 years since the city spent millions to buy out the homeless shelter on Federal Highway. The state's new ban on sleeping on public property soon will go into effect. What is your plan to comply with the state law?

Folmar: "This is probably across the country one of the biggest dilemmas. In several places, with the work that I've done with the homeless through college and others, if you are physically and mentally not capable of taking care of yourself, just because I give you a job does not mean you are going to do it. You are going to take that money and use it for whatever you were using it for. And that's why we have this repetition of what is happening. But I do think there is a need to educate. Just like when you go to college, you leave your mother's home and you follow the rules or you're out. That has got to be implemented in order to change that trajectory."

Hernandez: "House Bill 1365 gives a great deal of disadvantage to the city. The governor signed that into law. It is going to be in effect. Yes, it's something we need to look at. We need to look at it quickly. Unfortunately, District 2 has a disproportionate amount of homeless population. I worked with the mayor and commission (when I was on the dais) to bring millions of dollars to the city for low- to moderate-income houses. But it also gives us the ability to buy into some of the development taking place for them to have more low- to moderate-income housing."

Walker: "It's important that we collaborate with our city and come up with solutions. It's a huge problem and I understand that. It is important that we work on relationships with those centers that house the homeless. I think we need to expedite affordable housing. A lot of these homeless people are not homeless by choice. Some of them are priced out. So it's vitally important that we come together as a community, as a commission and sit down at the table and come up with ways to see how we can slow this process. It's not a quick fix."

Former Hollywood Commissioner Peter Hernandez, shown at a candidates forum on Thursday, is one of three candidates running for the city's District 2 seat. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

Two years ago, the Hollywood commission voted 5-2 to allow a private condo on public land on the beach. The 190-unit project at 1301 S. Ocean Drive called for a 347-foot-high tower that would rise on taxpayer-owned land. Had you been on the commission, how would you have voted and why?

Folmar: "What (mayoral candidate) Cat Uden said." Here's what Uden said just moments earlier: "It totally went against our city master plan. That land was dedicated to the public for parks, recreation, open space and public use. It was given to us in exchange for allowing Summit Towers to have higher height and density. It should never have been considered. If you're an elected official who could not understand why the public was so upset about that, you do not understand Hollywood. You don't understand residents. And that is why we need a change."

Hernandez: "The devil's in the details. It depends on the business deal that is presented to the city. My understanding is that a park and community center would have been put in place. However, as the chairman of the charter review committee, we listen to the people. The people do not want to see any more 99-year leases (of public land). The charter committee decided to lower the charter amendment to 49 years. Any (lease of public land) over 49 years should go to the residents to see what the residents want."

Walker: "Well in all honesty, I didn't get all the information the commission had gotten at every meeting. To give you an honest answer, I would probably have to defer based on the fact that I didn't have all the knowledge of what was going on. However, I am a commissioner for the people. I want what the people want. We should never have a rubber stamp that says yes to every development. And we should never have a rubber stamp that says no. But I do think it's vitally important that we get engaged with those in our community and make sure we, as commissioners, come up with the best decision."

Richard Walker, one of three candidates competing for Hollywood's District 2 seat, waits to speak at a candidates forum Thursday. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

What is your vision for the future of the historic Hollywood Beach Resort site and how can the city make that vision a reality?

Folmar: "I think it's very important to maintain the authenticity of what was built in the city, particularly for those with generations of families that have been there. And I think that's what makes certain locations interesting. And it makes you want to live there because they have the sort of history or nostalgia that drives you to that space. And that is one of those things that drove me to Hollywood, because of all the history that has been preserved. If that weren't the case, I'd probably be in Sunny Isles somewhere."

Hernandez: "The Hollywood Beach Resort should be the main focus of Hollywood beach. It should go back to what it used to be. It should have the pool for residents to enjoy. It should have a place where weddings and bar mitzvahs can take place, where residents can rent event space. It should be the centerpiece of the city of Hollywood. With funding from the beach Community Redevelopment Agency, I believe we have $28 million set aside in order to make that (vision) a reality. We should work with the developer in order to develop it into what it used to be."

Walker: "It's vitally important that we find ways to preserve historical (sites) in Hollywood. The developer needs to understand how important that site is to us and how valuable it is to the city. It's vitally important that they preserve as much of that facility as possible. If we have to demolish parts of it, we need to make sure that when they put it back, it be as close to what we've known it to be. We need to make sure that whatever we can preserve, that we preserve."

Closing remarks

Folmar: "I think you should vote for me because I love it here in Hollywood. I'm like a kid in a candy store. I'm still excited about being here. There's so much to do. Having left college I went to South Beach. And I was there and part of that. There is so much joy and happiness and great wealth and history to leave the next set that comes behind us. And I want to be a part of that."

Hernandez: "I am a former president of the Chamber of Commerce. I served at the county level with the Broward County zoning board. I've served at the city level (as a commissioner) and through the Hollywood developer review board as well as the Unsafe Structures Board. I represented the city internationally through the Sister Cities program. I am well rounded. I am a small-business owner. I am the only person in the District 2 race who can start working from day one. I am transparent. I love Hollywood. That's the reason I want to serve."

Walker: "The reason you should vote for Richard Walker is because I believe in the foundation of this city. I think it is vitally important that we continue to lead from the three Ls. Listen to the people. Learn from the people. And then lead. I've been leading and serving this community long before I made the decision to run for commission. Just based on my past history of 30 years of serving this community in Broward County schools (basketball coach), I believe that I am qualified to be the one you should vote for for District 2 commission."

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan

Originally Published: September 24, 2024 at 8:25 a.m.