Mayor Kaplan Announces Candidacy for County Commission District 1

Mayor Richard J Kaplan announced that he has filed to run for the County Commission-District 1, as a Democrat in the upcoming 2012 elections.

The District is expected to include parts of Lauderhill, Sunrise, Tamarac and Plantation, and may include parts of North Lauderdale, Margate and/or Weston. Final district boundary lines are expected to be approved in the next few months.

In 1998, he was the youngest ever elected Mayor of the City of Lauderhill, Florida and has since been re-elected in 2002, 2006 and 2010 making him the longest serving Mayor in the city’s history, as well as the longest serving elected official (over 23 years).

Mayor Kaplan serves on numerous boards, often serving as Chair or President. Some of these boards include the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Florida MPOAC, AMPO, Southeast Florida Transportation Council (SEFTC), State of Florida Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) Steering Committee (2003 & 2009), State of Florida 2025 Long Range Planning Steering Committee (2005) that created the 2025 Florida Transportation Plan, US Conference of Mayors – Transportation and Communication Committee, National League of City - Transportation & Infrastructure Services Steering Committee.

He has developed an expertise in transportation matters as well as energy/environmental issues, and has successfully authored over 190 pieces of legislation in the City, particularly in the areas of energy, environmental and implementing government operation efficiencies.

Richard was born in Detroit, Michigan, and lived mostly in his hometown of Southfield, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.G.S. degree, received a J.D. degree from Cleveland State University, and a LL.M.-Taxation from the University of Miami writing a Thesis analyzing State and Local Taxation with an examination of the potential of a VAT Tax.

He is also an attorney practicing in the areas of Estate Planning/Probate, Real Estate and Corporate/Business Law. He is married to Lynn for over 22 years, and has one son, Andrew, a senior attending the University of Michigan as a Communications Major.

Mayor Kaplan was awarded the first ever “Mayor of the Year” from the Florida League of Cities. Additionally he has received numerous other awards including the “Vision for the Future in Transportation Leadership” from the South Florida Commuter Services, “Outstanding Professional Achievement in Metropolitan Transportation Planning” from the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO), and the “Vision Award” from the Smart Growth Partnership.

You can following Richard's campaign on Facebook, and a web site is being developed.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Richard J Kaplan, Democrat for County Commissioner District 1