Lauderdale Lakes,Fla. – Lauderdale Lakes Mayor Hazelle Rogers is giving up her seat early for a shot at the Broward County Commission.

The former state representative said she’s running in the Democratic primary in August hoping to advance to the general election in November for the District 9 seat.

The seat is currently occupied by Broward County Commissioner Torey Alston, who was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace Dale Holness who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in a special election.

Alston said he hasn’t decided whether to run for the seat in the fall.

Rogers, whose four-year term as mayor ends in 2024, must first get past Democrat candidate Guithele Ruiz-Nicolas who is also vying for the seat on the Broward County Commission.

Ruiz-Nicolas has worked in the private sector and non-profit organizations in Broward County for more than 25 years and is the owner of a public affairs and community relations company and has a weekly television show focusing on issues impacting South Floridians.

Both candidates have made affordable housing and workforce housing crisis the focal point of their campaigns and they share a history of working together.

Rogers, 69, whose political career spans over 25 years, said she decided to run for the seat after she demonstrated leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic that helped her city survive the impact.

"I was truly motivated by the two years of COVID-19 serving as an elected official, as mayor of the city, and my leadership skills strengthened during that period of time," Rogers told the South Florida Times. "Leadership I have been doing during COVID-19… making creative decisions by working with my colleagues, staff and city manager that made us stronger. I had talked it over with my family and friends and I’ve decided to run for that seat."

Rogers, who was first elected to the Lauderdale Lakes City Commission in 1996, said her campaign focuses on the affordable housing and property insurance crisis that impact Broward County residents.

"Right now, the housing and insurance issues are critical," she said. "We are dealing with housing workforce crisis. "People have to live somewhere and we want to make sure their salaries can sustain themselves so they can afford to live somewhere in Broward County. Once we all are able to rebound from COVID-19, we have to put people to work and train the workforce."

Rogers, who was elected to the Florida House of Representative in 2008 and became the first Jamaican-born state elected official, said she’s also focusing on Port Everglades which she said is Broward County’s economic engine and affordable health care for Broward County citizens "We want to have large and more ships coming to Broward County," she said. "And the state Legislation needs to expand Medicare and provide healthcare for everyone."

Rogers first served as a Democratic Deputy Whip from 2010-2012, and again for 2012-2016 and Rogers has been serving as the Democratic Ranking Member on the House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee since 2012.

As a freshman state legislator, she was successful in having two bills passed in her first session; a bill that governs the transfer of motor vehicle titles in a person-to-person sales transaction, the other makes substantive changes with regard to substance abuse and mental health deliverables.

Ruiz-Nicolas told the South Florida Times it’s time for a new vision for county residents and she wants to create a better future for generations to come.

Her bid also focuses on the affordable housing and workforce housing crisis, creating new business opportunities, enhancing public transportation, and offer resources for senior citizens, military veterans and other vulnerable populations.

Ruiz-Nicolas, who lives in Plantation, said the impact of the affordable crisis in Broward County is causing an exodus, as more people are moving to New York and other cities because they are economical.

She said the biggest responsibility falls on state government to create programs to keep people in their residences, but Broward County can help by addressing the issue locally.

"What can we do to prevent landlords for raising rent so high"? Ruiz-Nicolas asked. "At the county level, what can be done… how about collaborating with developers."

Growing up in New York, Ruiz-Nicolas, 65, said the transportation system benefited everyone, taking commuters from one place to another in no-time while alleviating traffic gridlock.

She said with Broward County’s transportation tax money it collects each year, the county can enhance public transportation in a similar but smaller fashion.

The money is also used for roadway expansion to allow more cars on the roads and street repairs.

"It’s time to use those dollars to enlarge the streets and look at how do we move people from one place to another versus cars," she said.

Ruiz-Nicolas said she has been recognized for her experience in building, organizing, managing and improving equity and inclusion programs for senior citizens, veterans, children, families and vulnerable populations.

Ruiz-Nicolas said she collaborated with Rogers when she served in political office on issues but now it’s a matter of two different perspectives and outlooks. "I work hard to make an impact and my passion allows me to help people by using my expertise and leadership qualities," she said.

Ruiz-Nicolas said she and Alston have similar backgrounds in public service and like him, she wants the opportunity to serve in a bigger role.

"We both have done everything professionally, inclusion and equity," she said. "I’ have been championing them all my life."

Ruiz-Nioclas currently serves on the Sustainability and Resiliency Advisory Board as well as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the University of Miami Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences (TSCS).

Alston, who’s the only Black commissioner serving on the commission, told the South Florida Times he has not publicly announced a decision on what his next step will be.

"But I am very close to making that announcement," he said. "Who knows who else may jump in the race."

Alston said Rogers and Ruiz-Nicolas are good candidates.

"They both appear to be strong qualified Black women," he said.

Before he was appointed to the commission, Alston served as FDOT’s chief of staff for nearly three years overseeing a $10.3 billion enterprise with more than 6,200 employees.

Previously, he was chief of staff to two Broward County Commissioners and held senior positions in Miami Dade County Public Schools, the City of Gainesville, and the Florida Department of Management Services.

Alston previously served on the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Board of Trustee for five years, City of Fort Lauderdale Audit Advisory Committee, and City of Oakland Park Board of Adjustment.

Rogers has the fundraising edge over Ruiz-Nicolas.

Rogers so far has raised a total of $56,516 to Ruiz-Nicolas’ $11,720.

Rogers’ list of donors includes Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller also a former state Senator, Broward County Democratic Black Caucus President Corey Shearer and Lauderdale Lakes City Commissioner Beverly Williams, who all donated $100.

Her $1,000 donations, which is the maximum amount allowed for an individual or group under campaign finance laws, come from Wellington investor Louis Biasi, Ft. Lauderdale lobbyist George Platt, and Ft. Lauderdale attorney Bernie Friedman, just to name a few.