‘Wallflower’ Sherwood deserves a final term

HOLLYWOOD CITY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 6

District 6 is largely south of Hollywood Boulevard, bounded on the west by the Florida Turnpike, on the east by I-95, and on the south by Fletcher Street and Pembroke Road.

This race offers voters contrasting personalities and visions of the city.

Incumbent Linda Sherwood is 78 years old and has been the district’s commissioner since 2008. If reelected, this will be her last term because voters in 2010 imposed a limit of 12 consecutive years for commissioners.

During the endorsement interview with the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sherwood came across as a knowledgeable and diligent politician who enjoys taking care of her constituents. The district’s voters should reelect her.

Her opponent is Jack Anthony Izzo, 56, who describes himself as a semiretired business executive. In his questionnaire, he said he was in the electronics business and sold his company a few years ago.

He believes the City Commission is obsessed with boosting tourism and pleasing developers. The concerns of residents are being ignored in the drive to cater to business interests. Izzo says Sherwood is a prime offender.

“Sherwood has been in the seat for 12 years and has become a wallflower in the city,” Izzo said. “I feel she’s just there to supplement her income.” Commissioners are paid a little more than $30,000 annually.

Sherwood doesn’t have much nice to say about Izzo, either. “He is quite negative and really doesn’t understand many of the decisions we have made for our city,” she said in her questionnaire.

Besides the contrasts in personalities, Sherwood and Izzo view the city’s growth differently.

“There’s no way to stop growth,” Sherwood told us. “We have to get ready for it.” She said thousands of people are moving to Florida each year and the city has an obligation to provide them housing. “We can’t go back to 50 years ago.”

Izzo liked the old Hollywood. He compares Hollywood to Venice Beach, Calif., a beach town with eccentric residents and funky businesses. When he was young, he said he and his friends called the city “Hollyweird.” Now city officials are approving high-rise buildings and massive developments like Margaritaville. “I want to see Hollywood progress but keep the vibe of a coastal town.”

Like her commission colleagues, Sherwood believes Hollywood is changing for the better. She is excited about the projects underway. The city is building a new police station, improving parks and strengthening seawalls with the proceeds from a $165 million bond issue voters approved in 2019.

She ranked her top three issues this way: a balanced budget, completing the planned capital improvements and redevelopment “to bring in more goodpaying jobs.”

Izzo says the city needs commissioners less eager to embrace growth. “I have the background and knowledge to ask questions to these developers looking to turn our city into a concrete jungle.”

Izzo ran for the District 5 seat in 2018. He finished last in a three-person race with 12.8% of the vote.

Since then, he moved into District 6. He said he learned a lesson from his last race. “Last time I did a one-man show,” he said. To win “you need people not just money.”

He said he’s put $35,000 of his own money into his campaign; Sherwood said she has $24,000 in her treasury.

Sherwood said she has the endorsement of the Police Benevolent Association. Izzo said he interviewed with the PBA.

“I told them they needed more qualified officers and sensitivity training,” he said. “Lol they were not happy. But I tell it like it is.” Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Rosemary O’Hara, Dan Sweeney, Steve Bousquet and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson.

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