Oakland Park's City Charter created a Commission/Manager form of government when it was adopted in 1959. The City is represented by five part-time City Commissioners, who must be residents of the City, elected to serve four year, overlapping terms; elections are held in March of odd numbered years. The Mayoral post rotates each year among the Commission members with a new Mayor and Vice Mayor assuming office each March. The Commission represents the City and its citizens, determines City policy, approves all contracts and agreements, establishes guidelines for and approves the expenditure of funds, and adopts or modifies City ordinances.
City Commission meetings are held the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the City Commission chambers in City Hall. Meetings are broadcast live on Comcast, Channel 78, and rebroadcast the following evening at 6.30 p.m. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend any Commission meetings.
Oakland Park residents and business owners are invited to personally meet with your Mayor and City Commissioners. Please contact the respective City Commissions via the telephone numbers or e-mails below.
Mayor Suzanne Boisvenue
3981 NE 13 Avenue, Oakland Park, Florida 33334
954-298-8899 (Mayor Boisvenue suggests her phone for fastest response)
suzanneboisvenue@yahoo.com
Elected to Second Term: March 2009/Term Expires: March 2013
Mayor Suzanne Boisvenue was born in the beautiful "Green Mountain State" of Vermont where she developed a love of animals and an appreciation for safe communities. She has always been interested in helping others and grew up to become a registered nurse who worked at North Ridge Hospital in Oakland Park. She enjoyed a successful career in health care administration where her responsibilities included overseeing millions of dollars in capital improvement and capital equipment purchases. Mayor Boisvenue works as an independent skilled nursing contractor specializing in emergency services -- leaving room in her schedule to devote time and energy to special causes and improving her community. Mayor Boisvenue's other notable accomplishments include but not limited to are:
- Golf course regulation
- Initiated and passed a gift ban from known paid lobbyists
- Initiated and passed lobbyist sign in registration legislation
- Voted for legislation to regulate pain clinics
- Demanded soil testing for contamination prior to purchase of property for public use
- Fought to end discrimination and adding legislation inclusive of all families
- Advocated against a docking station for liquid natural gas drilling off shore to help protect Broward County's precious coral reef environment
- Founder and past Captain of the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) Oakland Park Citizens Observer Patrol (COP) program which works in conjunction with BSO's Oakland Park District.
- Served as a board member of the Corals of Oakland Park Homeowners' Association (COPHA).Member of the Broward County League of Cities and the Florida League of Cities.
- Appointed to serve on the International Relations Committee for the Florida League of Cities.
- Appointed to serve on the Broward County Resource Recovery Board
- Appointed to serve as first alternate on the Broward League of Cities Board of Directors
- Member of Women in Municipal Government.
- Appointed to serve on the Hurricane Preparedness Committee of the Broward League of Cities.
- Serves on the National Council on Readiness and Preparedness Advisory Committee.
- Served on the Advisory Council of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Broward County.
- Appointed by the Broward County Board of Commissioners to serve on the Broward County Planning Council.
- Honored with the Community Service Award by the Sunshine Cathedral Diamond Ball.
- Recognized by The American Legion Post #222 for "Outstanding service and assistance which contributed to the advancement of The American Legion programs."
- Appointed by the Broward League of Cities to serve as a member of the Broward County Sexual Offender and Sexual Predator Residency Task Force.
- Appointed by the Broward League of Cities to serve as a member of Fiscal Stewardship and Union Relationships/Negotiations Subcommittees of the Economics Committee.
- Mayor Boisvenue was recognized as an "Outstanding Leader in Broward County 2006."
- Mayor Boisvenue was re-elected to a second four-year term as City Commissioner on March 10, 2009. The term will include nine months as Vice Mayor and one year as Mayor.
- Serves on the Broward County Council of Mayors
- Broward League of Cities Board of Directors
- Keynote speaker for U.S. Immigration Ceremony.
Vice Mayor Anne E. Sallee
1971 NW 34 Street, Oakland Park, FL 33309
954-253-0850: AnneS@oaklandparkfl.gov
Date Elected: March 2009/Term Expires: March 2013
Vice Mayor Anne Sallee settled in Oakland Park, after living in the Caribbean, Berlin, Germany and ten different states. She grew up in the US Virgin Islands and now lives in South Royal Palm Acres with her husband, Steve.
Since moving to Oakland Park in 2003, Anne has been an active member of the community. After graduating from the first Local Government Academy in 2005, she reactivated her neighborhood organization, joined the board of Oakland Park Main Street, Oakland Park Kiwanis and served on the Code Enforcement Board. She is also an active member of the board of Broward Meals on Wheels. As a member of the Oakland Park Historical Society, she published the first pictorial history of Oakland Park, just in time to celebrate the City's 80th birthday, July 1st, 2009.
Currently employed as a corporate paralegal, with prior experience at the Broward County Property Appraiser's office, Anne brings a wealth of business, marketing and legal experience to Oakland Park.
Anne's priority in Oakland Park is to make the city a better place to live, work and play, focusing on neighborhood improvement, city image, redevelopment and business climate improvement. She has been a member of Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) for several years now and has participated in state and national conferences, bringing great ideas for community improvement and volunteerism back to Oakland Park.
Vice Mayor Sallee serves on the following committees:
- Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership Advisory Board, Vice Chair;
- Broward County Pain Clinic Task Force;
- Florida League of Cities Advocacy Committee;
- Florida League of Cities Urban Administration Legislative Policy Committee;
- Broward League of Cities Education Committee;
- Broward League of Cities Legislative & Advocacy Committee;
- Broward League of Cities Public Safety Committee.
With a strong love for the city she calls home, Anne is available by telephone and email, and encourages residents to reach out and get involved.
Commissioner John Adornato
5316 NE 5 Avenue, Oakland Park, FL 33334
954-646-9342: JohnA@oaklandparkfl.gov
Date Elected: March 2011/Term Expires: March 2015
Commissioner John Adornato has been living in Oakland Park for seven years, this summer. In his civic role, John is the Treasurer of the North Andrews Neighborhood Association, a role he has had for five years, after serving two years as the Vice President and then President. John quickly engaged with the local community shortly after moving into the area in August of 2003, in part by walking his neighborhood to urge residents to vote to be annexed into Oakland Park rather than Fort Lauderdale. In 2005, John participated in the inaugural Oakland Park Local Government Academy, appointed by Commissioner Steve Arnst. John recently sat as a board member of the Oakland Park Planning and Zoning Board, to which he was appointed in August 2009 by a unanimous vote of the commission. John also was elected to be the Democratic Precinct Committeeman for District D024 in November 2008.
John is currently the Regional Director of the Sun Coast Office of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. The Sun Coast’s main campaigns are to work towards successful benefits of the Everglades Restoration for the south Florida national parks and the protection of the resources and fishery of Florida Bay. John’s duties as Regional Director allows him to travel throughout the region, including Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands engaging allies and park enthusiasts in our campaign to protect the natural and cultural resources of America’s National Parks.
He joined NPCA in February 2002 and focused on Everglades restoration goals for over five years. John twice served as the National Co-Chair of the 53-member Everglades Coalition, an umbrella group of public interest, conservation and environmental organizations that advocate for the restoration of America’s Everglades. John was appointed to a series of environmental seats on the following advisory committees: the Water Resources Advisory Commission to the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District for five years, the advisory team to the federal government for the Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay, and currently on the federal advisory committee on the implementation of the Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan of Big Cypress National Preserve. John also serves as the chair of the Florida Bay Stewardship Fund of the South Florida National Parks Trust.Â
Before moving to Florida, John completed the yearlong Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship through the National Sea Grant Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2001. He served in the Capitol Hill office of Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) managing legislative issues related to national marine sanctuaries, fisheries, ocean exploration, and aquaculture. In December 2001, John received his Master’s degree from the University of Maryland in Wetland Plant Ecology. John holds a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Russian language from Tufts University in 1996 and is originally from Springfield, MA.
Commissioner Shari L. McCartney
351 NW 32 Court, Oakland Park, FL 33309
954-295-0527: ShariM@oaklandparkfl.gov
Date Elected: March 2011/Term Expires: March 2015
Commissioner Shari McCartney and her family live in the Sleepy River Acres neighborhood. She co-founded the Sleepy River Acres neighborhood association; served on the Oakland Park Code Enforcement Board and is a graduate of the Oakland Park Local Government Academy.
Commissioner McCartney is a graduate of the University of Florida and St. Thomas University, School of Law. She is currently Chair of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center, a volunteer at St. Anthony Catholic Church and a proud member of Oakland Park Kiwanis.
Commissioner McCartney serves as the City's representative on the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
Shari is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale based law firm Tripp Scott, where her practice focuses on regulatory issues for healthcare and public sector entities.
Shari encourages input and participation from fellow residents and can be contacted at ShariM@oaklandparkfla.org and at 954-295-0527.
