John P. "Jack" Seiler was sworn in as Mayor of the City of Fort Lauderdale on March 17, 2009. Prior to being elected Mayor, Seiler served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives. During his tenure as a State Representative, he chaired the Broward Legislative Delegation in 2007-2008 and was Vice Chair of the Delegation in 2006-2007.

Mayor Seiler sat down with Ed Pozzuoli, President of Tripp Scott, to discuss all of the plans surrounding the Fort Lauderdale 100 year anniversary celebration, black history month, black pioneers month, the St. Patricks Day celebration and parade, the "Wade In" celebration to remember the desegregation of Fort Lauderdale Beach (July 4, 1961).

The Mayor discusses his plans and vision for making downtown Fort Lauderdale more "dynamic" by making the river walk more inviting with better lighting and parking with revised building requirements and other things to make it more of a mass transit community. He discusses the new budget and the difficult desisions surrounding the cuts needed to keep the costs down but maintain the proper safety measures expected in the police and fire departments.

"We took a very conservative approach," Seiler explained, by cutting "200 positions which obviously saves the city a lot of money. We've also done a number of things to create greater, and more, efficiency by eliminating 12 million dollars from the operating budget."

They were able to do all this and not raise the taxes. "The average taxpayer pays less now than they did the year before" he contends "so we're very proud that fact that we were able to make ends meet, tighten our belts, but not increase the burden on the taxpayer."

Of the recent difficult economic times Mayor Seiler feels the "corner has been turned," he says, "people are coming to City Hall talking about projects, talking about activities and events and I'm excited.

When I got elected I said 'My goal was that this city has got to be the best place to live, work, play, visit, and raise a family' and I'm extremely excited about the future of Fort Lauderdale."

THE FOLLOWING IS MAYOR JACK SEILER'S BIO:

JOHN P. "JACK" SEILER - Democrat, District 92

Councils

• Policy and Budget (Ranking Member) 
• Rules and Calendar

Committees

• Constitution and Civil Law
• Select Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

Legislative Service

      Elected to the House of Representatives in 2000

      Re-elected to the House of Representatives in 2002, 2004, and 2006

      Chair of Broward Legislative Delegation 2007-2008

Biographical Information

           City of Residence:  Fort Lauderdale

           Occupation:  Attorney - Law Offices of Seiler, Sautter, Zaden, Rimes & Weihe

           Spouse:  Susan Rimes of Miami

           Children:  Marianna, Jacqueline, Preston, Susanne

           Education:  University of Notre Dame, B.B.A., 1985; University of Miami, J.D., 1988

           Born:  May 27, 1963, Fort Collins, Colorado

           Florida resident since 1964

           Religious Affiliation:  Catholic

           Recreational Interest:  golf, fishing, cycling, basketball, softball, tennis, coaching

Other Public Service

• City of Wilton Manors, Mayor 1998-2000, Vice Mayor 1996-1998, Council Member 1993-1996
• Director, Wilton Manors Business Association
• Former Chairman and Member, City of Wilton Manors Board of Adjustments and Appeals
• Former Chairman and President, Island City Foundation, Inc. (also former Vice Chairman and Vice President)
• Former Member, Wilton Manors Visioning Committee and Stakeholders Forum (various subcommittees)
• Board of Directors, Notre Dame Club of Greater Fort Lauderdale (1989-1998)
• Member, Notre Dame Club of Greater Fort Lauderdale (1988-present)
• Board of Directors, Orange Bowl Committee (1999-present)
• Member, Orange Bowl Committee (1994-present) (various chairmanships and subcommittees)
• Chairman, Orange Bowl Foundation
• Board of Directors and Officer, Brian Piccolo Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc. (also former President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer)
• Board of Trustees, Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery & Science
• Kids in Distress Broward Advisory Council
• Director, PACE Center for Girls
• Director and Advisor, Providence Place Shelter for Homeless Women and Children
• Board of Directors of the St. Thomas More Society
• Elected Member of the Downtown Council Steering Committee (Area Council of Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce)
• General Counsel, Promenade in the Park/Beaux Arts of the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, Inc.
• Guardian Ad Litem [numerous cases in the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth (17^th) Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County, Florida]
• Member, Bench & Bar Committee of the Broward County Bar Association
• Former Chairman, Lawyer Referral Committee, Broward County Bar Association
• Former Member, Professionalism/Professional Responsibility Committee, Broward County Bar Association
• Former Member, United Way Committee of the Broward County Bar Association
• Former Member, Fort Lauderdale High School Public Affairs Cluster Advisory Board (Government and Legal)
• Former Member, Waiver Review Committee of the School Board of Broward County, Florida
• Sponsor of “Teacher of the Month”, Wilton Manors Elementary School
• Member, Wilton Manors Elementary PTA
• Youth Baseball Coach, Fort Lauderdale
• Youth Flag Football Coach, Fort Lauderdale
• Youth Girls’ Soccer Coach, Fort Lauderdale
• Former Little League Baseball and Tee Ball Coach, Wilton Manors Little League
• Former Youth Basketball Coach, City of Oakland Park
• Former Girl’s Softball Coach, City of Fort Lauderdale and City of Wilton Manors
• Member, Democratic Club(s) in Pompano, North Broward, Tri-Cities, Pine Island Ridge, and Greater Fort Lauderdale
• Member, Marine Industries of South Florida Manatee Public Awareness Team (2001-2002)
• Lector / Usher, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Legal Highlights

• District of Columbia, Admitted 1988/1989 (currently inactive due solely to geography)
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Admitted 1989
• Supreme Court, State of Florida, Admitted 1988

Awards and Recognitions

• 160^th Infantry Korean War Veterans, in recognition of obligation to Mankind, Our Nation, and incalculable force in the promotion of The United States Military Forces and their Veterans, 2008
• The Florida League of Cities, Defender of Home Rule Award, 2008
• Broward County Council of Professional Firefighters, Trailblazer of the Year Award, 2008
• The Florida Association of Counties, William “Doc” Myers Lifetime County Advocate Award, 2008
• The Florida Bar Legislative Award, 2008
• The Rosemary Barkett Award for Outstanding Demonstrated Commitment to Equal Justice Under the Law, Florida Justice Association, 2008
• North Broward Democratic Club for Years of Service in the Florida Legislature, 2008

• Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida, University of Miami, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2008   
• PACE Center for Girls Broward, Community Partnership Award, 2008
• Wilton Manors Historical Society Meritorious Service Award, 2008
• American Jewish Congress South East Region Distinguished Civic Achievement Award, 2007
• The Trial Court Budget Commission Award, in recognition and appreciation of leadership and professionalism in addressing issues facing The Florida Judicial Branch during the 2007 Legislative Session.
• Keiser University, Appreciation for the Commencement Address to the Class of 2007
• Board of County Commissioners of Broward County, Proclamation designating Friday, November 16^th, 2007, as Florida State Representative John P. “Jack” Seiler Appreciation Day in Broward County
• Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Legislative Champion of Justice Award, 2007
• Broward Days 2008, Appreciation for Participation as Speaker for the Kick-Off Reception
• Broward Community College Award, Appreciation for Efforts on Their Behalf, 2006
• The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Outstanding Representative Award, 2006
• Legal Aid Service of Broward County, “For the Public Good” Legislative Award, 2006
• Florida Association of Counties, Counties’ Champion Award, 2005
• The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Outstanding Representative Award, 2005
• Coastal Conservation Association of Florida, Legislative Conservation Award, 2005
• Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida, 2005
• Areawide Council on Aging Legislative Leadership Award, 2005

• Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale Political Appreciation Award, 2005
• Legislator of the Year Award, Broward Sheriff’s Office, 2005
• Broward House Award in appreciation for assistance in creating the “Wilton Manors Client Service Center, 2005
• Broward Days Award for Leadership and Outstanding Service to Broward Days, 2005
• Florida Ocean Sciences Institute, ‘KIDS FIRST’, Captain for “KIDS” Award,  2004-2005  
• PACE Legislative Leadership Award, 2004
• The Trial Court Budget Commission, 2004
• Supreme Court of Florida Resolution for significant efforts on Article V, Revision 7 infrastructure and budget, 2004

• The Florida Bar President’s Legislative Award, 2004
• Florida Associations of Counties, County Champion Award, 2004
• The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Outstanding Representative Award, 2004
• The Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, House Leadership Award, 2004
• Peter Weitzel Friend of the First Amendment Award presented to the House Democratic Caucus with special recognition to Representative Jack Seiler, 2004
• Judicial Assistants’ Legislative Award, 2004
• The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Appreciation Certificate for Participation of Flag Day Celebration, 2004
• Pine Island Ridge Democratic Club Distinguished Service Award, 2004
• The Florida Bar Business Law Section Distinguished Service Award, 2004
• Broward Young Democrats Legislator of the Year Award, 2004
• American Heart Association, 2003
• Broward Community College, 2003

• PACE Legislative Leadership Award, 2003
• International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, 2003
• Miami-Dade County League of Cities Award, 2003

• The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Special Legislative Contributions Award, 2002

• The Florida Bar President’s Legislative Award, 2001 Session
• American Cancer Society, 2001 Legislative Award
• The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Outstanding Freshman Award, 2001
• The Trust for Public Land 2001 Legislative Leadership Award (Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever)
• Broward Community College Award in appreciation for support of BCC Competitive Edge Program 2001-2002
• Florida Banker’s Association for service to Florida Banking Industry
• Dolphin Democratic Club, 2001 for commitment to South Florida Gay & Lesbian Community
• University of Florida, Legislative Award for 2001

District Office:  Pompano Beach City Hall, 100 West Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach,

Florida  33060   

Telephone:  954-786-4848

Capitol Office:  212 The Capitol, 402 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL  32399-1300

Telephone:  850-488-0880