Name: Mitch Rosenwald
Campaign website: mitchrosenwald.com
Date, place of birth: 10/22/70, Towson, MD
Education:
BA (Sociology/Economics), Salisbury State University;
MA (Sociology), Syracuse University;
Master of Social Work, University of Maryland;
PhD (Social Work), University of Maryland
Occupation:
Professor of Social Work and Director of Doctoral Studies, Barry University;
Licensed Clinical Social Worker;
Commissioner and Mayor, City of Oakland Park
Work history past 15 years. List in reverse chronological order.
2009-present – Professor of Social Work, Barry University
2009, 2023-present – Social Worker, Private Practice
2020-present – Commissioner/Mayor, City of Oakland Park
2009-2010 – Social Worker, Gilda’s Club
Have you been arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime, had an adjudication withheld or had a matter sealed or expunged?
No
Have you been a plaintiff or defendant in a civil action, including bankruptcy or foreclosure or had a restraining order issued against you?
Yes, a plaintiff in a civil matter in the 1990s.
Why are you running for this office and what specifically makes you a better candidate than your opponent(s)?
I am running because I want to continue to advocate for residents’ needs at a higher level in District 98. I am running because as a social worker, public service is an extension of my profession. I want to transfer the leadership and advocacy I have brought as Mayor and Commissioner in Oakland Park to serving as State Representative for HD98.
I am a better candidate than my opponents because I am the only candidate with elected experience and with a record of leadership and accomplishments that have moved Oakland Park forward and have addressed residents’ needs. This record includes: 1) driving affordable housing policy; 2) introducing a community wellness initiative; 3) attaining a perfect score on the Human Right Campaign’s Municipality Equality Index (MEI) for LGBT individuals’ needs; 4) advancing more green space in the city; 5) requesting traffic signage and guardrails to make traffic safer, and 6) even saving a historic tree threatened by removal for development.
Additionally, I am a Past President of the National Association of Social Workers’ Florida Chapter, and therefore, have excellent experience for seeing issues from a state perspective. In that role – as well in my role as a professor, I have am very familiar with how Tallahassee works regarding bill sponsorship, bill drafting, committee review, lobbying and providing testimony. I have accompanied many social work students over the years to the state legislature and mentored and involved them in the legislative process.
What are the three most important issues currently facing your legislative district?
1) Skyrocketing costs of property insurance
2) Housing affordability
3) Comprehensive health care access
After the 2024 session, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed all money for arts and cultural programs and projects, estimated at $32 million, to more than 600 organizations. Do you agree or disagree with this veto and why?
I completely disagreed with the veto. Arts and culture funding is not only essential for public enjoyment, quality of life and providing funding for artists, it also provides youth with positive options for activities and can reduce social isolation among individuals. Additionally, arts is an economic driver in District 98 as well as communities throughout the state. Small businesses benefit from a vibrant arts community and large employers rely on diverse arts programs to attract and retain workers.
In the 2024 session, the Legislature passed a major change to Florida’s ethics law (SB 7014) requiring a complainant to have personal knowledge of the facts of a case. Would you have voted for or against this law and why?
I would have voted against this law because the prior law provided a degree of protection for the “whistleblower,” and therefore, I suspect that having to provide one’s full name, fewer will be inclined to report due to retribution fear.
In the 2024 case, the Legislature passed a law (HB 1365) that prohibits homeless people from sleeping in public spaces. Would you have voted for or against this law and why?
I would have voted against the law. This law criminalizes homelessness as well as allows citizens to sue their cities and counties when they are not solving the problem. This is not “best practice” for solving homelessness at all.
Should state abortion laws include exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking, and why?
Absolutely. But even more, Amendment 4 should be passed to re-establish sensible and realistic timelines for women to make their own healthcare decisions just like Roe v. Wade’s timelines.
Do you support or oppose a proposed “open carry” or “constitutional carry” law for Florida and why?
I oppose “open carry.” We are not the Wild West.
What additional measures do you support to address Florida’s property insurance crisis?
The state needs to cap annual rate increases so residents can have some predictability and an incremental approach to further rate increases – akin to property tax increases based on homesteaded properties.
Describe in detail one demographic, economic or social factor about your legislative district that sets it apart from all others.
We have such amazing diversity in this district in terms of race, economics, and lifestyle. And our LGBTQ community is growing and is a vibrant part of all of our communities. I believe this is a powerful source of strength and unity for this district. Because of this diversity it is critical that our next state representative have a proven record on a range of issues that impact everyone. I strongly believe that my record as Mayor and Commissioner – where I’ve honed the skills to work with others to get things done, to be responsive to the public, and to lead on a range of issues from housing to health to the environment – is the best among this field of candidates. I am the best equipped candidate to go to Tallahassee and be effective on Day 1.
