Routine Appointments Turn Into Political Drama

What should have been a routine board appointment process in Fort Lauderdale has instead erupted into controversy and infighting on the City Commission. In recent meetings, a majority bloc of Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioners Steve Glassman and Ben Sorensen (now dubbed “The Bloc” or the “Unholy Trinity”) banded together to reject two highly qualified nominees for city advisory boards. Their targets? Longtime civic figures Barbra Stern and John Rodstrom III, both put forward by Commissioner John Herbst.

Fort Lauderdale’s advisory boards – from Planning & Zoning to Marine Advisory Board – are typically filled with community volunteers nominated by individual commissioners. Historically, the commission exercises professional courtesy in confirming each other’s choices. Not anymore. In 3-2 votes, Trantalis, Glassman, and Sorensen voted “No” on Herbst’s nominees to the Planning & Zoning Board—Stern on April 1, 2025, and Rodstrom on April 14, 2025—over the objections of Herbst and Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman.

Qualified Nominees Rejected by “The Bloc”

The rejected nominees are by no means fringe figures. Barbra Stern is a respected attorney with deep roots in the community who just recently ran for Mayor. She even served for many years as a member of the Florida Elections Commission – a role to which she was unanimously confirmed by the Florida Senate. Her other civic contributions include serving on the Community Appearance Board, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, the executive board of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and as Chair of the Broward Performing Arts Center Authority. Stern’s legal acumen and public service pedigree should have made her an obvious asset on any city board. John Rodstrom III likewise has a strong civic record. An attorney and son of former Broward County Commissioner John Rodstrom Jr. and City Commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom, John Rodstrom III has been an active figure in Fort Lauderdale civic life for many years. Six months ago, he was serving on the city’s Budget Advisory Board, helping oversee the city’s billion-dollar budget. He is perhaps best known as the pro bono attorney for Save Snyder Park, where he represented a coalition of residents fighting against the private development of one of the city’s parks. He has also served on the board of the Salvation Army of Broward County for the last five years and is the Chairman of their Adult Rehabilitation Center’s Advisory Council. By all accounts, these nominees were experienced, engaged, and qualified citizens eager to serve their city.

Ironically, it was Charlotte Rodstrom—then a City Commissioner—who first appointed Steve Glassman to the Planning & Zoning Board nearly 20 years ago, launching his career in city politics. At the time, Glassman was known as a passionate civic activist. But since taking office himself, he has made a dramatic about-face on many of the very issues he once claimed to champion. The transformation has not gone unnoticed by longtime residents and former supporters alike.

The Bloc’s official rationale for blocking Stern and Rodstrom was murky. In public, some mutterings about “lobbyists” were offered – implying Stern and Rodstrom might have conflicts – but in reality neither nominee is a registered lobbyist for any developer before the city (an ironic twist, given the commission’s own friends include actual lobbyists). To many, it appeared the trio’s true motivation was political. All three “Bloc” members are aligned against Commissioner Herbst on various city issues, and both Stern and Rodstrom are perceived as being in Herbst’s camp. This break with tradition left Herbst fuming and others shaking their heads. “I look forward to the next couple of years. It’s going to be a hell of a ride,” Herbst quipped sarcastically after seeing his picks shot down.

Political Hypocrisy on Full Display

The political hypocrisy in this saga is hard to ignore. Just back in October 2024, Mayor Trantalis and Commissioner Glassman openly defended the practice of appointing political allies to city boards. Trantalis called it “a cardinal sin to deny a commissioner the right to appoint someone.” That same month, Glassman stated that “[e]very appointment is a political appointment. When we get into office, who do we appoint? We appoint qualified people and they might have also helped in a campaign.” Fast forward to today, and both are doing exactly what they cautioned against—forming a voting bloc to stonewall their colleagues’ appointments. Worse, Commissioner Sorensen has now joined them in this behavior. For someone widely expected to run for Mayor, his participation in these petty power plays shows a troubling lack of the independent leadership needed to represent not just his district, but the entire city.

Consider the contrast: Commissioner John Herbst demonstrated impartiality by supporting the appointment of his former election rival, Norby Belz, to the Budget Advisory Board. Belz had run against Herbst for the District 1 commission seat, yet Herbst put aside past rivalry and championed Belz for a board position, recognizing his willingness to serve. Trantalis, Glassman, and Sorensen, however, have taken the opposite approach – putting petty politics above the public interest. They’ve sent a clear message that if you’re not on “our team,” you’re not welcome to serve.

Erosion of Norms and Commission Dysfunction

This board appointment fiasco is symptomatic of a broader dysfunction and erosion of norms on the Fort Lauderdale City Commission. The collegial courtesy that once governed interactions has frayed badly. In its place is a climate of mistrust and tit-for-tat maneuvers. Commissioners Trantalis, Glassman, and Sorensen have effectively formed a ruling triad, often leaving Commissioners Herbst and Beasley-Pittman on the outside looking in. Such bloc voting can steamroll opposition, but it also poisons the well of cooperation. Today it’s board appointments being blocked; tomorrow it could be something even more consequential.

It’s no wonder this City Commission can’t even maintain a working relationship with the County. They’ve shown time and again that they cannot “play nice” with anyone who holds even a slightly different perspective. Collaboration is no longer just broken—it’s been actively discarded. We need commissioners who are not only capable of working together, but also of constructively engaging with outside partners to move our city forward.

It’s no coincidence that the City has canceled meeting after meeting with the County regarding the Bridge/Tunnel Commuter Rail project. The dysfunction on display has real costs. Fort Lauderdale faces serious challenges—development pressures, infrastructure woes, a looming budget crisis—that require unity and collaboration. The blocking of Barbra Stern and John Rodstrom III is more than just a personal slight—it’s a warning sign that political grudges are eroding the checks and balances that make local government work.

Conclusion: Time to End the Petty Politics

Let’s be clear: city boards exist to serve the public—not to serve as instruments of petty political punishment. Blocking thoughtful, qualified residents from volunteering only weakens our institutions and fractures trust in local government. Neither Barbra Stern nor John Rodstrom can be intimidated by “The Bloc,” and perhaps that’s exactly why they were targeted. According to Herbst his colleagues will continue to reject his appointments “until I appoint someone they believe they can intimidate.”

That’s not governance—that’s a problem.