Name: Buz Oldaker
Age: 65
Website: N/A
What distinguishes you most from your opponent(s)?
Being a 30 year resident, former chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board, and an eight year commissioner (2016-2024), two year vice mayor (2020-2022), having first run in 2016 and unopposed four years later, I have been able to participate in the town’s evolution from a sandy beach community to a small Florida town in 2024 with height limits that must coexist with the ever-present pressures of surrounding municipalities with development and traffic issues. I have the educational background, with a MBA in finance, BS in accounting, and real experience in the corporate world. Currently, as a self-made entrepreneur and real property owner/manager, I offer the community the proven desire to dedicate my time to better the town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and maintain its small town charm and character.
In my eight years as a commissioner, I have tirelessly served and represented the town in a variety of capacities that include on the Hillsboro Inlet Commission (2 years); as liaison to AMR, the former medical services provider (2 years); the Broward League of Cities (2 years); chairman of the Fourth of July Celebration (4 consecutive years); the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (four years-present); Broward County Animal Care Advisory Committee (presently, appointed by Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher); and the Broward County Solid Waste Committee (2019-present). I also serve on a condo association board and a homeowners’ association board, both in Fort Lauderdale. I have consistently supported low property taxes while maintaining services and have worked to keep the town debt free and financially sound and safe. Through a team effort with my fellow commissioners, town staff, residents, the business community, and our public safety providers, we have produced and maintained the most desirable pedestrian friendly small town community in which to live, retire, raise a family, have a business or just visit, in the state of Florida.
List in reverse chronological order, starting with most recent, colleges and universities attended with years of attendance and degrees held.
Pace University, New York City, NY, MBA, Finance
New York University, New York City, BS, Accounting
List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
American Test Lab of South Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Retired from State of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York City, NY.
Entrepreneur in Real Estate Investment and Management
Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit, including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details and disposition.
No.
Have you ever been charged or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates and terms of sentence.
No
Do you support or oppose the new state law that requires municipal officeholders and candidates to file the Form 6 statement of financial interests, and why?
I think the requirement is too intrusive and should be more general than specific, and I oppose it in its current form. It potentially eliminates qualified candidates and participation in public service. Financial disclosure is important so constituents have a better understanding of who represents them or will, potentially, in the future. Yet, a one size fits all format is not productive for smaller municipalities.
What’s the best long-term solution to the problems at historic Anglin’s Pier?
First, the pier is privately owned, and that ownership should be respected. I have been an advocate for transparency through the town website and town manager’s report on town commission meeting agendas on any relevant information and any updates that may become available. The town must work with pier ownership at the various levels of government, whether federal, state or county, to assist in any way possible, and reach out to the appropriate officials, whether elected or administrative, to expedite the process. Since the pier falls under these various jurisdictions during the permitting and inspection process, any construction and/or repairs must follow the proper protocols, process and procedures for each jurisdiction, however simple or complicated it might be. The general public needs to understand the relationship between the pier ownership and the various jurisdictions, and this can only be accomplished through transparency at the local level.
Cite two (2) specific ways in which the town should help small, family-owned businesses become more successful.
The ultimate objective is to preserve our small-town charm while creating a vibrant environment where businesses can thrive. Access to these small-town businesses needs to be addressed through promoting parking alternatives, transportation options such as Circuit, public transit, ride sharing, golf cart parking spaces and pedestrian-friendly ways using sidewalks and crosswalks so that residents and visitors can easily and safely access businesses throughout the town.
The town, through the team effort of town staff and the town commission, needs to keep the millage rate low. By doing so, the overhead savings of property taxes and services will trickle down to assist the small businesses by keeping ownership and rent at affordable levels, parking readily available and services and infrastructure at their peak.
