2003 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election

none September 2023 2003 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election Florida Flag of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.svg presidential no February 11, 2003 2000 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election 2000 2006 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election 2006 x155px Jim Naugle c0c0c0 10,924 61.24% x150px Tim Smith c0c0c0 6,502 36.45% Mayor Jim Naugle Nonpartisan Jim Naugle Nonpartisan The 2003 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election took place on February 11, 2003. Incumbent Mayor Jim Naugle ran for re-election to a fifth term, and was challenged by City Commissioner Tim Smith. Naugle, a Democrat, frustrated local Democrats when he endorsed Republican Governor Jeb Bush for re-election in 2002,Velga Alex Prominent Democrats endorse Bush Stuart News September 27, 2002 Stuart, Florida B5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-stuart-news/176829634/ July 16, 2025 but Smith attracted little formal support from Democratic leaders.Reinhard Beth Nobody's coming to the party Miami Herald February 8, 2003 Miami, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176830556/ July 16, 2025 Naugle ultimately defeated Smith by a wide margin, winning 61 percent of the vote. Primary election Candidates Jim Naugle, incumbent MayorMayor Naugle to run for reelection Miami Herald September 24, 2002 Miami, Florida 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176830689/ July 16, 2025 Tim Smith, City CommissionerBennett Brad Big-time battle in Lauderdale Miami Herald September 21, 2002 Miami, Florida 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176830752/ July 16, 2025 Gene Ingles, minister, businessman21 to run for posts on City Commission Sun Sentinel December 20, 2002 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel/176831292/ July 16, 2025 Campaign On September 20, 2002, Smith announced that he would challenge Naugle for re-election, arguing for greater development, and criticizing Naugle's "anti-gay remarks." Naugle, on the other hand, attacked Smith for being overly friendly to developers,Wallman Brittany Smith dons gloves to take on Naugle Sun Sentinel September 21, 2002 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel/176831172/ July 16, 2025 and that gay residents "like the fact that I don't vote for all the big towers."Bennett Brad Commissioner may take on Naugle in 2003 election Miami Herald September 20, 2002 Miami, Florida 5B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176829454/ July 16, 2025 Throughout the campaign, Smith criticized Naugle for his treatment of city employees. Naugle noted that though he was not "an easy person to work for," he believed that "we're all public servants, and we work hard."Wallman Brittany Mayor's demeanor irks Lauderdale employees Sun Sentinel February 4, 2003 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel/176831061/ July 16, 2025 The Miami Herald endorsed Smith over Naugle, noting that Naugle's "accomplishments are undermined by his failure to adjust his old-school politics to the broadly diverse community that Fort Lauderdale has become." It criticized his hostility to the city's gay community and for "tolerat[ing] for years the racially discriminatory culture within city government that recently led to a federally mandated consent decree." The Herald praised Smith as "[r]eform-minded" and a "self-starter on community development" with a vision that "is one of inclusiveness for all the city's residents."The Herald Recommends Miami Herald February 5, 2003 Miami, Florida 6B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/176829853/ July 16, 2025 The Sun Sentinel, on the other hand, endorsed Naugle for re-election, praising Smith as "an extremely effective commissioner," but noting that "Naugle's strong performance as mayor gives him the edge." The Sentinel noted that Naugle "deserves some credit" for the city's transformation from "a haven for college spring-break revelers from around the country" to "a thriving modern city catering primarily to a different brand of tourists: families."Return Naugle and Katz, Elect Albee Sun Sentinel February 5, 2003 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 28A https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel/176830317/ July 16, 2025 Results 2003 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election resultsMunicipal Primary Election - 2/11/2003 Broward County Supervisor of Elections http://www.browardsoe.org/ERSummary.aspx?eid=20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080117021335/http://www.browardsoe.org/ERSummary.aspx?eid=20 January 17, 2008 July 16, 2025 Jim Naugle (inc.) Nonpartisan candidate 10,924 61.24% Tim Smith Nonpartisan candidate 6,502 36.45% Gene Ingles Nonpartisan candidate 413 2.32% 17,839 100.00% References Fort Lauderdale Category:2003 Florida elections Category:Mayoral elections in Fort Lauderdale Category:Fort Lauderdale, Florida Category:February 2003 in the United States Category:History of Fort Lauderdale, Florida