Fort Lauderdale candidates on the campaign trail have no shortage of issues to weigh in on this year.
There’s the public outcry over a plan to remove a tree-lined median on Las Olas. A homeless crisis that has business owners and residents on edge. And the prospect of a railway bridge — or tunnel — running through downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Voters got a preview of the District 1 and 4 candidates running in the Nov. 5 election during a forum hosted by the Fort Lauderdale Council of Civic Associations and moderated by South Florida Sun Sentinel Deputy Opinions Editor Dan Sweeney.
A second forum for the District 2 and mayoral candidates is planned Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center, 1409 NW Sistrunk Blvd.
This news article focuses on the District 4 candidates: Kevin Cochrane, a software executive; Ted Inserra, a community activist and retired chef; executive coach Ben Sorensen, a former commissioner who resigned in 2022 to make an unsuccessful run for Congress; and physician Warren Sturman, the incumbent. Their comments have been edited for brevity.