Question the Real Goal: Is This About Saving Money — or Concentrating Political Power?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2026
Question the Real Goal: Is This About Saving Money — or Concentrating Political Power?
COOPER CITY, FL — The campaign of Juan Carlos “JC” Sanchez for Cooper City Commissioner is urging voters to carefully examine a charter amendment scheduled for the November 3, 2026 ballot. While the official language emphasizes cost savings, the practical effect of the proposal would give sitting commissioners the power to appoint colleagues for up to two years without a public election.
What the Amendment Actually Does
If approved, the remaining members of the City Commission would, by majority vote, appoint a qualified successor to fill a vacancy. Critically, if two years or less remain in the unexpired term when the vacancy occurs, that appointed person serves the entire remainder of the term. There is no special election and no opportunity for voters to choose a replacement until the next regular election cycle.
This is not a short-term interim appointment.
It is a multi-year appointment decided solely by the commissioners already in office.
Special Election Cost triggered are Real — But Incomplete
Special Election Cost triggered are Real — But Incomplete
Why was a cost created for the tax payers and is it really worth it? You should be concerned about this for sure, but there is a more important topic: why our residents will not be able to elect a new commissioner in Cooper City.
But caring about the cost of an election does not mean we must surrender the principle that voters, not sitting officeholders, should choose who represents them. Supporting the option of a special election is not a statement that we do not care about taxpayers’ wallets. It is a statement that we care about something equally well-established and foundational: democratic accountability, the right of residents to elect their own representatives, and the prevention of self-perpetuating power among those already in office.
Political Power, Not Just Pennies
Framing this change primarily as a money-saving measure obscures the real shift in authority. Appointment allows sitting commissioners to:
•Select political allies or preferred candidates
•Shape the balance of the Commission without voter input for an extended period of up to two years
•Avoid competitive elections that might bring different perspectives or challenge the status quo
This is not unique to Cooper City. Across Florida, cities are revisiting vacancy rules, often citing costs. Yet the consistent result of moving from election to appointment is the same: greater control for those already holding office.
Taxpayers have a right to question whether the primary motivation is truly fiscal responsibility — or the quieter accumulation of political power to fill seats at will for as long as two years.
Voters Deserve Transparency
JC Sanchez believes Cooper City residents should demand clear answers:
•How often have special elections actually been required in recent years?
•What is the realistic cost per vote cast for a Cooper City special election under current Supervisor of Elections rates?
•Why is the solution permanent appointment power lasting up to two years rather than better coordination with existing election calendars or other cost-control measures that still preserve voter choice?
Cost matters. Accountability matters more. Supporting the principle of special elections is not indifference to taxpayers’ money. It is a deliberate choice to uphold well-established democratic goals: that the people, not the remaining officeholders, should decide who represents them — even when a seat becomes vacant mid-term.
The choice on November 3 belongs to the people of Cooper City. They deserve an honest debate about both the dollars and the democracy at stake.
About the JC Sanchez Campaign
Juan Carlos “JC” Sanchez is a Cooper City resident, father, businessman and candidate for Cooper City Commissioner. He is focused on preserving the city’s suburban character, protecting family-oriented quality of life, and promoting responsible, transparent local governance.
Media Contact
JC Sanchez Campaign
Mary Sturm
