Ryan Ray
In the wake of Hollywood Mayor Peter Bober’s announcement he will not seek re-election next year, speculation has picked up around Broward state Sen. Eleanor Sobel pursuing the seat.
As first reported by Buddy Nevins of BrowardBeat, Sobel is a natural choice because she is the highest-ranking state official who represents the city and she will be leaving the Legislature because of term limits next year.
Sobel put out a release Tuesday morning addressing the rumors – kind of.
“I have been receiving a number of inquiries about this seat,” the longtime legislator wrote. “Given my love for Hollywood, my years of service to this community and the fact that I am term-limited from the State Senate, I certainly understand the inquiries. However, given my work as a Chair of a vital Senate committee and the critical nature of the upcoming special session, I am forestalling any decision until after the legislative session is completed in March.”
A mayoral run would not be the 69-year-old Sobel’s first go-around in local municipal politics. She was on the Hollywood City Commission six years during the ’90s before hopping back and forth between state and local school board seats.
Nevins also reported that Hollywood commissioner Patty Asseff is also considering a run.
The news comes one day after Lauren Book announced she will seek Sobel’s Senate seat next year after spending the past year amassing a small fortune for her Leadership For Broward political committee. Sunrise state Rep. Katie Edwards has also been rumored as a possible candidate.
