Tamarac Planning Board Member Viola Watson Kicks off Campaign for Commission Seat

Tamarac Planning Board and Affordable Housing Advisory Board Member Viola Watson.

Tamarac Planning Board and Affordable Housing Advisory Board Member Viola Watson will kick off her campaign for the District 1 commission seat on July 15, her campaign announced Sunday.

The event will be held at Tamarac Moose Lodge, 6191 Rock Island Rd., from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. According to an email from Watson’s campaign, those planning to attend should RSVP by sending an email to hello@violawatson.com or submitting an RSVP on her website.

Watson hails from Costa Rica and moved to New York City at age 20 “with a heart full of dreams,” according to her site. She studied education at The City College of New York, lived in Georgia for a time, and moved to South Florida in 1978.

Watson, who took courses at Miami Dade College and FIU, also earned her student pilot’s license, her website says. She joined United Airlines and worked for the company for nearly three decades — mostly in different flight attendant roles — while traveling the world.

During her aviation career, Watson said she ran her own businesses and led teams of up to 5,000 people, “honing my leadership and teamwork skills,” according to her website.

Watson has also had a long career in real estate that’s given her a “deep understanding of our local economy and housing market,” her site says.

Watson is running to unseat District 1 Commissioner Marlon Bolton, who is running for a third term. He was originally elected in 2016 and reelected in 2020. Business owner Horatio Bryan is also running for the commission seat.

The election will be held on Nov. 5.

Watson said her priorities for the city include economic revitalization, neighborhood beautification, and ensuring residents have access to affordable housing.

“I’m passionate about bringing fresh energy and a new perspective to Tamarac,” Watson said on her site. “That’s why I’m running on leadership, integrity, and unity.”

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