AAF CreativeZen Presents Mayor Dean Trantalis (January 2023)

Dean previously served on the City Commission representing District 2 from 2003 to 2006 and from 2013 until his ascension to the mayor's office. He twice served as vice mayor: from 2005 to 2006 and from 2016 to 2017.

As mayor, he also represents Fort Lauderdale on the Florida League of Cities, the Broward County Tourism Development Council, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and the Broward Workforce Development Board.

Born and raised in Norwich, Connecticut, Dean attended high school at Norwich Free Academy. At Boston University, he majored in political science and graduated cum laude and with distinction in 1975. He received a Juris Doctorate in 1979 from Stetson University School of Law, while completing international law courses in Eastern Europe, Russia, and London.

Dean was admitted to the Connecticut and Florida Bar Associations in 1980 and has practiced law in Broward County since 1982. He currently maintains a successful general law practice in Broward County with some emphasis in the areas of real estate, probate, estate planning, bankruptcy, and corporate matters. Dean is a member of the Federal Bar.

His long track record of public service in our community began with his involvement in the fight for equal rights.

In 1995, Dean served as the co-chair of Americans for Equality and oversaw the successful enactment of the Broward County Human Rights Ordinance. This law provided individuals with protection from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on their sexual orientation. Dean also helped manage the successful passage of the Broward County domestic partnership law, extending spousal-like benefits not only to county employees, but to all employees of entities doing business with Broward County.

Through his work fighting for equality, Dean discovered a passion for public service that led him to become involved in multiple community organizations, including the Fort Lauderdale Citizen Police Review Board, Broward House, the Dolphin Democrats, the Riviera Towers Co-Operative Board, the Broward County Planning Council and the John Graves Foundation Board of Trustees.

He also has represented the city on the board of directors of the Broward League of Cities, the Broward County Homeless Continuum of Care Task Force, the Broward Water Resources Task Force and the Broward County-Palm Beach County Joint C-51 Reservoir Work Group.

Recognized for his leadership in our community, Dean has received multiple awards and honors for his work, including the Small Business Award from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce in 2007. In spring 2015, he was an inaugural honoree of the Diversity Honors awards presented by the Harvey Milk Foundation. He also was honored as a Community Champion by the Broward County Commission and the Broward County Human Rights Board for his work on behalf of equal rights.

In spring 2018, the Harvey Milk Foundation joined with the Pride Center at Equality Park to present him with a lifetime achievement award. In October 2019, he received the Visionary Award from the Gay and Lesbian Business Exchange of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

His election as mayor was a landmark for the city's LGBT community. Dean was the first openly gay member of the City Commission and now is the first openly gay mayor in the city history. With his election, Fort Lauderdale became the largest city in the South currently to have an LGBT mayor.

Dean’s main issues as mayor are to improve quality of life in the city, encourage smart growth, upgrade the city’s aging infrastructure, reduce traffic congestion, fight homelessness and increase affordable housing opportunities.

AAF CreativeZen was born out of a desire for Choose954 & The UniteUs Group to connect, engage, and inspire our local creative community. We open the doors 30 minutes before the talk starts to mix, meet, and mingle with fellow likeminded members of our community.

Every Creative Zen event includes a complimentary guided meditation before a short inspiring and thought provoking talk during the second Friday morning of the month. All Creative Zen events are free of charge and open to the community, being creative is not required!

Immediately following the talk there will be an announcement of AAF Broward + Palm Beach's new Film Committee and a tour of the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center.

We hope you find the inspiration you're looking for through these stories as we did, which is why we pay it back and pay it forward by continuing these events for FREE! #AAFCreativeZen #Choose954

Questions? Don't hesitate to reach out! E-mail [email protected]

Host or Publisher Choose954