Angelo Castillo sworn in as Pembroke Pines mayor; commission certifies March 19 election results

Angelo Castillo was sworn in as mayor of Pembroke Pines during a ceremony at City Hall, and the City Commission adopted a resolution declaring the results of the March 19, 2024, general election.

Judge Catalina Avalos administered the oath to Castillo, who repeated the oath and then addressed a packed chamber, thanking campaign staff and family and laying out a series of priorities for his new term. "You will always have my vote on equal terms," Castillo said, pledging to be a mayor "for all of the people" and naming traffic relief, affordable housing, infrastructure to reduce flooding and more police patrols as top concerns.

The commission also took up Proposed Resolution No. 2024 R-06, read into the record by city staff and moved by the mayor with a recorded second; the motion passed, and city staff recorded the action for the permanent record. The resolution declares the official results of the March 19 election.

In remarks after the oath, Castillo said he will begin a series of town-hall meetings to gather residents' input and that the commission will pursue a strategic plan with specific milestones. He outlined near-term budget priorities that include raising firefighter wages, acquiring additional rescue trucks and seeking streamlined permitting to benefit local businesses.

Castillo told the chamber he opposes any incineration project on the border of Pembroke Pines and urged a regional zero-waste planning effort and public-education campaign on recycling. He also said the Broward Chiefs Association recommends moving 911 dispatch to the sheriff's office and advocated elevating dispatchers to first-responder status to improve working conditions and response.

JD Schwartz and Maria Rodriguez were also sworn in as commissioners for their respective districts. Schwartz thanked supporters and acknowledged his family; Rodriguez, sworn in with her father participating, thanked volunteers and pledged to represent District 3, saying she seeks to bring "a fresh perspective" to the dais.

Castillo requested that the city manager schedule a workshop with the Broward County School Board and the commission by May to address concerns about potential school closures in the city. He described the new commission as bringing fresh perspectives and said he will work with staff to translate town-hall input into an actionable plan.

The ceremonial portion ended with congratulations and a short recess before the commission moved into its regular meeting.