Tamarac commissioner Morey Wright disqualified from November ballot, plans appeal
Key Points(5)
- A Broward County judge has ruled that Tamarac Commissioner Morey Wright is not qualified to appear on the November election ballot, the city’s vice mayor told Local 10 News.
- Leer en español The ruling sparked a heated exchange during Wednesday night’s Tamarac City Commission meeting as Mayor Michelle Gomez addressed the decision and what it could mean for voters.
- “During this meeting, a ruling came out that said that Commissioner Wright was not going to be qualified to be on the ballot in November,” Gomez said.
- As the mayor discussed the ruling, another official attempted to adjourn the meeting, arguing that the matter was not on the agenda.
- Gomez pushed back, insisting she had the right to address the issue.
A Broward County judge has ruled that Tamarac City Commissioner Morey Wright is not qualified to appear on the November ballot, according to Local 10 News, with Wright saying he plans to appeal the decision.
The ruling prompted a heated exchange during Wednesday’s Tamarac City Commission meeting as Mayor Michelle Gomez addressed the potential implications for voters in District 2.
“During this meeting, a ruling came out that said that Commissioner Wright was not going to be qualified to be on the ballot in November,” Gomez said.
As Gomez discussed the decision, another official attempted to adjourn the meeting, arguing that the matter was not on the agenda. The mayor pushed back, saying she was entitled to address the issue.
Gomez also sought to reassure residents that the ruling did not necessarily mean they would lose the opportunity to vote for a District 2 representative.
“You have fear mongering going among you,” she said.
The mayor acknowledged that Wright could appeal the decision and that the city charter would help determine whether a special election would be necessary.
“Yes, the ruling came out, yes, there is opportunity for appeal, and yes, there is a city charter to determine on whether or not this needs to be set for a new special set District 2 election, and those will be determined by the actual experts, not anybody on this dais,” Gomez said.
She urged residents not to assume that their representation would be affected.
“So please do not have a panic that your voices will not be heard,” she said.
Wright plans to challenge ruling
In a statement to Local 10 News on Thursday, Wright said he and his attorneys disagree with the judge’s decision and intend to appeal it to Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal.
“My attorneys and I respectfully disagree with the Judge’s ruling and plan an immediate appeal to the Fourth District Court,” Wright said.
“The voters should decide who they want to represent them on the Tamarac City Commission. We remain confident that our campaign will ultimately prevail at the ballot box,” he added.
Wright said he looked forward to continuing to serve as the District 2 commissioner.
Wright was first elected to the Tamarac City Commission in 2022. During his time in office, he served as vice mayor and represented the city on the Broward County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. He also chaired the city’s Financial Audit Committee.
Wright is seeking re-election to the District 2 seat in the general election scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. Mike Gelin is also running for the seat.
The judge’s ruling and Wright’s planned appeal leave questions about the District 2 election unresolved. Whether a special election would be required will depend on the applicable legal process and the interpretation of Tamarac’s city charter.
