The City of West Park is gearing up for its upcoming Municipal Election on November 3, 2026, which will run concurrently with the November General Election. Known affectionately as “The City of Progress,” West Park features a vibrant, diverse community where local municipal decisions directly impact everyday neighborhood dynamics, infrastructure quality, and small business support. With two pivotal commission seats on the ballot this fall, voters will have the opportunity to choose the leadership that will steer the city’s strategic direction for the next four years.
At Hy-Lo News, we believe that local elections are the most crucial point of participation for our community. The West Park City Commission makes decisions that affect your property values, your safety, and your pocketbook every single day. Below, we have compiled a guide to the open seats and the core issues driving each race to help you make an informed decision at the ballot box.
Commissioner Seat 1 Candidates
Dr. Katrina Touchstone
Source: City of West Park
Dr. Katrina Touchstone is a proud, lifelong resident of West Park, born and raised in the historic Carver Ranches neighborhood where her family’s roots trace back to 1951. A dedicated servant leader, Dr. Touchstone holds a Doctorate in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences from Florida A&M University and has served the public as a clinical pharmacist for over 15 years. This background in healthcare instills a deep commitment to wellness, precise problem-solving, and community care.
During her first four-year term on the City Commission, Dr. Touchstone successfully championed initiatives that directly lowered the cost of living and improved local infrastructure. Key achievements include working to reduce the city’s millage rate to 7.9, eliminating red light cameras, expanding funding for the Senior Citizen Program to offer free educational field trips, and advocating for critical street-calming safety modifications—prioritizing high-traffic areas like 36th Street. Driven by a vision of collaborative governance, she co-created the community platform West Park Word of Mouth and hosts regular town halls to ensure transparent communication. In her re-election campaign, her focus centers on securing smart commercial growth along the State Road 7 corridor while protecting residential neighborhoods from flooding through modernized stormwater infrastructure.
Learn more about Dr. Touchstone here.
Derrick Jones
Source: Derrick Jones Campaign Website
Public servant, community advocate, and published author Derrick Jones has announced his candidacy for West Park City Commissioner, launching a campaign focused on addressing housing affordability, public service access, and economic opportunity. A lifelong South Florida resident and Florida A&M University alumnus with a degree in political science and public administration, Jones has built a career spanning the local, federal, and nonprofit sectors. His professional background includes serving as a county legislative analyst, working in federal constituent affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives to resolve critical housing and veterans’ issues, and coordinating regional food security initiatives with Feeding South Florida.
Jones’ platform and career are deeply rooted in a family tradition of civic responsibility, faith, and military service, notably shaped by his grandfather, a local pastor for more than four decades. Outside of his professional roles, Jones remains active in the community as a teacher, youth mentor, and ministry leader, while also utilizing his background as a published poet to amplify local stories. If elected, Jones intends to leverage his diverse administrative experience to bring responsive, transparent, and results-driven leadership to West Park to directly combat the area’s pressing affordability crisis.
Learn more about Derrick Jones here.
Commissioner Seat 2 Candidates
Brandon Smith (Incumbent)
Source: City of West Park
Commissioner Brandon Smith currently holds Seat 2 on the West Park City Commission, bringing a lifetime of local perspective and over a decade of dedicated public service to the dais. Raised in West Park, Commissioner Smith’s deep connection to the city was forged early on through formative years spent at the Carver Ranches Boys & Girls Club and playing youth sports at Mary Saunders Park.
Professionally, Commissioner Smith has built a distinguished 10-year career in law enforcement as an officer with Miami-Dade County, where he has served as a Boot Camp Program Drill Instructor, Field Training Officer, and youth mentor. His exemplary work ethic has earned him multiple “Outstanding” performance ratings and departmental commendations. In addition to his law enforcement career, he is a licensed minister involved in local outreach initiatives providing resources to families in need. On the commission, Smith focuses heavily on municipal budget optimization, public safety, and financial literacy outreach designed to protect working-class families. His platform centers on leveraging county partnerships to expand recreational programs, supporting first-time homebuyers, and implementing progressive, fiscally responsible policies to prevent long-term residents from being priced out of their neighborhoods.
Learn more here.
JaJuan Burton
Source: JaJuan Burton Campaign Website
U.S. Army veteran, software engineer, and youth advocate Jajuan Burton has announced his candidacy for the West Park City Commission, Seat 2, running on a platform of community reinvestment and modern leadership. Raised in Carver Ranches, Burton credits local athletic programs and the Boys & Girls Club for providing the foundation that shaped his early life. After graduating from South Broward High School in 2007, he earned a degree in sociology and criminal justice from the University of Dubuque. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2012, serving as a K9 handler and deploying to Afghanistan in 2014 before receiving an honorable discharge in 2016. Following his military service, Burton taught himself full-stack web development, building a career as a tech professional and entrepreneur.
Burton’s campaign is driven by a commitment to giving back to the neighborhood that raised him, bringing a hands-on approach to local governance. He serves the community as an organizer for a local youth football and cheer organization that has supported over 300 children in Carver Ranches. As a small business owner, he launched Jaybees Valet Laundry and established Hometeam, a digital directory designed to amplify local Black-owned businesses. Leveraging his background in military discipline, community advocacy, and technology, Burton aims to introduce modern, transparent, and accountable systems to the West Park City Commission to ensure a meaningful return on investment for all residents.
Learn more here.
WEST PARK VOTER INFORMATION
📅 Election Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
⏰ Poll Hours: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
📍 Polling Locations: West Park residents vote at designated Broward County precincts.
🔗 RESOURCES:
• Register to Vote: RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov
• Mail-in & Early Voting: BrowardVotes.gov (Broward County Supervisor of Elections)
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