PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – In a surprising turn of events, outspoken Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs has been reinstated as mayor of Pembroke Park, despite a history marked by legal challenges, internal disputes and allegations of misconduct.
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The decision ― which came with the support of a commissioner he once called “stupid” and the town’s now-ex-mayor, who he once called the police on during a meeting ― comes after months of contentious debate and a referendum passed by voters in 2024, calling for the mayoral position to rotate among commissioners to give each a chance to lead.
Despite that mandate, Jacobs’ return was confirmed during a special commission meeting on May 22.
The path to Jacobs’ reinstatement was anything but smooth. Just days earlier, on May 14, the commission meeting descended into a verbal melee, with personal attacks, accusations of incompetence and frustrated pleas for leadership.
Mayor Ashira Mohammed, who had clashed with Jacobs for years and who Jacobs once called the police on, claiming she may be armed and that he feared for his life, made the surprise motion to nominate Jacobs ― who she once told to “seek help” ― again.
“We have a lot of issues that need to be fixed and addressed,” Mohammed said, pointing to grants nearly lost, a crumbling parks department, unqualified hires and mismanaged projects. “While me and him disagree on a lot of things, he has been able to move things forward. He might be a son of a biscuit, but at the same time, we have problems.”
Ironically, many of these issues occurred while she was mayor.
Jacobs’ tenure in Pembroke Park politics has been anything but calm. He previously served as mayor, during which multiple lawsuits and allegations arose.
An independent investigation concluded that Jacobs engaged in a series of “threatening, humiliating, or intimidating behaviors,” creating a toxic workplace.
Former Human Resources Director Babette Friedman filed a lawsuit against Jacobs and the town, alleging she was forced to resign due to intolerable working conditions and that Jacobs called her a “Nazi” during a public event.
Former Town Attorney Melissa Anderson sued the town, alleging harassment by Jacobs, including receiving a homophobic and misogynistic TikTok message.
A Broward Office of the Inspector General investigation found Jacobs improperly arranged and paid for a $10,575 yacht charter for the Town’s 2022 holiday party using his Town procurement card, without authority and in violation of procurement rules. The purchase did not follow the required bidding process, and Jacobs signed the contract without Town Commission approval.
The OIG concluded that the town illegally procured a yacht charter for a holiday party for Town officials, staff, and guests that ultimately cost approximately $440.63 for each person who attended.
The Town has since taken steps to strengthen its procurement practices.
In addition to facing lawsuits, Jacobs has initiated legal action against Pembroke Park after being charged with misusing the 911 system, a charge that was later dropped.
Jacobs announced a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Mohammed and the town. He alleges violations of his constitutional rights, false arrest, defamation, and other grievances.
Jacobs has publicly insulted his fellow commissioners, once calling Commissioner William Hodgkins “stupid.”
During the May 14 meeting, he mocked their knowledge of municipal governance, asking, “Do you guys know what the ad valorem tax rate is?” to which Clerk Commissioner William Hodgkins responded, “This isn’t what this is about.”
Commissioner Eric Morrissette, who had served as vice mayor, pushed back during the May 14 meeting.
“No one comes in and just knows everything,” he said, aiming a jab at Jacobs and Mohammed. “You think other people are stupid because they don’t play your game.”
He also took a swipe at Jacobs’ efforts to create the Pembroke Park Police Department.
“You came in with a good idea, but the way you did it was not with integrity,” Morrissette said.
Hodgkins emphasized voter intent.
“Wasn’t the whole object of rotating the mayor’s position to get people to have the experience?” he asked, voicing frustration over the failure to follow the rotation voters demanded.
A week later, things changed.
At the May 22 special meeting, Hodgkins himself nominated Jacobs, despite his earlier resistance.
“We can’t seem to do it by vote, so let’s take a vote right now,” he said, throwing his support behind Jacobs in what appeared to be a compromise to end the deadlock.
Morrissette, also reversing course, voted in favor.
In an email to Local 10 News’ Jeff Weinsier, Hodgkins later wrote:
“Last evening was a success in my eyes. Although the vote wasn’t ideal, it was a victory for the voters.”
Despite the optics of unity, tension remains high in Pembroke Park. Jacobs — never one to back down from controversy — wasted no time laying into the current commission upon his return.
Jacobs insists he’s stepping in for the good of the town, saying, “I took an oath to always work in the best interest of the residents of Pembroke Park. The town is hanging by a thread.”
Local 10 News Digital Journalist Chris Gothner contributed to this report.