Hon. Hazelle P. Rogers, C.D. was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She began her political career in Broward County in 1996 when she was elected to the Lauderdale Lakes City Commission, the only woman on the 7-member Commission. She was appointed as President of the Broward League of Cities in 2004, representing the 31 municipalities in Broward County. She subsequently served as State Representative for District 94 & 95 and Mayor of Lauderdale Lakes for several years prior to her election to the Broward County Commission in 2022.
After 12 years of service in Lauderdale Lakes, in 2008, Hon. Hazelle Rogers was elected to the State Legislature, making her the first person from the English-speaking Caribbean-American community elected to office in the southeastern United States. When she was elected to her second term, she became the first Jamaican and second person from the English-speaking Caribbean to serve in the Florida House of Representatives.
Over her 32 years of public service, Commissioner Rogers has received numerous awards, including: Florida Association of Counties' Champion Award for 2014 and 2015; the Jamaican American Bar Association Legislative Award, 2015; and the Florida League of Cities' Legislative Appreciation Award for four consecutive years 2013-2016. In addition, as Mayor of the City of Lauderdale Lakes in September 2020, she was awarded the distinguished National Honor, the Order of Distinction with rank of Commander class, from the Island of Jamaica.
Commissioner Rogers' priorities are to work with housing professionals on comprehensive programs that address affordability and grant programs. She will address Reverse Mortgages and their negative impact on senior citizens qualified for a home loan modification, and she will promote affordable housing programs to help create generational wealth. In addition, Commissioner Rogers will champion Police and Criminal Justice Review Boards, an Intermediary Program for CBE, provide strong support for graduate incentives to compete with multi-national corporations, and support zip codes with the highest poverty ratio.
Mrs. Rogers looks forward to continuing her public service in Broward County in her new capacity as District 9 Commissioner.
