Robert O. Cox

Robert O. Cox (November 28, 1917 – June 22, 2013) was mayor of

Role in making Fort Lauderdale a "marine capital"

Before being elected to the City Commission, Cox served on the city's Marine Advisory Board and is often credited for his role in promoting the city as a boating capital. As a member of the Board he encouraged the city to deepen many then-shallow canals, build marinas and advertise the city's boating-related amenities. Later, as a City Commissioner, Cox was instrumental in luring the

race, to the city.

The end of spring break

As a Commissioner and later as Mayor, Cox was a leader in the effort to discourage college students from spending spring break in the city.

Accusations of racism and other controversies

Cox declined to seek reelection as mayor following a controversy that erupted after he told a fourth-grade class at Edgewood Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale that all they needed to become mayor was to be "free, white, and 21."^[3] Edgewood Elementary principal Collins Plummer moments later requested clarification of the earlier comment by Mayor Cox. Mr. Cox then proceeded an attempt at backtracking by stating that the comment was an old cliche which no longer held true due to advances in rights and opportunities for minorities during his lifetime. Many of the students witnessing the exchange including fourth grader Rafael Bazan were offended by Mayor Cox's remarks and the clarification by the Mayor did little to ease the surprise and offense by all whom witnessed the exchange. Mayor Cox's remarks were played on local news over the next several days causing an uproar from minorities throughout the community.^[3][4] Talk show host Arsenio Hall criticized Cox for these comments. Indeed, this was not the first time Cox made statements and took positions that were perceived by many to be racially insensitive. For example, Cox opposed renaming Southwest 31st Avenue Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.^{[citation needed]} He also opposed making King's birthday a city holiday. He once accused black people of vandalizing his warehouse. He argued against single-member voting districts when the federal government demanded them. Further, he suggested English be the city's official language.^{[citation needed]}

However, Cox's record on race was less clear-cut than these comments and viewpoints suggest. Cox was a progressive on several race-related issues. It was Cox who, in 1972, proposed the city's open housing ordinance after the

. Cox argued it was meant to be turned on a tiny faction of the black community and contended that the money would have been better spent in community relations. Though Cox opposed the district elections that eventually made black businessman Carlton Moore a commissioner. Cox feared districts would divide the city and make commissioners responsive only to their constituents. However, when the measure passed, Cox encouraged Moore to run.

In 1981, while serving as a city commissioner, Cox attracted controversy when he suggested pouring Kerosene in trash cans to prevent the homeless from rummaging for food.^[1] Although he later said that he has meant to say bleach, as he did not want to kill anyone, "his comment captured for many the official attitude toward the scruffy souls whose presence marred the city's image".

He died at his Chaumont, New York summer home in 2013.^[1]

See also

• List of mayors of Fort Lauderdale

References

• "The Mouth that Roared: Bob Cox, Fort Lauderdale's Outspoken Mayor has Given People Plenty of Reasons to Both Love and Hate Him. Is He a Bigot or Just Too Honest for His Own Good?" Miami Herald, April 20, 1990
• "Hard lives commonplace for Broward's homeless population" Sun-Sentinel, January 22, 2005.

Political offices
Preceded by Robert A. Dressler	Mayor of Fort Lauderdale 1986-1991	Succeeded by Jim Naugle