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In Memoriam
Ken Keechl (1963-2023)
September 1, 2023
It is with great sadness, that we announce the passing of former Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl. Mr. Keechl was a passionate Democrat who fought every day to make the world a better place.
He was elected to the Broward County Commission in 2006 and served as Broward County’s first openly gay Mayor from 2009 to 2010. As commissioner, Keechl successfully broadened the county’s anti-discrimination laws to include transgender residents. He also authored resolutions in favor of allowing gays to serve in the military and a state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.
“Commissioner Keechl was a phenomenal Democrat. He fought for the rights of marginalized communities every chance he had, and he will be greatly missed ,” said Rick Hoye, Chair of the Broward Democratic Party.
“This morning, our community has suffered a great loss in the leadership of Ken Keechl. As a former mayor of Broward County and as a devoted member to the people he served, Ken will be remembered for the personal sacrifice and the unique vision that he shared with the world around him”, said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.
“I loved serving with Ken, and he and I became very good friends. I remember trying to give him advice as he was a novice elected, and I had eight years in the State House. I said to stay away from issues involving children and animals. You can’t win. We joked about it. He was Vice Mayor the year I was Mayor, and we were a great team. I will dearly miss him”, said long-time friend Stacy Ritter, current President/CEO of Visit Lauderdale and former county commissioner who served with Keechl on the Broward County Commission.
Kenneth E. Keechl received his Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in History from Florida State University in 1984. He was awarded his Juris Doctor degree with Honors from Florida State University in 1987. While there, he was the Associate Editor and the Article and Notes Editor for the Florida State University Law Review.
Mr. Keechl was an attorney based in Wilton Manors, a member of the American Bar and Broward County Bar Associations, and served on the Individual Rights and Responsibilities Subcommittee of The Florida Bar.
Memorial details will be released as they become available.
Paid for and Approved by the Broward Democratic Party.
Paid for and Approved by the Broward Democratic Party.
Broward Democratic Party
8320 W. Sunrise Blvd. Suite 203
Plantation, FL 33322
United States
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