Officials in Margate are raising the bar for public service with newly minted accolades from the Florida League of Cities. In a commitment to excellence and ongoing education, Mayor Arlene R. Schwartz clinched the Bronze Certificate of Merit, while Vice Mayor Antonio V. Arserio and Commissioner Joanne Simone both snagged the Gold Certificate of Excellence. The recognition stemmed from a year's worth of training.
The Certificate Program for Elected Municipal Officials recognizes those who complete training in areas like ethics and legislative events. Certificates are earned by accumulating points. The Margate trio racked up enough points between July 2024 and July 2025, participating in everything the Florida League of Cities threw at them, including monthly webinars, online orientation, and events like IEMO I and II, according to a city announcement.
Michael C. Blake, the 2024-2025 president of the FLC and mayor of Cocoa, hailed the educational opportunities offered, saying, "By participating in the FLC’s training opportunities, elected leaders are strengthening their knowledge, growing professionally, and ensuring they are prepared to meet the needs of their communities with confidence and integrity." The program not only grooms municipal officials but seems to set a benchmark for what it means to serve the public interest, as noted by the City of Margate website.
