Hernandez secures District 4 seat and another term on Pembroke Pines Commission
Vice Mayor Michael “Mike” Hernandez won re-election Tuesday to the District 4 seat on the Pembroke Pines City Commission, securing another term in office for the next four years.
According to the unofficial results from the Broward Special Elections Office, Hernandez beat Burns with approximately 75% of the vote, while Burns secured about 25%.
The March 10 results remain unofficial while election officials continue processing remaining ballots, including vote-by-mail. The process could take anywhere from a couple hours to days, according to Broward County supervisor of elections Joe Scott’s office.
Hernandez, a public relations and communications specialist who was first appointed and later elected to the seat in 2024, focused his campaign on affordability, public safety, competitive bidding and better communication between city leaders and residents.
District 4 covers the west side from Flamingo Road until reaching U.S. 27.
Unlike many larger elections, voters were not offered early voting dates. Residents instead were given the option to either send in a mail-in ballot by Election Day, March 10, or hit the polls in person.
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After the unofficial results were in Tuesday night, Hernandez thanked voters and said he felt “thrilled” by the outcome.
“I’m thrilled to win a second election in a 16-month period,” he told The Pembroke Pines News. “But to win it by such a wide margin truly is humbling because you work every day and you try to help your residents … and to have listened to so many folks at the polls [Tuesday] in the five precincts that my election was decided in, thank me, because I helped them with something … was truly humbling. It’s a reminder of why you do the work.”
In a statement to The Pembroke Pines News on March 12, Burns wrote she was “deeply grateful” for the support she received during her campaign.
“While the results were not what we had hoped for, this journey was never only about me and the outcome...” she wrote. “This is not the end — it is simply another step forward in making a difference.”
The race followed a long campaign cycle for the incumbent.
Hernandez was first appointed to the commission in May 2024 and won the election that November, marking the first time in the city’s history that a municipal commission race appeared on a presidential general election ballot.
“It’s been a very long ride,” he said. “It’s a wonderful experience and my family has backed me 1,000%, but it’s very rewarding to see those results and to feel that vote of confidence from our residents in District 4.”
Residents’ concerns over rising property taxes, utility bills and condo fees for seniors in the city were central to his platform.
Looking ahead, he said one of the city’s biggest challenges will be preparing for potential property tax reforms under discussion in the Florida Legislature.
“First of all, we need to prepare for the impact of whatever the state legislature puts on the ballot,” he said. “I favor a tax cut. However, I just want to make sure that that property tax reduction does not harm our first responders and our ability to deliver essential services, particularly for our seniors.”
Burns, an event planner, small business owner and longtime Pembroke Pines resident, centered her grassroots campaign on affordability concerns, opposition to the city’s failed $230 million bond referendum from 2024 and rising utility costs.
She also pointed to the lack of housing affordability, increasing homeowner association fees and the future of North Perry Airport as issues she believes the city should address.
Hernandez said he hopes this term will be remembered for his service to residents.
“I sought the appointment and the election in 2024 because I genuinely love to help other people,” he said. “... When you go to bed at night knowing that you helped X number of residents in whichever way that you did, that’s worth more than its weight in gold. It’s worth more than millions of dollars for the soul.”
Hernandez is expected to be sworn into his second term in the District 4 seat at the next city commission meeting on March 18.
“We got to get through this budget, I’m definitely not thinking more than the next few months in advance,” he said. “Tonight, I’m going to enjoy this with my family and my friends and my supporters, and I’ll prepare for our March 18 meeting.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 8:40 PM.
