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Seismic Shift.
Chris Walton And Monica Cespero Broward County, New Administrator Standing Next To An Electric Bus — BCT’s Latest Addition.
At the end of February, Broward County’s most powerful woman Bertha Henry turned over the keys to county hall to her successor Monica Cepero. Also, on Friday, February 25, Chris Walton, the most successful Transit Director since the inception of Broward County Transit (BCT) in the nearly fifty-year history of the county’s Transit Agency and Office of Transportation — Walton rides off into the sunset. Both Henry and Walton retired after 22 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Broward County and its visitors.
When Chris Walton came to BCT, he started as a Transit Manager. Upon his arrival to Broward County Transit, one way to describe the welcoming mat laid out before Walton is akin to Sidney Poitier’s 1967 classic movie, “Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner?”
The movie “Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner” addresses the consternation that arises when “wealthy liberals who must confront the latent racism the coming marriage of a Black man to a White woman arouses.” Or a Black man joining an organization previously controlled by a good-old-boy network.
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Waiting In The Wings.
In 2008, after County Manager Pamela Brangaccio stepped down from her post because of a lack of confidence in her ability to manage. At which time, County Assistant Administrator Bertha Henry took control as the top-ranking non-elected official of Broward. Mrs. Henry was assistant to former County administrator Roger Desjarlais who retired in 2006. Desjarlais was replaced by Ms. Brangaccio. All the while, Bertha Henry, a finance specialist/accountant, waited in the wings to fulfill her glorious destiny of managing the second-most populous county in Florida that encompasses thirty-one cities with 31 flavors.
Bertha Henry accepts the job to calm a storm. In 2008 the Real Estate bubble had busted, the American economy was in turmoil, and America had just elected its first Black President — Barack Obama. And Broward County, like other counties, was reeling from the financial depression brought on by the real estate housing bubble. The county literally needed a “bean counter” to right the ship and helped bring it to a safe harbor. And that is just what Mrs. Henry accomplished as the new captain of the vessel and the right set of crew members.
From Crayons; to Perfume.
In 2000, Broward’s transit department was on the cusp of country bumpkins, suddenly moving into city life. The county needed someone to steer and guide the transit department into a state of modernization. In 2000 Bob Roth was BCT’s Director. However, Roth was having difficulty with the county’s desired transition. In steps Chris Walton, an Engineer by trade, a man with a vision tasked with taking the transit agency from crayons to perfume — so to say.
Mr. Walton’s February retirement newsletter lists his meteoric rise and a synopsis of his accomplishments at BCT. In 2000 they hired Walton as Transit Manager. In 2002 they promoted him to Associate Director of Mass Transit, and in 2005 he became Director of Transit Division. In 2007 the “Limited Breeze Stop” was introduced. In 2009 Walton launched the “online bus pass sales,” followed by I-95 Express premium service and the-595 Express
County Administrator Bertha Henry
Director Chris Walton
When Walton left on Friday, February 25, his departure was more like the ending of Sidney Poitier’s movie “To Sir With Love.” Several of the rambunctious kids who opposed his coming had retired, and the remaining ones have grown to respect him and understand the need for development. The necessity of going from pencil-drawn route maps to CAD-developed maps and schedules and the pinch that sometimes accompanies growth — while others accept the inevitability of change.
For 14 years, Ms. Henry led Broward County through stages of instability to a steady footing. From 2002 to 2008, Ms. Henry served as second in command next to Roger Desjarlais and then Pamela Brangoccio. In 2008 her destiny came calling. She accepted the call to serve the residents of Broward County — which she did with strength, honor, and integrity.
Clinton Franklin is a formally trained Computer Scientist and a writer at heart. Clinton is an avid observer of nature and a lover of people and diverse cultures. He adheres to the adage, “Think globally, but act locally.”
It is crucial to be forward-thinking but not a forward person. “Be kind to everyone you meet because each carries his heavy burden…” Plato.
Embrace the three Constants: Change, Justice, and Rightness.
The thought police are busy at work trying to suppress free speech — if allowed their march to madness — they will arrest your very thoughts.
