During his term in the mayor’s chair Naugle had been blamed for divisive anti-gay rhetoric. 

Naugle, who was prevented from running last month by term limits. Although he backed Seiler it is unknown much it helped. A former state legislator, Seiler had a huge war chest and spent heavily, defeating two openly gay candidates.

Nevertheless, it is doubtful Seiler will be as polarizing as Naugle. He has received an LGBT community award and although he did not reject Naugle’s endorsement he said during the campaign he supported diversity in the city.

Seiler was sworn in as mayor on Tuesday.

In 2007, Naugle created a stir when he claimed that gay sex is rampant in public washrooms on the beach and called for the city to spend a quarter-million dollars on a replacement toilet that he said would end the problem.

The remarks angered the city’s gay community which launched a “flush Naugle” campaign to flood his office email with “virtual toilet paper” and the police department said there had been only one arrest at the toilet on the stretch of beach known for its gay sunbathers.

Naugle announced he would issue an apology, but instead turned it into another broadside against the gay community.

The conservative Democrat apologized for what he claimed was underestimating the problem, because the county had the highest rate of new HIV/AIDS cases involving men having sex with men in the country.

Naugle then suggested the county tourism office should rethink its ad campaigns that welcome gays to the area.

Last year nearly one million gay and lesbian visitors to Broward County, spending more than one-billion dollars in the county.

Naugle, who was prevented from running by term limits, backed Seiler. How much Naugle’s support helped Seiler is unknown.  A former state legislator, Seiler had a huge war chest and spent heavily.

Two gay candidates trailed despite newspaper ads by the Dolphin Democrats, the county’s LGBT Democratic Party club, which made sure the LGBT community knew Naugle had endorsed Seiler.

Nevertheless, it is doubtful Seiler will be as polarizing as Naugle. He has received an LGBT community award and although he did not reject Naugle’s endorsement, he said during the campaign he supported diversity in the city.

Seiler defeated ex-city Commissioner Dean Trantalis, businessman Earl Rynerson and attorney Steve Rossi. Trantalis and Rynerson are openly gay.

Trantalis was elected to the City Commission in 2003 and has served as Deputy Mayor. Although he is openly gay, Rynerson ran on a conservative platform.

Seiler will be sworn in on March 17, officially ending Naugle’s 18 year grip on the city.

In 2007, Naugle created a stir when he claimed that gay sex is rampant in public washrooms on the beach and called for the city to spend a quarter-million dollars on a replacement toilet that he said would end the problem.

The remarks angered the city’s gay community which launched a “flush Naugle” campaign to flood his office email with “virtual toilet paper.” The police department said there had been only one arrest at the toilet on the stretch of beach known for its gay sunbathers.

Naugle announced he would issue an apology, but instead turned it into another broadside against the gay community.

The conservative Democrat said he was apologizing for what he claimed was underestimating the problem and said that the county had the highest rate of new HIV/AIDS cases involving men having sex with men in the country.

Naugle then suggested the county tourism office should rethink its ad campaigns that welcome gays to the area.

Last year, nearly one million gays and lesbians visited Broward County, spending more than one billion dollars.

Naugle is not seeking re-election. Four candidates are vying for the job. Naugle is supporting Jack Seiler for mayor and Romney Rogers for City Commission.

In the days leading up to the election the Dolphin Democrats, the county’s LGBT Democratic Party club, took out ads in local gay and alternative newspapers making certain the LGBT community knew who Naugle was backing.

Club president Justin Flippen predicted that Naugle’s support would damage a candidate’s chances with gay and lesbian voters. But Naugle said he wasn’t concerned, noting he had been elected “eight consecutive times, and all by wide margins.”

“I’m positive beyond the shadow of a doubt that if I were on the ballot this Tuesday, I would be elected by a very wide margin,” he told The Sun-Sentinel newspaper.

Two of the four candidates running for mayor are openly gay. Dean Trantalis is a lawyer and businessman.  He was elected to the City Commission in 2003 and has served as Deputy Mayor. Earl Rynerson is a businessman and although openly gay is running on a conservative platform.

In 2007, Naugle created a stir when he claimed that gay sex is rampant in public washrooms on the beach and called for the city to spend a quarter-million dollars on a replacement toilet that he said would end the problem.

The remarks angered the city’s gay community which launched a “flush Naugle” campaign to flood his office email with “virtual toilet paper” and the police department said there had been only one arrest at the toilet on the stretch of beach known for its gay sunbathers.

Naugle announced he would issue an apology, but instead turned it into another broadside against the gay community.

The conservative Democrat said he was apologizing for what he claimed was underestimating the problem and that the county had the highest rate of new HIV/AIDS cases involving men having sex with men in the country.

Naugle then suggested the county tourism office should rethink its ad campaigns that welcome gays to the area.

Last year nearly one million gay and lesbian visitors to Broward County, spending more than one-billion dollars in the county.