Don D’Arminio’s love of Wilton Manors is as big as his shoulders are broad. That’s a good thing because he carries many of the city’s issues on his back.

He may only be midway through his first term as a city commissioner, but his impact is felt throughout the city and South Florida’s LGBTQ community. Before being elected to the city commission, D’Arminio spent six years on the influential Planning and Zoning Board.

During his tenure on the Planning and Zoning Board, he helped rewrite city code to help the city grow. That included raising the height limit for buildings to increase density and encourage eco-friendly development. This helped pave the way for the proposed Wilton Hotel as well as a parking garage and mixed-use apartments at the Shoppes of Wilton Manors.

If those and other proposed developments are completed, the city’s population and tax base will grow significantly.

Even though D’Arminio and his husband, Marc Martorana have a lovely home just off Wilton Drive, it seems like they’re never in it. They are always out and about supporting various causes and listening to residents’ concerns.

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