Ben Sorensen

Ben Sorensen is an American politician from the Fort Lauderdale City Commission and the son of the former President of the University of Alabama and the University of South Carolina, Andrew Sorenson. He was elected to public office in March 2018 and re-elected in 2020, then named Vice Mayor of the City of Fort Lauderdale and served as Vice Mayor from 2018 - 2019. Sorensen ran for office unopposed and was re-elected as Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner, District 4 on November 3, 2020. He also ran for United States congress in 2022.

Sorensen was well known for relocating his office to a homeless encampment in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to raise awareness of the underserved populations in America.

Political Impact

During his time on the city commission, Sorensen was designated to serve as the City's Representative on the Broward County Continuum of Care Board. To raise awareness surrounding the needs of homeless members of the community, Sorensen relocated his office to a homeless encampment in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. This was a significant moving factor in triggering the collaboration of over 40 public and private entities which resulted in more stable housing offerings, health screenings, and wraparound case management for residents of the encampment. It also prompted the formation of  “The Broward Business Council on Homelessness."

During Sorensen’s tenure, in 2019 the City of Fort Lauderdale partnered with the 17th Judicial Circuit Community Court to run Community Court out of the Commission Chambers. This offering is the first of its kind in the State of Florida, with the goal of addressing the underlying causes of homelessness rather than continuing the cycle from the streets to jail. Sorensen played a lead role in the 2022 second naming of Davie Boulevard to Rubin Stacy Boulevard to honor Mr. Rubin Stacy who was lynched in the area on July 19, 1935. He then played a lead role in the 2022 second naming of Davie Boulevard to Rubin Stacy Boulevard to honor Mr. Rubin Stacy who was lynched in the area on July 19, 1935.

Sorensen also played a role in city efforts to reduce emergency and first responder response time. He led the efforts of the Las Olas Boulevard Mobility Working Group which included collaboration with stakeholders on the issues and reviews of the concept. After a process designed to build consensus on the future of a world-class corridor over a 2.5-year timeframe from September 2018 to June 2021, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission voted to endorse the Las Olas Conceptual Design Visions for the Eastern and Western Corridors and begin implementation.

Early Life

Sorensen was born in Rochester, N.Y. and grew up in Gainesville, FL. Sorensen has one brother and his parents were long dedicated to education and public service. His father Andrew was a university president, public health researcher and dean. His mother Donna was a chemist, teacher and dietician. His parents’ careers merged at Johns Hopkins University where his father cofounded the HIV/AIDS Institute at Johns Hopkins University and his mother provided the nutritional needs of HIV/AIDS patients.

Education

Sorensen attended Georgetown University Law Center where he earned his Juris Doctor in 2007. He earned his Doctor of Ministry and a Master of Divinity from Amridge University in 2013, Master of Arts of Leadership from Duquesne University in 2002 and Bachelor of Arts from Emory University. In 2011, Sorensen was accepted to the Defense Intelligence Agency’s National Intelligence University for a two-year Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence program, graduating in July 2013.

Military Service

Sorensen is currently as department head for a Navy Reserve unit at the U.S. Southern Command.

U.S. Navy Reserve

Sorensen is the third generation in his family to serve in the United States Armed Forces. His grandfather served in World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the Army, where he earned multiple combat awards. Sorensen's father served as a Chaplain in the Army for nine years, rising to the rank of Captain.

Sorensen serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander specializing in intelligence. He was selected as an Information Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve in February 2008. From 2008 to 2009, LCDR Sorensen served as Officer-in-Charge of a country analysis team for NR JIOC SOUTH 0174 and from 2009 to 2011 he served as the Administrative Department Head for NR JIOC SOUTH 0174. In 2011, Sorensen graduated from the Defense Intelligence Agency’s National Intelligence University for a two-year Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence program in 2013.

References

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