PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — Anger erupted at a special town commission meeting Tuesday as resident Howard Clark III confronted Pembroke Park Mayor Geoffrey Jacobs over questions about the mayor’s residency.
Clark, whose father, Howard Clark Jr. served as a Pembroke Park Town Commissioner for nearly 31 years, including terms as Vice Mayor and Mayor, demanded answers about Jacobs’ residency after reading reports suggesting he does not live in Pembroke Park.
In a heated exchange, Clark said, “In the news I read, I read that you do not live in Pembroke Park—and I am referring to Mayor Geoffrey Jacobs. You do not live in Pembroke Park. I do not understand, as a resident of Pembroke Park for five years, how we are having these special meetings every single day. I cannot keep up as a member of the public, a responsible person from the public.
“How are you not a resident of Pembroke Park? I don’t understand anymore. Like, how are you pushing forward with ordinances and laws that are going to be passed? How are you voting? And if someone can give me an answer, it would quench this.”
Mayor Jacobs replied, “I have been a resident of Pembroke Park since 2016 and maintain my residency in Pembroke Park, and it has not changed since 2016.”
Clark pressed further, accusing Jacobs of maintaining a home in St. Lucie County.
He said, “In the news... they said you have a home with a VA loan and a mortgage and homestead — three things — and you live in St. Lucie County? Man, come on.”
Jacobs refused to continue the debate and responded, “I’m not going to debate this with you. Like, your father owns a house up in Wellington.”
Clark insisted, “And there is no homestead, sir.”
Jacobs said, “I have a house. I have a house up in St. Lucie County where my wife and children live. I also have a farm up in Osceola County; I have ag-land up there. That’s not in the news, but it’s there.”
Clark shot back, “There has never been a homestead on that Wellington house because my father knew the law. Sir, you have a homestead tax exemption on this house in St. Lucie County, however, you are still representing Pembroke Park. What the hell?”
Jacobs told Clark to calm down and redirected the discussion, saying, “First, stay calm. I would direct you to the town manager, who likes to put the town in the news every opportunity he gets.”
The special meeting was called to receive reports from department heads on past and future accomplishments and goals. This was the fourth meeting in which the commission lacked a quorum, as three commissioners did not attend. Jacobs said, “This is preventing us from moving the town forward.”
Jacobs did not answer questions about his homestead exemption on the St. Lucie County home. Records show that his VA-backed loan required permanent residency and that he previously claimed a $535,000 exemption for total and permanent service-connected disability.
Following a Local 10 News investigation, the exemption was removed, increasing the taxable value of Jacobs’ property from zero to $509,000. The exemption had been saving him approximately $10,000 annually in property taxes.
The confrontation underscored ongoing concerns among Pembroke Park residents about transparency and the mayor’s official residency.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
