With his landslide victory in Wilton Manors last month, Justin Flippen is now in the elite category as the mayor of the second city in the country to have an all-gay commission.  Hear what’s on Flippen’s mind, in his first interview since his historic win.     

Where did you grow up?  I’m a proud Broward County native.  I lived in Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coconut Creek, and Wilton Manors all at different stages of my youth.  If you had to narrow it down, what do you like most about living in Wilton Manors?  The people and my neighbors.  What’s something that’s special about Wilton Manors that’s not commonly known?  We have foxes and bears.  One, the four-legged mammal.  The other, the two-legged people kind (laughs).  What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone?  Six Flags Atlantis.  Other than Wilton Manors, where do you hang out in South Florida?  I love nature, so I’m often in the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve.  What’s your claim-to-fame?  I’m not sure I have fame to claim, but I’m proud to be local born-and-raised and now the local mayor of the most progressive city around.  Which political accomplishment is the most special to you?  Besides being elected mayor by the people in one of the most decisive city elections in Wilton Manors’ history, officiating a group/mass-marriage ceremony of couples on Valentine’s Day at city hall when marriage equality was recognized was pretty special.

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What was the most exciting event that you ever attended, and why?  The first inauguration of President Barack Obama in January 2009.  To attend it was an inspiring and a uniquely-American experience that I’ll never forget.  Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?  My first job as a shipping clerk.  If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered?  As a man who did all the good he could for all the people he could, in all the ways that he could, and for as long as he could.  What do you want to live long enough to see?  Humanity no longer dependent upon non-renewable resources and brave enough to live cleaner and greener.  Should “straight” conversion therapy be banned?  As a survivor of such so-called conversion therapy, and based upon research and medical experts, yes.  The practice has been banned on minors in Wilton Manors and all of Broward County.  What’s the weirdest question that a constituent’s asked you?  “What do you think about the ghost haunting our old city hall?”

What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  Leonard Nimoy.  I got a picture doing the Vulcan salute with him!  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  I Googled the ancient pyramids of Caral, Peru.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited?  Jerusalem.  What’s the last thing that you watched on TV?  Madame Secretary or Murphy Brown.  What’s the craziest thing that you ever did?  Night snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii with giant manta rays.  What’s your favorite book?  The Bible, Living History by Hillary Clinton, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.  What’s the best concert that you ever went to?  Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Cher.  Do you still have your childhood blanket or stuffed animal?  Yes.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  Basic learning alone is not what makes one wise.  Rather, wisdom comes with the righteous application of the knowledge that one has gained.  And, of course, mom was right on a lot more than I thought.

What did you learn from your parents?  How to be self-reliant and independent.  How to take responsibility in life, but also to not take life too seriously.  Honorable mentions include how to iron, clean, rotate my own tires, and do laundry.  Who’s your favorite performer?  Hugh Jackman, Leonard Nimoy, and Zachary Quinto.  What’s your best characteristic?  I would hope my sincere desire to do right by others.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  For leisure, I love seeing and experiencing our country and world, especially our National Parks.  This year, I completed a bucket-list item.  I’ve now visited all 50 states.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Henry Cavill.  Who do you admire?  Jesus Christ, my grandmother, and Eleanor Roosevelt.  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be?  My younger brother, Nick.  Where would you go in a time machine?  Back to 2016 to warn people, to get more folks to vote, and to enjoy Obama as president one last time.  What would your last meal be?  Something Peruvian or Italian.  What do you worry about?  Not playing my lotto numbers the week they come in, and having Trump as President.

What are you afraid of?  The rise of nationalism and the decline of patriotism.  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be?  A zampoña, which is a traditional Andean panpipe of Peru.  There’s something mystical and spiritual for me whenever I hear it played.  It speaks to my soul.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  Neither.  Can I be a bear or an elephant instead?  Who depends on you, and for what?  The people of my city depend on me to serve them with my best, and nothing less.  Who are you closest with?  God, and a very select group of family and friends.  What would your autobiography be called?  Oh, I don’t know.  Maybe, Flippen: Beyond the Bear Minimum.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  Inspirational, pop and country, but not just when I’m upset.   Latin beats and rhythm usually raises my spirits too.  What’s on your bucket list?  To visit all of the National Park sites in America.  Of the approximately 418 sites, I’ve visited 291 so far.  I’m also working on visiting every state capitol building.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  Many of the answers in this interview.  Where can we see you?  At Starbucks or at city hall. People can also follow me on my Facebook and Twitter accounts.