Wilton Manors is a city full of wonderful things. Two of the most amazing Wilton Manors residents that have called the city home since 2008 are Marc Martorana and Don D’Arminio. If you’ve spent any amount of time in the Island City, it’s safe to say that you’ve experienced their hospitality, kindness, generosity and their passion for the city they love. Marc and Don are philanthropists, activists, community leaders and heck, just all-around nice guys.
Over the past 15-years, Marc and Don have opened up their lovely and spacious home adjacent to Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve and hosted over 100 fundraising events for most, if not all, of the major LGBTQ arts, culture and non-profit community service organizations in the area. Not only do Don and Marc play a huge role in helping these organizations thrive, but they do so willingly, without asking for a dime. All of the money raised at the events goes directly to the organizations’ coffers. A few of the beneficiaries of Marc and Don’s generosity are The Pet Project, Lambda Legal, The Human Rights Campaign, Plays of Wilton (POW), Stonewall National Museum & Archives, Slow Burn Theatre Company, Island City Stage, and the South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO). Occasionally Marc brings his event-planning talent and culinary skills directly to the organizations and will host at their location. Each year, the couple sponsor ArtServe’s awards night. “I put out a thirty-foot buffet and dessert table for them. And I’m happy to do it.”
I asked Marc what his impetus was to contribute philanthropically to the community. “I know exactly how that happened,” Marc recalls. “In 2011 I met a man named Mark Grossman who was involved with the South Florida Symphony Orchestra. He told me about the symphony and how they needed money and help. And I thought, ‘Why don’t I do a fundraiser.’ They were among the very first organizations that we opened our home to, in fact, they were the first. Soon after that, we hosted the Island City Stage theater company when they moved to their new location in Wilton Manors. We had a big welcome fundraiser party. I learned years ago that people will always remember the good that you do.”
Don is proud to say that he and Marc have kicked-off the season for the South Florida Symphony Orchestra every year for the past fifteen years, (with the exception of COVID). The SFSO season kick-off brunch features Marc’s magnificent buffet table packed with his amazing savory and sweet culinary delights.
“Here’s a story I like to tell,” Marc happily remembers. “Sebrina Alfonso and Jacqueline Lorber from SFSO met Chuck Lane, from PNC bank right here in this very home. He became their board chair and still is to this very day.”
Community is at the forefront of everything Marc and Don do. More than connections are made. As someone who has been fortunate to attend several of these fabulous and worthy fundraisers, let me tell you, the guys know how to throw a party. Robert Kesten, president & CEO of the Stonewall National Museum and Archives calls their home, “A conduit to the City of Wilton Manors.”
Marc and Don, or Don and Marc—the couple are equal in their own right—met when they both lived in Bergen County, New Jersey, fifteen minutes from each other. Was it love at first sight? “For Don it was!,” Marc says with a laugh. After dating for a while, they started to vacation together in Fort Lauderdale. “We would stay at the gay resorts on the beach and enjoy the nightlife in Wilton Manors. We absolutely fell in love with the city,” remembers Don. In 2008 the couple decided to buy their first condo in Wilton Manors. They found themselves spending more and more time in the area. “Every time we came to Wilton Manors, we didn’t want to leave,” recalls Don.
Then, in 2011, they purchased the home they now reside in. A home they share with three adorable rescue dogs, Davie, Sally and Ollie. “Davie was found running down Powerline in the pouring rain. Sally was abandoned in the Spirit Airlines employee parking lot. And Ollie was found on a cul-de-sac off Federal Highway. They’ve made our home complete. It’s perfect. Our house has so many memories of great times and great people,” Marc states emphatically.
Prior to moving to Wilton Manors, both had impressive careers. Don, a professional accountant, worked for Verizon as Director of State and Local Taxes. Don also worked for fifteen-years for Scholastic, the children’s book publisher as their State Tax Director responsible for their state tax department, including all Scholastic subsidiaries. Marc’s career was in high-end event planning. His client roster included Bloomburg, Central Park Film Festival, and Bon Jovi, to name just a few.
The couple agrees that the secret to a long-term relationship is allowing each their independence and respecting each other’s personalities. Marc who admits to being the one in the relationship with the bigger personality added a few more thoughts. “Don’s a little more ‘low key’. And that works. We don’t compete with each other. We support each other.”
Don, a Wilton Manors city commissioner nearing the end of his first term and running for reelection this year, summed up his philosophy eloquently with the following statement: “I wouldn’t be a commissioner without Marc. I like to say, ‘it’s not about finding someone that you can live with, it’s about finding someone that you can’t live without.’”
Being a city commissioner keeps Don busy. So, while Marc focuses on the couple’s philanthropy work, Don’s priority right now is the City of Wilton Manors and winning a second 4-year term. “I love our city; I love our residents and I’m here to serve them. My tag line is, I Stand With You, For You. I think I’ve lived that for the past four years.”
Marc reminds him of the second tag line, his favorite but equally as fitting, and one that’s printed on D’Arminio’s campaign T-shirts and other material: Don Gets It Done.
The qualifications of Don D’Arminio are many. His accounting background and extensive experience in budget preparation has served him well in the political arena. Prior to being a commissioner, Don served six-years on the Wilton Manors Planning and Zoning Board, first as vice chair, then as board chair. The Planning and Zoning Board is the only quasi-judicial board whose decisions are legally binding. His knowledge of the Wilton Manors City Code is so thorough that Vice Mayor Chris Caputo nicknamed him “The Code Master.”
Don is not shy in mentioning his qualifications, nor should he be. “Experience counts. I’ve been working for the city for ten-years, six on the Planning and Zoning Board and four as a city commissioner. That experience, combined with my accounting background, gives me a unique skillset that no other commission member has. This is not the time to roll the dice and put our city at risk, by voting for a candidate that has had no civic involvement with our city. In the combined ten-years I have served this city, I have never missed a meeting. It underscores my commitment to the city and our residents.”
His prior accomplishments as chair of the Wilton Manors Planning and Zoning Board and as a current city commissioner are impressive. As this is an election year, it seems like an opportune time to mention them.
“One of my proudest moments on the Planning and Zoning Board was the approval of ‘The Residences at Equality Park.’ These are 48-affordable residential units for seniors with disabilities. It’s so rewarding to me that now, years later, I can walk in and meet the residents, many of whom I happily call friends.”
Don Gets It Done seemed destined to be D’Arminio’s tag line from day one.
“When I was first appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board, there were things in our code that I didn’t agree with. For one thing, I support Economic Development to make sure our city is sustainable. As an example, our city code was written where it clearly didn’t welcome a hotel. A hotel was NOT a “permitted use” in our code. There were conditions that made it almost impossible for a developer to meet. For example, if you wanted to build a 100-room hotel, it required 125 parking spaces. The cost is approximately $35,000 -$40,000 a space. The same size hotel in Fort Lauderdale required only 75 spaces, which is a more realistic number I believed. During my tenure on the city commission, I led the charge to modify our city hotel code to be more aligned with Fort Lauderdale. As a result, we now have a 125-room boutique hotel approved on Dixie Highway, at 5-Points. I’m extremely proud of that achievement.”
I wanted to know more about Don’s platform for a second 4-year term on the city commission.
Following are the top issues and concerns he has for the future of our city:
Affordable Housing Crisis
“During my first term as a city commissioner, the commission incorporated affordable housing units as a requirement for some developments. Keep in mind that our city is 79-years-old but affordable housing units were only added to our city code during my first term in office. I also recommended reducing the 600-square foot minimum requirement for new residential units along our main corridors to 450-square feet. This would allow members of our community to live alone with dignity and not have to share a one-bedroom apartment to offset the cost of rent. We are in the process of modifying that code to address the affordable housing crisis.”
DEI Law (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)
“The new Florida DEI law that takes effect January 1, 2027, basically says that cities, like ours, cannot sponsor, fund or promote, any activity or event that’s deemed to be DEI. Therefore, if I am sitting on the dais, and I happen to say, ‘Just a reminder, this Saturday is our Stonewall Pride Festival,’ I can be removed from office by the governor. If I wear my shirt that says “Don D’Arminio, City Commissioner,” to the Fort Lauderdale St. Patty’s Day Parade, I would be deemed in violation of the DEI law and I could be removed from office. The governor could then appoint my replacement. That’s how serious this new law is.
Our City Charter currently allows the governor to appoint a new city commissioner if we are removed from office. We added a question on the ballot to amend our city charter. Instead of letting the governor appoint new city commissioners, our city manager would appoint. The city manager would give priority to residents appointed to city boards.
I asked if this new DEI law meant Pride Parades would be banned in Florida. “Absolutely not,” Don adamantly replied. “As long as I’m a city commissioner we will have a Pride Parade.” Our city’s involvement in that Pride Parade, however, may be limited. For example, the City of Wilton Manors has always been a “Title Sponsor.” We give a $50,000 sponsorship towards security, to make sure our residents are protected. In addition, we also give up our parking lot revenue for the day. All the parking money that’s generated goes to the sponsor. Unfortunately, some of our sponsorship may be limited effective January 1, 2027. Our attorneys are reviewing the law. However, the parade will continue. For the record, we are allowed, as a city, to issue a Stonewall Pride Parade permit.”
Property Tax Reform
“Let’s face it. Everyone would love to pay less taxes but it comes at a tremendous price. It’s basically a shift in power. It takes the power away from city commissioners, like me, and places that power in Tallahassee. And Tallahassee doesn’t have a clue about our residents, our residents’ needs or our city. It’s effectively a cost shift from homeowners to renters, landlords and snowbirds. We already have an affordable housing crisis. Now, if this tax reform passes, landlords can be charged more money which is going to get passed on to renters, tenants and businesses. If this passes in November, our city would lose over three million dollars in revenue. Everything’s at risk. Cuts to public safety, programs in our parks, our city’s library, even the ‘circuit buses’ that pick people up for two dollars would be at risk. Once these city services are gone, the value of our properties can go down. The governor’s position is “cut your budgets” and “combine with another city if you can’t run it.” I strongly recommend that our residents give careful thought to this ballot question.
Don wanted to wrap up his campaign and platform talk with a shoutout to his valued campaign manager, Bene Clement-Smith. “Bene has gone above and beyond sharing his time and talent working behind the scenes so I can be ‘on the front line.’ I am so incredibly grateful Bene is on this journey with us.”
Over the years, Don and Marc have received many awards and recognitions. These awards include the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library’s Stonewall Honors Award, and the v. Don has also received The Dolphin Democrats Harvey Milk Award, OUTSFL Best Activist in 2024 and 2025, and OUTSFL Best Politician on the City Commission in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Don has been endorsed by SAVE (Safeguarding American Values for Everyone), and Sierra Club Broward County for his work supporting the environment. As of the writing of this article Don is the only Wilton Manors candidate to be endorsed by Equality Florida Action PAC (Political Action Committee). “I am also greatly honored to receive the endorsement of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors®. This endorsement validates my years of work on affordable housing and responsible development.” Finally, it should be noted that Don is the only incumbent running for city commission of Wilton Manors.
Don and Marc—a Wilton Manors couple that through community service, philanthropy, and activism create positive change to benefit Wilton Manors residents for years to come.
