Francis X. Suarez
| Francis Suarez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 33rd Mayor of Miami | |
|
Assumed office November 15, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Tomás Regalado |
| Member of the Miami City Commission from the 4th district | |
|
In office November 2009 – November 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Tomás Regalado |
| Succeeded by | Manolo Reyes |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Francis Xavier Suarez October 6, 1977 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Relatives | Xavier Suárez |
| Education |
Florida International University (BS) University of Florida (JD) |
Francis Xavier Suarez (/swɑːˈrɛz/; born October 6, 1977) is an American attorney and politician serving as the 33rd and current Mayor of Miami. He was elected on November 7, 2017 with 86 percent of the vote.[1] Suarez is the first Miami-born mayor. He is a registered Republican, but the office of the City of Miami Mayor is nonpartisan. He previously served as City of Miami Commissioner for District 4, a position he held since he was elected in a runoff election on November 17, 2009. Suarez is the son of former Miami Mayor and current Miami-Dade County Commissioner Xavier Suarez.
Suarez also serves as Vice-Chair of the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and is the former President of the Miami-Dade County League of Cities. In his role at the TPO, Suarez championed the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan, which was unanimously approved.[2] The SMART Plan expands mass transit options in Miami-Dade County through six main corridors and new bus routes.
Family and background
Francis Xavier Suarez was born at Mercy Hospital in Miami, Florida. He is the eldest of four and the only son of Xavier and Rita Suarez. His father, Xavier Saurez, was elected as the first Cuban born mayor of Miami in 1985, and currently serves as a Miami-Dade county commissioner. Suarez is married to Gloria Fonts Suarez. They have a son, Andrew Xavier, and are expecting their first daughter this year.
Suarez graduated from Immaculata-Lasalle High School in Coconut Grove. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Florida International University, graduating in the top ten percent of his class. He went on to receive his law degree from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law, where he graduated cum laude. Prior to running for public office, Mayor Suarez founded a successful real estate firm before moving on to practice law. He is currently an attorney with the law firm Carlton Fields, specializing in real-estate and corporate transactions.
Political career
Miami Commission (2009–2017)
Suarez was first elected as City of Miami Commissioner for District 4 in 2009. The general election to replace Tomás Regalado was on November 3, 2009. Suarez made it to the runoff election against Manolo Reyes after he received 44.74% of the vote, while Reyes received 40.50%. The other candidates in the general election were Denis Rod who had 5.15% and Oscar Rodriguez-Fonts with 9.61%.[3]
The runoff election was on November 17, 2009. Suarez won with 51.41% of the vote. He was reelected unopposed in 2011 and 2015.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Miami's new, homegrown mayor has a 'mandate' and a big agenda". DAVID SMILEY AND DOUG HANKS. Miami Herald. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ↑ SMART Plan Matrix and Resolution
- ↑ "November 3, 2009 Municipal Elections". Miami-Dade County Elections.
- ↑ "Miami Commissioner Suarez reelected by default; Gort faces challenger". DAVID SMILEY. Miami Herald. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2017.