Xavier Suarez

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Harvard University (MPP, JD)

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}}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#if:||{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}}}} }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox officeholder with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| regexp1 = 1blankname[%d]* | regexp2 = 1namedata[%d]* | regexp3 = 2blankname[%d]* | regexp4 = 2namedata[%d]* | regexp5 = 3blankname[%d]* | regexp6 = 3namedata[%d]* | regexp7 = 4blankname[%d]* | regexp8 = 4namedata[%d]* | regexp9 = 5blankname[%d]* | regexp10 = 5namedata[%d]* | allegiance | alma_mater | regexp11 = alongside[%d]* | alt | regexp12 = ambassador_from[%d]* | regexp13 = appointed[%d]* | regexp14 = appointer[%d]* | regexp15 = assembly[%d]* | awards | battles | battles_label | birth_date | birth_name | birth_place | birthname | regexp16 = blank[%d]* | bodyclass | branch | branch_label | cabinet | candidate | caption | categories | regexp17 = chancellor[%d]* | children | citizenship | regexp18 = co%-leader[%d]* | commands | committees | regexp19 = constituency[%d]* | regexp20 = constituency_AM[%d]* | regexp21 = constituency_MP[%d]* | regexp22 = convocation[%d]* | regexp23 = country[%d]* | regexp24 = data[%d]* | date | death_cause | death_date | death_manner | death_place | demo | regexp25 = deputy[%d]* | regexp26 = district[%d]* | education | election_date | embed | father | regexp28 = firstminister[%d]* | footnotes | regexp29 = governor[%d]* | regexp30 = governor_general[%d]* | regexp31 = governor%-general[%d]* | height | honorific_prefix | honorific-prefix | honorific_suffix | honorific-suffix | image | image name | image_name_alt | image_size | imagesize | image_upright | incumbent | regexp32 = jr/sr[%d]* | regexp33 = jr/sr and state[%d]* | known_for | regexp34 = leader[%d]* | regexp35 = legislature[%d]* | regexp36 = lieutenant[%d]* | regexp37 = lieutenant_governor[%d]* | mainwidth | regexp38 = majority[%d]* | regexp39 = majority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp40 = majority_leader[%d]* | regexp41 = majorityleader[%d]* | mawards | regexp42 = military_blank[%d]* | regexp43 = military_data[%d]* | regexp44 = minister[%d]* | regexp45 = minister_from[%d]* | regexp46 = minority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp47 = minority_leader[%d]* | regexp48 = minorityleader[%d]* | regexp49 = module[%d]* | regexp50 = monarch[%d]* | mother | name | nationality | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nocat | regexp51 = nominator[%d]* | nominee | occupation | regexp52 = office[%d]* | opponent | regexp53 = order[%d]* | otherparty | parents | regexp54 = parliament[%d]* | regexp55 = parliamentarygroup[%d]* | partner | party | party_election | portfolio | regexp56 = preceded[%d]* | regexp57 = preceding[%d]* | regexp58 = predecessor[%d]* | regexp59 = premier[%d]* | regexp60 = president[%d]* | regexp61 = primeminister[%d]* | regexp62 = prior_term[%d]* | profession | pronunciation | rank | rank_label | relations | relatives | residence | resting_place | resting_place_coordinates | restingplace | restingplacecoordinates | regexp63 = riding[%d]* | runningmate | salary | serviceyears | serviceyears_label | signature | signature_alt | signature_size | smallimage | smallimage_alt | source | speaker | speaker_office | spouse | spouses | regexp64 = state[%d]* | regexp65 = state_assembly[%d]* | regexp66 = state_delegate[%d]* | regexp67 = state_house[%d]* | regexp68 = state_legislature[%d]* | regexp69 = state_senate[%d]* | regexp70 = status[%d]* | regexp71 = suboffice[%d]* | regexp72 = subterm[%d]* | regexp73 = succeeded[%d]* | regexp74 = succeeding[%d]* | regexp75 = successor[%d]* | regexp76 = taoiseach[%d]* | regexp77 = term[%d]* | regexp78 = term_end[%d]* | regexp79 = term_label[%d]* | regexp80 = term_start[%d]* | regexp81 = termend[%d]* | regexp82 = termlabel[%d]* | regexp83 = termstart[%d]* | regexp84 = title[%d]* | unit | unit_label | regexp85 = vicegovernor[%d]* | regexp86 = vicepremier[%d]* | regexp87 = vicepresident[%d]* | regexp88 = viceprimeminister[%d]* | regexp89 = assuming[%d]* | website | width | year }} Xavier Louis Suarez (born May 21, 1949) is an American politician who twice served as Mayor of Miami (1985–1993 and 1997–1998). He was the first Cuban-born individual to serve as the city's mayor. Suarez latter served as a Miami-Dade county commissioner (2011–2020). He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1996 Dade County mayoral election, 2020 Miami-Dade County mayoral election, and the 2025 Miami mayoral election.

Early life and education

Suarez was born on May 21, 1949, in Las Villas, Cuba.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Suarez moved to Florida and attended the Colegio de Belén, but graduated from St. Anselm's Abbey School in 1967.<ref>Fisher, Marc. "NE School's Old Order: St. Anselm's Offers Academic Toughness." Washington Post, December 6, 1986, p. A1.</ref><ref>The International Jesuit Alumni Directory – Belen (Forum Press Inc., 1994), p. 305.</ref><ref name="Belen 2004 page 251">The International Jesuit Alumni Directory – Belen (Bernard C. Harris Publishing Company, Inc., 2004), p. 251.</ref> He earned a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Villanova University in 1971, followed by a Master of Public Policy and Juris Doctor from Harvard University.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After completing his education, Suarez returned to Miami.

Mayoralties

First mayoralty (1985–1993)

Suarez was first elected Mayor of Miami in 1985. He was re-elected in 1987 and again in 1989 for a four-year term<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Suarez was sworn in as mayor on November 13, 1985, succeeding Maurice Ferré.Template:Citation needed He was the first Cuban-born individual serve as the city's mayor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Suarez received attention for refusing to greet South African President Nelson Mandela during his 1990 tour of the United States which included a stop in Miami. Suarez was in disagreement with Mandela's comments where he referred to Cuban President Fidel Castro as a "comrade in arms" due to Castro's support for the African National Congress. This led to a boycott by the local African American community of all Miami tourist and convention facilities until Mandela received an official greeting. However, all efforts to resolve the dispute failed for months, resulting in an estimated loss of over US$10 million in tourism revenue.<ref>Dunn, Marvin. Black Miami in the Twentieth Century Gainesville, Fl: University Press of Florida, 1997. Template:ISBN p 57-64</ref> On October 7, 1990, Suarez issued a proclamation declaring "Yahweh ben Yahweh Day" in honor of the leader of the Nation of Yahweh, a religious sect based in Miami. A month later, the group's founder was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

According to a March 30, 1993 article in The Miami Herald, "In 1989, [Suarez] won national admiration when he waded through hostile crowds in Overtown during civil disturbances to try to make peace." Suarez cited the construction of 1,500 affordable homes as one of his "proudest achievements" during his tenure. He was also given the name "pothole Mayor" for his attention to City neighborhoods. In 1993 Suarez got the Latin Builder's Association to donate $150,000 to rebuild the only Catholic elementary school in Overtown. He decided not to run again in 1993 in order to spend more time with his family.Template:Citation needed

Second mayoralty (1997–1998)

After leaving office as mayor, Suarez returned to practice law in MiamiTemplate:Citation needed before he decided to run again for mayor in 1997, challenging incumbent Joe Carollo. Suárez was initially returned to the office, appearing to have won the runoff election by a narrow margin. He was initially returned to the office after the November 1997 election. However, his opponent, Joe Carollo, challenged the election in court. Following a wide-ranging investigation into allegations of election fraud pertaining to absentee ballots, the judge presiding over the case decided to throw out all absentee ballots, effectively handing the election to Carollo and overturning Suárez's victory.<ref name="nyt1998">Template:Cite news</ref> The judge found "a pattern of fraudulent, intentional and criminal conduct" involving nearly 400 fraudulent absentee ballots, including votes cast in the names of deceased individuals and felons. While Suárez was not personally implicated, several individuals connected to his campaign were convicted, including campaign volunteer Miguel Amador and supporter Alberto Russi.<ref name="latimes1997">Template:Cite news</ref> In total, 55 individuals were charged and 54 were convicted in connection with the fraud, including a city commissioner, his chief of staff, and the staffer's father.<ref name="miamigrantjury">Template:Cite news</ref> A federal appeals court ultimately invalidated the election and declared Carollo the winner without a new vote.

During his brief return to office in 1997, Suarez attracted controversy for erratic conduct that drew widespread media attention and earned him the nickname “Mayor Loco.”<ref name="washpost1998">Template:Cite news</ref> His actions included threatening to cut off city advertising to local media outlets, attempting to fire the police chief without proper authority, and making unannounced visits to constituents' homes late at night.<ref name="csmonitor1998">Template:Cite news</ref> A judge eventually barred him from making personnel decisions, citing violations of the city charter. Though never criminally charged, the chaotic period contributed to the perception of instability in city leadership.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner (2011–2020)

Suarez was elected as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 7 on May 24, 2011 and was re-elected by a 44 point margin on August 30, 2016. During his tenure as Commissioner, Suarez continued to advocate for affordable housing, as well as workforce development programs and funding for public transit.

County mayoral campaigns

1996

In 1996, between his two terms as city mayor, Suarez ran unsuccessfully for county mayor.

2020

Suarez was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2020 election for Mayor of Miami-Dade County. In the first round, Suarez placed fourth with 10.5% of the vote.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2025 Miami mayoral campaign

In July 2025, Suarez confirmed that he would run again for mayor in the 2025 Miami mayoral election.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Suarez currently affiliates with the Republican Party.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is considered one of the six leading candidates in the thirteen-candidate field.<ref name="Vassolo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

His main policies have included supporting an expansion of the Miami-Dade Transit "trolley" service;<ref name="Vassolo"/> support for a state freeze property of taxes for residences in Miami under the county's median value of $575,000 (a proposal introduced by State Rep. Vicki Lopez);<ref name="Vassolo"/><ref name="NotOver">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and support for a state takeover of disaster insurance for new affordable housing projects.<ref name="Vassolo"/> Suarez also proposed making public transit in Miami fare free. Suarez voiced support for a proposal to amend the city charter to expand the Miami Commission from five seats to nine seats and to move city elections from off-years to even years (coinciding with federal elections).<ref name="NotOver"/>

Family

He was the ninth child and second son of 14 children of Manuel Suarez-Carreno, the first Dean of the School of Engineering at the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic University), and Eloisa Gaston. He is married to Rita and they have four children: Francis Xavier Suarez, who became Mayor of Miami in 2017, Olga Marie Vieira, Anna Teresita, and Carolina Suarez.<ref name="Belen 2004 page 251" /> His sister, Lala, is the mother of former U.S. Congressman Alex Mooney of West Virginia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

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Template:S-start Template:S-off Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-end Template:Mayors of Miami