Carlos Alvarez (mayor)
Encyclopedia
Carlos Alvarez is a Cuban American
politician, and the former mayor of Miami-Dade County. He was first elected mayor in 2004, and re-elected in 2008. His mayoralty ended in March 2011 after a recall election
. In both mayoral elections, he listed his party as "No Party Preference", although an article in the Christian Science Monitor described him as a member of the Republican Party
.
around 1952. When he was eight years old, his family emigrated to Miami. Alvarez received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida International University
in 1974. In addition to his FIU degree, Alvarez completed training at the Senior Management Institute for Police and the FBI National Academy.
. He was promoted through the ranks and, in 1997, became director of the MDPD. He served as director from 1997 to 2004. His tenure as director was called "relatively free of trouble, at least by local standards" by the Miami New Times
, although in 2004 a group of policemen who served in the department described his management style as marked by "favoritism and retaliation".
. He became Miami-Dade County's sixth mayor, replacing Alex Penelas
. In 2007, Alvarez successfully launched a referendum to give the mayoralty more power, giving him direct control of the county's bureaucracy.
Alvarez was re-elected as county mayor on August 26, 2008, for his second term.
In 2009, Alvarez led a successful effort to spend hundreds of millions of dollars of the city's money to build a new baseball field
for the local team the Florida Marlins
. In August 2009, The Miami Herald
revealed that Alvarez had recently given pay raises to close aides of his, including chief of staff Dennis Morales, whose new salary was over $200,000 a year. In September 2010, Alvarez pushed for a 12% increase in the property tax
rate.
, a former owner of the football
team the Philadelphia Eagles
, due to Alvarez's simultaneous tax increases and pay raises for county workers. Braman spent over $1 million of his own money on the effort.
Alvarez was recalled in a March 15, 2011 election. Over 88% of the voters in the recall election, or 176,000 people, voted to have Mayor Alvarez recalled. The election was the largest municipal recall vote in United States history, and the 2nd largest in the U.S. of any kind, after the 2003 recall election of California governor Gray Davis
. Alvarez officially left office on March 18, 2011 when the county canvassing board certified the results.
Cuban American
A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...
politician, and the former mayor of Miami-Dade County. He was first elected mayor in 2004, and re-elected in 2008. His mayoralty ended in March 2011 after a recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
. In both mayoral elections, he listed his party as "No Party Preference", although an article in the Christian Science Monitor described him as a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Early life
Carlos Alvarez was born in CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
around 1952. When he was eight years old, his family emigrated to Miami. Alvarez received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
in 1974. In addition to his FIU degree, Alvarez completed training at the Senior Management Institute for Police and the FBI National Academy.
Police work
In 1976, Alvarez joined the Miami-Dade Police DepartmentMiami-Dade Police Department
The Miami-Dade Police Department , formerly known as the Metro-Dade County Police Department , Dade County Public Safety Department and the Dade County Sheriff's Office is a Limited Service County Police Department serving Miami-Dade County, Florida's unincorporated areas, although they have...
. He was promoted through the ranks and, in 1997, became director of the MDPD. He served as director from 1997 to 2004. His tenure as director was called "relatively free of trouble, at least by local standards" by the Miami New Times
Miami New Times
The Miami New Times is a free weekly newspaper published in Miami and distributed every Thursday. It primarily serves the Miami area and is headquartered near Miami's Design District.-Overview:...
, although in 2004 a group of policemen who served in the department described his management style as marked by "favoritism and retaliation".
Mayoralty
Carlos Alvarez ran for mayor in the 2004 Miami-Dade mayoral election, and defeated his opponent Jimmy MoralesJimmy Morales
Jimmy L. Morales is a lawyer and politician from Miami Beach, Florida.Morales graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School. In 1984 he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University and was inducted a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School in...
. He became Miami-Dade County's sixth mayor, replacing Alex Penelas
Alex Penelas
Alexander "Alex" Penelas is the former mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida.-Schooling and personal life:Penelas, an American of Cuban descent, attended college at St. Thomas University...
. In 2007, Alvarez successfully launched a referendum to give the mayoralty more power, giving him direct control of the county's bureaucracy.
Alvarez was re-elected as county mayor on August 26, 2008, for his second term.
In 2009, Alvarez led a successful effort to spend hundreds of millions of dollars of the city's money to build a new baseball field
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
for the local team the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. In August 2009, The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...
revealed that Alvarez had recently given pay raises to close aides of his, including chief of staff Dennis Morales, whose new salary was over $200,000 a year. In September 2010, Alvarez pushed for a 12% increase in the property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
rate.
Recall
An effort to recall Alvarez began in October 2010, backed by billionaire businessman Norman BramanNorman Braman
Norman Braman is a former American football team owner. He was the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. Norman and his brother-in-law, Ed Leibowitz, officially became the owners of the Eagles on April 29, 1985. Norman owned 65 percent of the team while Ed owned 35 percent until July 16, 1986 Norman...
, a former owner of the football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, due to Alvarez's simultaneous tax increases and pay raises for county workers. Braman spent over $1 million of his own money on the effort.
Alvarez was recalled in a March 15, 2011 election. Over 88% of the voters in the recall election, or 176,000 people, voted to have Mayor Alvarez recalled. The election was the largest municipal recall vote in United States history, and the 2nd largest in the U.S. of any kind, after the 2003 recall election of California governor Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
. Alvarez officially left office on March 18, 2011 when the county canvassing board certified the results.