Following his election on November 7, Francis Suarez was sworn in as the new City of Miami mayor on November 15, and succeeds outgoing Mayor Tomas Regalado.
Francis Suarez
On Wednesday, November 18, former City of Miami Commissioner Francis X. Suarez was sworn in as the 33rd mayor of Miami. He took the oath of office on a Bible held by his wife Gloria. The oath was taken at the Dinner Key Marina. The oath was administered by Suarez’s former University of Florida classmate Judge Robert J. Luck.
“I do this because I believe that our residents should always have a direct line of communication with me,” he said.
Inaugural speech
In his inaugural speech the new mayor promised to address the city’s traffic gridlock, chronic homelessness, lack of affordable housing, attract technology jobs and protect the city from rising sea levels resulting from global warming.
The son of former Miami mayor Xavier Suarez, one of the first acts of the new mayor was to recognize his father’s service.
Father and son mayors
“This is the first time in its 121-year history where a father and son have been mayor of the city of Miami,” he said.
Suarez said he plans to hold open office hours, so that all city employees can share their ideas with him and announced plans to visit a different Miami neighborhood at least one time each month.
Gave out cell information
He also gave out his cell phone information (305-992-3342) in English and Spanish saying he did this as he wants to have open communication with, and be accessible at all times, to city residents. He promised to be accountable to all the residents of the City of Miami.
“The only way that we will be able to really know what is going on in our communities is by being in them,” Suarez said.
Suarez, succeeds outgoing Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, who has endorsed his candidacy. He won the mayors race overwhelmingly with almost 86 percent of the votes in elections held on November 7.
During his tenure as City Commissioner, Suarez served as vice chair of the Miami‐Dade Transportation Planning Organization and is the immediate past president of the Miami‐Dade County League of Cities.
