Preceded by Carlos Alvarez Profession Firefighter
Politician Name Carlos Gimenez Spouse Lourdes Portela | Children Carlos
Julio
Lourdes Religion Roman Catholic Role Firefighter Political party Republican Party | |
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Born January 17, 1954 (age 70)
Havana, Cuba ( 1954-01-17 ) Alma mater Barry University (B.P.A.) Education Christopher Columbus High School, Barry University Profiles | ||
Carlos A. Giménez (born January 17, 1954) is a Cuban American (naturalized in January 1975) retired firefighter and Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida, elected to office June 28, 2011 in a special election. He previously served as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner from 2003 through 2011, and the Fire Chief of the City of Miami Fire Department.
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Background
Giménez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1954 to ranchers from the Oriente province. In 1960, his family immigrated to the United States in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, settling in what became Miami's Little Havana.
Joining the City of Miami Fire Department as a firefighter in the 1970s, he was appointed Fire Chief by City manager Cesar Odio in 1991, serving through 2000. While serving as Chief of Fire-Rescue, Giménez is credited with modernizing the City's Fire Department and overseeing one of the largest re-organizations in the department's history. He is a former member of the International City Managers Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, the Florida Fire Chiefs, and the Fire Officers Association of Miami-Dade. Commissioner Gimenez also served on the Federal Emergency Management Agency Urban Search and Rescue Advisory Committee and as the Chair of the Legal Issues Subcommittee.
Political career
From May 2000 to January 2003, he was city manager of Miami proper. As its chief administrative officer, he was responsible for an annual budget of $500 million, 4,000 employees and providing services to almost 400,000 residents. During his tenure as the City of Miami's top administrator, the city's bond rating went from "junk" to investment grade and the tax rate dropped to its lowest in 50 years. In 2004, he was elected as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner for the county's 7th district, serving Miami proper, Village of Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, South Miami, Kendall, and Pinecrest.
Giménez was elected mayor of the metropolitan government of Miami-Dade County, Florida on June 28, 2011. This was in the wake of the recall election of Carlos Alvarez, one of the largest recalls of a municipal official in United States history.
In the 2016 presidential election, Giménez endorsed Hillary Clinton. After Donald Trump's victory, Giménez ordered local police to enforce immigration detention orders from the Trump administration.
Personal life
He is married to Lourdes Portela, and their children are Carlos, Julio and Lourdes. He is Roman Catholic and an alumnus of Christopher Columbus High School.