Preceded by Mario Diaz-Balart Succeeded by Jeanette Nunez Resigned January 3, 2013 | Preceded by Mario Diaz-Balart Name David Rivera | |
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Alma mater Miami Christian SchoolFlorida International University (B.A.)Florida International University (Masters) Role Former U.S. Representative Profiles | ||
Member of congress start date January 3, 2011 | ||
Fernando espuelas interviews congressman david rivera r florida
David Mauricio Rivera (born September 16, 1965) is a Republican politician from Florida. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for one term, representing parts of South Florida from 2011 to 2013. In 2012 he was named one of the most corrupt members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Contents
- Fernando espuelas interviews congressman david rivera r florida
- David rivera opposes common core
- Early life education and early career
- Florida House of Representatives
- Elections
- Committee assignments
- Later career
- References
David rivera opposes common core
Early life, education, and early career
Rivera was born in New York City on September 16, 1965 and moved to Florida in 1974. He graduated from Miami Christian High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Political Science from Florida International University in 1986 and his MPA in 1994.
After college, Rivera worked as Public Affairs Director for the Washington D.C.-based Valladares Foundation, an international human rights NGO. The organization was founded by U.S. Ambassador Armando Valladares, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Then, he worked for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting managed by auspices of the U.S. State Department. He has also been an adjunct professor in the FIU School of Policy and Management. His articles on U.S.-Cuba relations have been published in The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald.
Florida House of Representatives
In 2002, he ran for Florida's 112th state house district. He defeated Ray Gonzalez in the Republican primary, 52–48%. He won the general election unopposed. He won re-election unopposed in 2004, 2006, and 2008.
In addition to his legislative office, he has served the Republican Party as State Committeeman for the Republican Party of Florida and as the Executive Director for the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County.
Elections
In January 2009, Rivera filed to run for the state senate seat being vacated by J. Alex Villalobos. However, when neighboring U.S. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart decided not to run for another term in 2010, his brother, U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, opted to run for a new term in Lincoln's district rather than his current one. This created an opening in the seat and prompted Rivera to announce he would run for Florida's 25th congressional district on February 25, 2010. On August 24, he won the Republican primary with 63% of the vote. On November 2, Rivera defeated Democratic nominee Joe Garcia 52%–43%.
Redistricting resulted in Rivera's district being renumbered as the 26th district. It lost its share of Collier County and picked up the Florida Keys, as well as portions of Miami-Dade County. While the old 25th leaned Republican, the new 26th is more of a swing district and is equally split between Democrats and Republicans. In a rematch from 2010, Garcia defeated Rivera 54%–43%.
Committee assignments
Later career
In May 2014, Rivera announced he would run for Congress again. He was defeated in the Republican primary, coming in fourth place with 7.5% of the vote.
In March 2016, David Rivera announced he would run for the open state house district 118, but lost to Democrat Robert Asencio by 53 votes. In March 2017, Rivera announced he would run for the state house again in 2018, this time in neighboring district 105.