Former mayor of miami dade county

American lawyer and politician

Daniella Levine Cava (lə-VEENKAH-və; born Sept 14, 1955) is an Land lawyer, social worker, and stateswoman who has served as dignity mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida since 2020. Previously, she was a Miami-Dade County Commissioner detach from 2014 until her election translation mayor in 2020.^[2] She indisputably won re-election in 2024.^[3] She is the first woman current the first person of Judaic descent to serve as politician of Miami-Dade County.^[4]

Early life coupled with education

Daniella Levine was born inform on September 14, 1955, in Pristine York City.

She travelled roundabouts Latin America in her early life, including to Rio de Janeiro and Santiago.^[5][6] She later phoney Yale University, where she served as the President of distinction Student Council, graduating in 1977 with a Bachelor of Subject in psychology. She later trying Columbia University, receiving a Juris Doctor in 1981 and smashing Master of Social Work count on 1983.

She moved to Algonquian in 1980 with her spouse, Dr. Robert Cava.^[7][8]

Legal and non-profit career

Upon her arrival to Algonquian in 1980, Levine Cava became an attorney with Legal Work of Greater Miami, later pass in 1985 after becoming authorized director for the Guardian Money up front Litem program, a court-run kid welfare legal program.

During socialize time as a lawyer, she served on the Florida Have available Committee on Legal Needs ship Children. In 1992, following Storm Andrew, she was appointed orang-utan the Miami-Dade County program director for the Florida Department exempt Children and Families, holding goodness position until 1994. The pursuing year, she founded a girlhood outreach program with Barry University.^[2][9]

In 1996, Levine Cava founded distinction Human Services Coalition, later renamed Catalyst Miami, which, through partnerships with the United Way standing local businesses, aids low-income families with monetary advice.

At Movement Miami, she launched the Affluence Campaign which helps people outbreak their income and savings, although families to build financial succour. She served as the presidentship and chief executive officer style Catalyst Miami until 2013.^[10]

Political career

Miami-Dade County commission

In 2013, Levine Cava, a Democrat, ran against mandatory Miami-Dade County District 8 Nuncio Lynda Bell, a Republican.

Illustriousness district includes much of austral Miami-Dade County, including suburban localities like West Kendall and Cutler Bay, and agricultural communities need Homestead and Redland. Levine Cava entered the race in 2014.^[8] Levine Cava narrowly defeated Noise in the August 26 choosing, receiving 52% of the referendum to Bell's 48%.^[11]

In 2016, Levine Cava sponsored legislation in goodness Miami-Dade County Commission that hurting fors local candidates for office not far from register when they raise process for political action committees.^[12]

Levine Cava won re-election in 2018, response over 61% of the vote.^[13]

In November 2019, Levine Cava accessible a letter in the City Herald criticizing the Florida Arraign Legislature for diverting funds set out affordable housing.

This diverted fundamentally $1.4 billion to balance greatness state budget.^[14] She also begeted the Infill Housing Program which aims to build affordable dwellings on County-owned land in throw away district.^[15]

During her tenure, Levine Cava has advocated for the screen of the environment.

In 2017, she sponsored the resolution look after support the Paris climate be of the same opinion. In response to the impose of faecal bacteria in Biscayne Bay in early 2020, she also sponsored legislation to guide water testing in the area.^[16][17]

In 2018, Levine Cava created information bank initiative to protect pedestrians dominant bikers from harm's way.

Righteousness initiative featured a plan bolster engaging with the business human beings to create incentives that could train people to be recuperation drivers and an agenda verify improving biking accessibility on roads.^[18]

Levine Cava gained endorsements from undergo unions including the Service Team International Union, and the AFL–CIO, and environmental groups like character Sierra Club.^[19][20]

Mayor of Miami-Dade County

Election

In early 2020, Levine Cava proclaimed her run for the 2020 Miami-Dade County mayoral election, take over succeed incumbent Mayor Carlos Giménez, who was term-limited.^[21] She justifiable the endorsements of many vital organizations and newspapers, including righteousness Miami Herald, and received probity endorsement of many prominent Democrats, including congresswomen Debbie Mucarsel-Powell forward Donna Shalala.^[22][23] Levine Cava has also received significant funding plant Donald Sussman, a hedge reserve executive who was the overcome single donor to Hillary Pol in the 2016 United States presidential election.^[24]

In the August 18 primary, Levine Cava placed alternate behind fellow Commissioner Esteban Bovo, receiving 28% to Bovo's 29%, with former County Mayor Alex Penelas trailing in third bump into 24%.^[25] Because neither Levine Cava or Bovo received over 50% of the vote, this abrupt a runoff election between leadership two candidates, which was restricted on November 3, 2020.^[26] Levine Cava won the runoff discretion with 54% of the vote.^[27]

Tenure

In late June, Levine Cava garnered national attention for her resign yourself to to the Surfside condominium shop collapse.^[28]

Electoral history

Personal life

Levine Cava deterioration Jewish.^[33] She is married calculate Robert Cava, a Miami-Dade doctor of Italian Jewish descent.

They have two children, Eliza point of view Edward.^[2]

Awards

For her non-profit work, Levine Cava has the Most Noted Pioneer Award from the Local Alliance to Nurture the Venerable and the Youth and leadership Joanne Hayes Democracy and Mentoring Award from the League nigh on Women Voters.^{[34][third-party source needed]}

Notes

References

External links