Manny Diaz

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Manny Diaz
Mayor of Miami
In office 2001 – November 11, 2009
Preceded by	Joe Carollo
Succeeded by	Tomás Regalado
Born	November 5, 1954 (1954-11-05) (age 55) Havana, Cuba
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	Robin Smith
Children	Manny, Natalie, Robert, Elisa
Residence	Miami
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/cms/mayor/

Manuel Alberto Diaz (November 5, 1954 in Havana, Cuba) was the mayor of Miami, Florida from 2001-2009.

Mayor Diaz and his mother, Elisa, left Cuba in 1961.^[1] He graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in 1973. He scored the first touchdown in Belen Jesuit football history, and was named "Mr. Belen" in his graduating class.^[2] In 1977, Diaz received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Florida International University. In 1980, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law.

Diaz first came to prominence serving as the attorney for the Miami relatives of Elián González^[3].

A lawyer, Diaz was elected mayor in November 2001, replacing Joe Carollo, and reelected in 2005. As mayor, Diaz remains a partner in the law firm of Diaz, O'Naghten & Borgognoni, L.L.P.

When he first took office, Miami city government was bankrupt, held junk bond status, and was under a state financial oversight board. Mayor Diaz pursued a vast administrative overhaul that brought with it financial stability, healthy level of financial reserves, continued tax cuts, lowered millage rates, and an A+ bond rating on Wall Street.

In 2004 Diaz was awarded the "Urban Innovator of the Year" award by the Manhattan Institute.

In 2008, Diaz became president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Though an Independent and a former Republican, Diaz spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and endorsed President Barack Obama. ^[4]

Diaz is married to Robin Smith and has four children and three grandchildren. His son, Manny, is a college football coach and is the defensive coordinator for Middle Tennessee. His daughter, Natalie, recently received her Masters in Public Health with honors from Florida International University. His son, Robert, is pursing a political science degree. His daughter, Elisa, is currently attending a magnet school for Drama. His grandchildren are Colin, Gavin, and Manny Jr.

The mayor will be leaving office in 2009 because of term limits.

References

1. ^ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
2. ^ The International Jesuit Alumni Directory Belen (Forum Press Inc., 1994)
3. ^ [1] Lawyer for Cuban Boy's Relatives Is Elected Miami Mayor
4. ^ http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/campaign-2008/story/694108.html

4. Posted Miami Herald, Saturday, July 11, 2009

Bibliography

External links

• Manny Diaz profile at CityMayors.com.
• Official City of Miami profile.
• Official U.S. Conference of Mayors web site.
• Diaz, O'Naghten & Borgognoni, L.L.P..
• Lesley Clark, The Miami Herald.

v • d • e Mayors of cities with populations of 100,000 in Florida     John Peyton (Jacksonville) Tomás Regalado (Miami) Pam Iorio (Tampa) Rick Baker (St. Petersburg) Buddy Dyer (Orlando) Julio Robaina (Hialeah) Jack Seiler (Fort Lauderdale) John Marks (Tallahassee) Jim Burch (Cape Coral) Patricia Christensen (Port St. Lucie) Frank C. Ortis (Pembroke Pines) Peter Bober (Hollywood) Scott J. Brook (Coral Springs) Pegeen Hanrahan (Gainesville) Shirley Gibson (Miami Gardens) Lori Cohen Moseley (Miramar) Frank Hibbard (Clearwater) Lamar Fisher (Pompano Beach) John Mazziotti (Palm Bay)