Francis Suarez Elected Mayor Of Miami

MIAMI, FL — Francis Suarez, the Miami commissioner who was endorsed by Mayor Tomas Regalado to succeed him, won an easy victory on Tuesday to become the next mayor of the Magic City. Suarez captured nearly 86 percent of the vote with all 127 precincts reporting. The next closest opponent in the four-way race was Williams Alfred Armbrister Sr. with less than 6 percent.

Within hours after the polls closed in Miami and it became apparent that Suarez would easily ascend to the city's top post, his campaign website switched its landing page to a photograph of Suarez holding his young son, Andrew Xavier, while standing next to wife Gloria M. Fontswith.

"Thank you for your support We couldn't have done it without you," the message read, proclaiming Suarez "the city of Miami mayor."

Suarez had been Commissioner for District 4, where he was born and raised. The oldest of four children Suarez has served as vice chair of the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization, which is responsible for approving federally required plans and transportation policies. He is also president of the Miami-Dade County League of Cities.

Growing up, Suarez has said he was born into a family where being socially conscious was not an option.

"Commissioner Suarez is dedicated to elevating the quality of life of the residents he serves by way of focusing on transportation and connectivity issues within the city and beyond, nurturing the growth of a tech-based economy in the area and, by extension, job creation and international opportunities with Latin America," according to his commission bio. "His priorities also include affordable housing, tackling the poverty pandemic and, as a corollary, reducing crime."

A graduate of Florida International University, Suarez majored in finance and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class. He graduated cum laude from the University of Florida law school and then founded a real estate firm. He is also a practicing attorney with the law firm of GrayRobinson, specializing in real-estate and corporate transactions.

Photo courtesy Suarez campaign