Gelber Sworn In As New Miami Beach Mayor

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Former State Representative Dan Gelber was sworn in on Monday as the new mayor of Miami Beach. Gelber is the son of former Miami Beach Mayor Seymour Gelber. He succeeds Philip Levine, who recently announced his gubernatorial bid.

"To everyone: I am so appreciative of the trust you have give me. I will work everyday to earn it," Gelber said upon being sworn in as his family looked on.

Gelber was elected on Nov. 7 after a tumultuous election that saw his chief opponent leave the race amid a fundraising scandal.

The swearing in ceremony took place in the third floor Miami Beach Commission Chambers, 1700 Convention Center Drive.

Incumbent Miami Beach Commissioner Micky Steinberg was also sworn in on Monday along with newly elected Commissioners Michael Gongora and Mark Samuelian.

Gelber took some 82 percent of the vote in a four-way race after former Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco dropped his bid over the summer. The former Miami-Dade prosecutor, who at one time looked as though he might become the next mayor of this urban seaside resort, resigned his seat on the commission last month and entered a plea deal over a misdemeanor election crime.

His opponents in the mayoral race included June E. Savage, Daniel Kahn and Kenneth R. Bereski II.

Earlier in his career, Gelber was appointed one of the nation's youngest federal prosecutors before being selected as the Democratic chief counsel and staff director for the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, a post that was once held by Bobby Kennedy.

Following his election to the Florida House of Representatives, Gelber was subsequently elected by his colleagues to serve as Democratic Leader.

Photo courtesy of Gelber's campaign