Manny Diaz
Encyclopedia
Manuel "Manny" Alberto Diaz (born November 5, 1954) is a Cuban American
politician who served as the mayor of Miami, Florida from 2001–2009.
Mayor Diaz and his mother, Elisa, left Cuba in 1961. 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. 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
.
A lawyer, Diaz was elected mayor in November 2001, replacing Joe Carollo
, and reelected in 2005. As mayor, Diaz remained 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. As an Independent, and a former registered Democrat
, Diaz spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
and endorsed President Barack Obama
.
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 The University of Texas at Austin. His daughter, Natalie, recently received her Masters in Public Health with honors from Florida International University
. His son, Robert, is pursuing a political science degree. His daughter, Elisa, is currently attending a magnet school for Drama. His grandchildren are Colin, Gavin, and Manny Jr.
Mayor Diaz left office in 2009 because of term limits. In the Spring of 2010 Diaz was an IOP Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Today Diaz is a Partner at Lydecker Diaz, LLP in Miami.
Cuban American
A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...
politician who served as the mayor of Miami, Florida from 2001–2009.
Mayor Diaz and his mother, Elisa, left Cuba in 1961. He graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School is a Roman Catholic preparatory school in Miami, Florida operated by The Society of Jesus. It was established in Cuba by the Jesuits in 1854, but moved to the United States after the communist government of Fidel Castro, himself an alumnus, took power and expelled...
in 1973. He scored the first touchdown in Belen Jesuit football history, and was named "Mr. Belen" in his graduating class. In 1977, Diaz received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
. In 1980, he earned his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from the University of Miami School of Law
University of Miami School of Law
The University of Miami School of Law, founded in 1926, is the law school of the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, Florida, in the United States. The school graduated its first class of 13 students in 1929.- Academics :...
.
Diaz first came to prominence serving as the attorney for the Miami relatives of Elián González
Elián González
The custody and immigration status of a young Cuban boy, Elián González , was at the center of a heated 2000 controversy involving the governments of Cuba and the United States, González's father, Juan Miguel González Quintana, González's other relatives in Miami, Florida, and in Cuba, and Miami's...
.
A lawyer, Diaz was elected mayor in November 2001, replacing Joe Carollo
Joe Carollo
Joe Carollo is a former mayor of Miami, Florida. Defeated in a run-off by former mayor Xavier Suarez, his campaign filed a successful legal change based on voter fraud, become mayor in 1998 until 2001. Born in Caibarién, Cuba in 1955, Carollo moved to Miami when he was fifteen years old, having...
, and reelected in 2005. As mayor, Diaz remained 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
Oversight
Oversight may refer to:*Oversight , a French Thoroughbred racehorse*Regulation – rulemaking*Separation of powers - the concept of separate branches of government or agencies exercising authority over one another...
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
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
.
In 2004 Diaz was awarded the "Urban Innovator of the Year" award by the Manhattan Institute
Manhattan Institute
The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research is a conservative, market-oriented think tank established in New York City in 1978 by Antony Fisher and William J...
.
In 2008, Diaz became president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. As an Independent, and a former registered Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Diaz spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
and endorsed President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
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 The University of Texas at Austin. His daughter, Natalie, recently received her Masters in Public Health with honors from Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
. His son, Robert, is pursuing a political science degree. His daughter, Elisa, is currently attending a magnet school for Drama. His grandchildren are Colin, Gavin, and Manny Jr.
Mayor Diaz left office in 2009 because of term limits. In the Spring of 2010 Diaz was an IOP Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Today Diaz is a Partner at Lydecker Diaz, LLP in Miami.