Willy Gort
Encyclopedia
Willy Gort is a Cuban-American politician. Gort was a former City of Miami Commissioner (1993–2001) and in 1996 its mayor (acting). In 2010, he was elected again as a City of Miami Commissioner.
Gort was the son of photographer, Alfredo “Willy” Gort (1909–2003) and Miami Cuban civic leader, Esther de los Llanos de Gort (1915–1984). He and his parents fled Cuba in 1952 after Fulgencio Batista
overthrew the government and moved to Miami. In 1959, after Fidel Castro
came to power, he returned to Cuba for 3 days and again went into exile.
In 1993, Gort ran against Joe Carollo
, a former City of Miami commissioner and won the election. In 1996, Gort who was Vice-Mayor at the time became acting mayor at the death of Stephen P. Clark
. In 2001, Gort resigned his commission seat to run for mayor of Miami, but did not make the runoff election that eventually elected Manny Diaz, mayor of Miami.
Gort was the son of photographer, Alfredo “Willy” Gort (1909–2003) and Miami Cuban civic leader, Esther de los Llanos de Gort (1915–1984). He and his parents fled Cuba in 1952 after Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
overthrew the government and moved to Miami. In 1959, after Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
came to power, he returned to Cuba for 3 days and again went into exile.
In 1993, Gort ran against 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...
, a former City of Miami commissioner and won the election. In 1996, Gort who was Vice-Mayor at the time became acting mayor at the death of Stephen P. Clark
Stephen P. Clark
Stephen P. "Steve" Clark was mayor of Dade County , Florida from 1970 until 1972 and from 1974 until April 1993, when a federal judge abolished the post. He was also mayor of Miami from 1967 until 1970, and from 1993 until his death from stomach cancer in 1996.The Stephen P...
. In 2001, Gort resigned his commission seat to run for mayor of Miami, but did not make the runoff election that eventually elected Manny Diaz, mayor of Miami.