• Miami Mayor Francis Suárez announced Thursday that he is running for president, becoming the third Republican in Congress from Florida.
• Miami’s growth and prosperity over the past few years deserve Suarez’s credit, several state political operatives and South Florida residents told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
• “The construction going on there is non-stop. There are,” said Bob Rubin, CEO and president of conservative wealth management firm Rubin Wealth Advisors. South Florida told DCNF.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez stepped into the 2024 Republican primary on Thursday, becoming Florida’s third candidate, but many political operatives see his run as bleak.

Suarez formally enters the growing Republican primary with the announcement video On Thursday, he became the third Republican nominee in Florida, joining Governor Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump. While some state political operatives, South Florida consultants and local Miami officials attribute the city’s growth and prosperity to Suarez’s leadership, some question his motives for running for president. .(Related: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announces presidential run)

“The city of Miami is booming right now,” says Justin Saphy, a South Florida-born political consultant and former adviser to the then-Florida governor. Jeb Bush told DCNF. “Miami is experiencing a revitalization, economic boom and prosperity perhaps unprecedented in the city’s history. I believe the mayor deserves credit for the city’s leadership during this truly remarkable period of growth.”

Although most of the city’s governing power rests with the leadership of Miami-Dade County, several state political operatives and South Florida residents attribute Miami’s “revitalization” to Suárez.

“[Suarez put] It’s a welcome mat for businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors who want or are considering moving to Florida,” said Safi. “The welcome mat has had a very positive effect because investors, entrepreneurs and businesses can choose to go anywhere and having a welcoming mayor makes a big difference. ”

Under Suarez’s watch, Miami has seen reduction crime, Diminished tax and Enhanced Bob Rubin, CEO and president of Rubin Wealth Advisors, a conservative wealth manager in South Florida, said the mayor’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and “the It’s all thanks to their willingness to reopen faster than the Democratic mayors of big cities.” their cities fell to the ground. ”

“The construction going on there is non-stop. The atmosphere, the Michelin restaurants everywhere, the hottest city in the country, the hottest in the world I think.” Yes,” Rubin said.

Miami District 5 Commissioner Christine King told DCNF that Suarez is “very popular” in the city and has a good relationship with all the commissioners. She thinks it’s “amazing” that he’s running for president. Suarez worked closely with Dr. King to Summer Youth Employment ProgramThe commissioner said this was really “important” for her and her district. Dr. King also commented on Miami’s commitment to technological advancements, STEM Scholarship Program For students in Miami.

“He brought a lot of business to Miami, a lot of technology. We came through the pandemic very strongly under his leadership,” said Dr. King. “He’s fair, he’s thoughtful, he’s focused on progress, and he’s focused on making things better instead of making things worse. To me, he’s pretty good with the choices that are currently being given to Republican candidates. You look like a person.”

Suarez provided He has served on the City of Miami Commission since 2009 and was elected the first Miami-born mayor in 2017. according to to his office website. He succeeded his father, Xavier Suárez, as mayor of Miami in the 1980s and 1990s, and won a resounding first-term nonpartisan election by about 80 points, and is set to face opposition in 2021. Effortlessly secured re-election by defeating the candidacy 78.6% to 11.6%. according to Go to Ballotpedia.

of role The role of mayor of Miami is part-time and largely ceremonial, allowing Suárez to earn additional income from a variety of private sector positions. Suarez is currently under investigation by the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Committee regarding payments received from developer consultancy. according to in the Miami Herald.

Before starting his political career, Suarez received He holds a law degree from the University of Florida, continues to practice law at the international law firm Quinn Emanuel, and is an attorney at law firm Greenspoon Murder, specializing in corporate and real estate finance. .recent suarez provided In 2022, he will become chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Suarez is a proponent of innovation and cryptocurrencies in Miami, which Rubin said could attract libertarian and younger voters interested in the space. With the mayor who tried to make Miami a “crypto capital”, converted converted his salary into bitcoin criticism on the subject after Facilitate Suspected fraudster and FTX founder Sam Bankman Freed.

Referring to Suarez’s stance on climate change, Rubin said, “He’s by no means a big ‘C’ conservative.”

Rubin and Safey are not quite sure where Suárez stands ideologically on lean, conservative topics within the Republican Party, as he deals only with local “pothole issues” rather than national concerns.

“As mayor, he has ruled as a financial conservative, but to be honest, I don’t know where he stands on these other traditional and socially conservative issues,” Safey said. said Mr.

According to multiple reports, the mayor did not endorse Trump in either presidential election and voted for the Democratic candidate over DeSantis in 2018. Suarez recently criticized DeSantis’ lack of social skills, telling Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade that the governor “seems to be struggling with relationships.”

Brian Reeve, Miami-Dade County advisory board member and CASEPAC executive director, told the DCNF that Suarez was “well-liked at the local level” and argued that there was no reason Suarez and DeSantis had a bad relationship. They are both patriotic, Florida conservatives who love their state.

Safi and former Florida Republican Party secretary general Jamie Miller believe Suarez has good political skills in the retail industry, which could give him an edge in the early major reserve states. told DCNF. Suarez said in late April that he was “comfortable with being a retail politician,” and that he had traveled to states including Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina in preparation for the presidential campaign. recognized the importance of the retail industry.

“His name ID is probably terrible not only across the country, but anywhere in Florida outside of Miami and Miami-Dade County,” Miller said. “The reality is that he probably doesn’t have the money, team or name recognition to compete long-term on the domestic stage like others in the third lane.”

Miller argued Miami-Dade County was not going to preclude Suarez from winning the Florida primary because of its large population, but the primary schedule “doesn’t work in Suarez’s favor.” I admit that. Miller said mayors need to “win early” to be competitive in the primary, and Florida is their only chance to do so.

“If Florida was the first state, the mayor of Miami would have a chance to actually hit the stage just because he’s from Miami, and he’d do well in Hillsboro and Orlando and other Republican-Hispanic-populated places. If he can, he will,” Florida has a chance to win,” Miller said.

Rubin and Live argued that his motivation for running for president was likely to increase his national profile and aim for a higher office, such as a governor or ministerial post or a vice-presidential candidate. ing. Sayfee doesn’t believe increasing her name ID is a reason to run, and there are plenty of other ways Suarez could gain notoriety in Florida, including statewide constitutional amendments and referendum proposals. I think there is.

“Just going to Tallahassee is a leap,” says Rubin. “It’s hard enough just to be mayor and run for U.S. Senate, but if you can pull it off, that’s great in itself, right? So he’s biting a bit more than he can chew. think.”

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