The '''Miami City Commission''' is the city council of Miami, Florida. It is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Miami. Since Miami has a council-manager form of government, the council and the city manager (whom they appoint) have more statutory power than the mayor of Miami.
==Overview== The mayor of Miami is the city's executive and is directly elected; the mayor appoints a city manager to act as Miami's chief administrative officer.
Five city commissioners are also elected from single-member districts of which they are residents. City commissioners also must be qualified voters. The City Commission holds regular meetings in Miami City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive in the neighborhood of Coconut Grove. The Commission has the power to pass ordinances, adopt regulations, and exercise other powers. All city commission offices and that of the mayor are nonpartisan.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
==History== The current iteration of the Miami City Commission was created in 1921, after the residents of Miami voted to enact a new city charter that included its establishment. The new charter switched the city to a council-manager form of government, with voters electing a five-member city council and a mayor. An election was held thereafter to elect the first commission. The winners of the first election were all presidents of different local banks, leading to the commission to initially carry the nickname of "Banker's Commission".<ref name="Piket">{{cite web |last1=Piket |first1=Casey |title=Tuttle Avenue in 1921 |url=https://www.miami-history.com/p/tuttle-avenue-in-1921 |website=Miami-History |access-date=May 11, 2026 |language=en |date=August 6, 2021}}</ref>
Originally, all members of the City Commission were elected at-large. In the mid-1990s, reforms began to be explored to instead elect its members from single-member districts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Miami District-Election Proposal Could Boot Commissioner |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1996/11/24/miami-district-election-proposal-could-boot-a-commissioner/ |website=Sun Sentinel |access-date=May 16, 2026 |date=November 24, 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Towards A More Responsive Government in Miami |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/641891487 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |date=July 27, 1997}}</ref> This effort was successfully pursued in 1997, being approved by the city voters that September. Despite some debate about potentially enlarging the size of the commission, this was not pursued and its membership remained five.<ref>Multiple sources: *{{cite web |last1=Branch |first1=Karen |title=Districts: Back To Drawing Board; Miami Commission Orders New Options |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/640881260 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 11, 2026 |page=1B |date=June 29, 1997}} *{{cite web |title=A New Day For Miami City Government |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/641070048 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 11, 2026 |page=24 |date=July 4, 1997}} *{{cite web |title=District Proposal Is Okd; A Black Seat On Commission Is Almost Assured |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/641716356 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |pages=26 |date=September 5, 1997}} *{{cite web |title=Create A Plan That'll Stand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/640885850 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=182 |date=June 30, 1997}}</ref>
In 2024, Miami voters passed a referendum which amended the city's term limits to create a lifetime prohibition on city commissioners serving more than two full terms. Before this, term limits had only prohibited more than two consecutive terms of service, allowing additional non-consecutive terms.<ref>{{cite web |title=Miami voters approve mayoral term limit change |publisher= Ballotpedia News |url=https://news.ballotpedia.org/2025/11/26/miami-voters-approve-mayoral-term-limit-change/ |access-date=May 11, 2026 |date=November 26, 2025}}</ref> For much of the commission's history, there had been no term limits.
==Current members== *Miguel Angel Gabela - Commissioner, district 1 (Republican) *Damián Pardo - Commissioner, district 2 (Democrat) *Rolando Escalona - Commissioner, district 3 *Ralph "Rafael" Rosado - Commissioner, district 4 (Republican) *Christine King - Commissioner, district 5 (Democrat)
==Former members== {{incomplete list|date=May 2026}}
*James H. Gilman (1921–????)<ref name="Piket"/> *C. D. Leffler (1921–????)<ref name="Piket"/> *J. E. Lummus (1921–????)<ref name="Piket"/> *Edward C. Romfh (1921–1925)<ref name="Piket"/> *J.I. Wilson (1921–????)<ref name="Piket"/> *F. H. Wharton *Alexander Orr Jr. (1935–1940) *Orville H. Rigby (1935–????) *Robert R. Williams (1935–1939) *Robert L. Floyd *Leonard K. Thomson *Perrine Palmer Jr. (1945–????) *Chelsie J. Senerchia *Henry L. Balaban *Randy Christmas (1953–1955) *George DuBreuil (1955–????) *Irwin Christie *David T. Kennedy (1961–1970) *M. Athalie Range (1966–1971) *Otis W. Shiver
===At-large seat 1===
===At-large seat 2=== *Joe Carollo (1979–1987) *Victor De Yurre (1987–1995) *Joe Carollo (1995–1996) *Tomás Regalado (1996–1997) -redistricted to 4th district in 1997
===At-large seat 3=== *Stephen P. Clark (1963–1967) *Maurice Ferré (1967–1970) *J. L. Plummer (1970–1997) –redistricted to 2nd district in 1997
===At-large seat 4=== *Manolo Reboso *Armando Lacasa *Miriam Alonso (1989–1993) *Willy Gort (1993–1997) –redistricted to ___ district in 1997
===At-large seat 5=== *Edward T. Graham *Theodore Gibson *Miller Dawkins (1987–1996) *Richard Dunn (1996–1997) *Humberto Hernandez Jr. (1997) *Thelma Gibson (1997) –redistricted to 3rd district in 1997
===District 1=== *Angel Gonzalez *Willy Gort (2010–2020) *Alex Díaz de la Portilla (2020–2023) * Miguel Ángel Gabela
===District 2=== *J. L. Plummer (1997–1999) –redistricted in 1997 from 1st seat *Johnny Winton (2000–2006) *Marc Sarnoff (2006–2015) *Ken Russell (2015–2022) *Sabina Covo (2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Sabina Covo |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sabina_Covo |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=May 16, 2026 |language=en}}</ref> *Damian Pardo (2023–''present'')<ref>{{cite web |title=Damian Pardo |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Damian_Pardo |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=May 16, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
===District 3=== *Thelma Gibson (1997–1998) –redistricted in 1997 from 5th seat *Humberto Hernandez Jr. (1998) *Joe Sanchez (1998–2009) *Frank Carollo (2009–2017) *Joe Carollo (2017–2025) * Rolando Escalona (2025–''present'')<ref>{{cite web |title=Rolando Escalona |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Rolando_Escalona |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=May 16, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
===District 4=== *Tomás Regalado (1997–2009) –redistricted in 1997 from 2nd seat *Francis Suarez (2009–2017) *Manolo Reyes (2017–2025) * Rafael Rosado (2025-)
===District 5=== *Arthur Teele (1998–2005) *Jeffery L. Allen
==Chair position== The council features a chairperson role, held either by a commissioner or the mayor themselves.<ref name="Amid Brewing">{{cite web |last1=Riski |first1=Tess |title=Amid brewing power struggle, Miami commission blocks mayor’s $450M bond — for now |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/amid-brewing-power-struggle-miami-153210679.html |via=Yahoo News |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |date=May 14, 2026}}</ref>
Those who have held the position have included: *Willy Gort<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Miami Meeting Agenda Thursday October 22, 2015 Planning and Zoning |url=http://www.ordinancewatch.com/files/82613/LocalGovernment111399.pdf |via=OrdinanceWatch.com |publisher=Miami City Commission |access-date=May 16, 2026 |date=October 22, 2015}}</ref> *Christine King (2021–2026)<ref name="Amid Brewing"/> *Eileen Higgins (2026–''present'')<ref name="Amid Brewing"/>
==Former vice mayor position== The City Commission was previously led by a "vice mayor", elected from among the members of the council on a rotating basis. The vice mayor would serve as acting mayor in the instance of mayoral vacancy.
The post was created in 1958 by the Commission, and was also meant to serve as an official who could assist the mayor in meeting social and public relations obligations.<ref name="DuBreuil Appointed"/> The vice mayor was also tasked with setting policies for the city manager to implement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Batson |first1=Larry |title=Miami |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/190015824 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=Minneapolis Star and Tribune |access-date=October 22, 2025 |page=12 |language=en |date=February 3, 1985}}</ref>
===Vice mayors=== The following table chronologically lists the tenures of individuals as vice mayor: (#) denotes different instances of a commissioner serving as vice mayor
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" |- ! colspan=4| Vice Mayors of Miami |- ! Name ! Tenure ! Seat<br>held ! Mayor at time |- | George DuBreuil || 1958–1960<ref name="DuBreuil Appointed">{{cite web |title=DuBreuil Appointed Vice Mayor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/618388777 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 11, 2026 |page=37 |date=December 18, 1958}}</ref><ref>Multiple sources: *{{cite web |title=Urges Passage of Urban Renewal Bill |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/1243811275 |publisher=Saratosa Journal |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=1 |date=May 19, 1959}} *{{cite web |title=Short Journeys; State Group "Boom" World Tour |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/301013697 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami News |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=44 |date=July 31, 1960}}</ref> | | rowspan=6| Robert King High |- | Henry L. Balaban || 1961–1962<ref>Multiple sources: *{{cite web |title=Speicher Top-Seeded Net Junior |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/619706939 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=24 |date=August 20, 1961}} *{{cite web |title=8 Dade Cities Defy McNayr's Proposal; Metro Refusing To "Cooperate" Officials Charge |last=McLaughlin |first=Leighton |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/619607669 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=27 |date=September 22, 1962}} *{{cite web |title=8 Dade Cities Defy McNayr's Proposal; Metro Refusing To "Cooperate" Officials Charge |last= Johnsey |first= Arthur |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/620096823 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=16 |date=February 24, 1962}}</ref> |- | David T. Kennedy || 1963<ref>Multiple sources: *{{cite web |title=David T. Kennedy...It's Up To League; "Approve Change Or I Quit" |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/302077938 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami News |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=15 |date=September 23, 1963}} *{{cite web |title=A Great Time For Flag Raving |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/302062104 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami News |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=32 |date= February 3, 1964}} *{{cite web |title=Miami's Vice Mayor |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/666070295 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |agency=UPI Telephoto |publisher=The Daily Ardmoreite |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=1 |date= December 30, 1962}}</ref> | |- | Sidney Aronovitz || 1964<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Dick |title=Drive to Block Tax-Doubling Renewed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/620106653 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 11, 2026 |page=9 |date=August 21, 1964}}</ref> | |- | Alice Wainwright || 1965<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lucoff |first1=Morton |title=Wainwright Won't Ask Reelection |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/302127229 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami News |access-date=May 11, 2026 |page=17 |date=June 22, 1965}}</ref> |- | Stephen P. Clark{{efn|became acting mayor in September 1967 after death in office of Mayor Robert King High<ref name="clarksucceed"/>}} || 1966–1967<ref>{{cite web |title=Miami Vice Mayor Probes Report on Pro-Grid Gambling |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/51445943 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Mercury |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=December 7, 2025 |location=Pottstown, Pennsylvania |url-access=subscription |page=30 |date=November 4, 1966}}</ref><ref name="clarksucceed">{{cite web |title=Miami Mayor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/1161462087 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Cleveland Press | agency=UPI Telephoto |access-date=7 December 2025 |url-access=subscription |page=12 |date=September 6, 1967}}</ref> | |- | Irwin Christie || 1967–1969<ref>Multiple sources: *{{cite web |title=They'll Cut a Ribbon--of Ballots |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/621568533 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=72 |date=November 18, 1967}} *{{cite web |title=Miami SCLC Pays Tribute To King at Park Services |last=Reid |first=Bobby |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/621568533 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=18 |date=April 16, 1968}} *{{cite web |title=Exile Leaders Pushing Registration for Vote |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/621568533 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 16, 2026 |page=83 |date=September 1, 1969}}</ref> | |rowspan=2| Stephen P. Clark |- | M. Athalie Range || 1970<ref>Multiple sources: *{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Tom |title=Metro Supports Plan For Ghetto Area Mall |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/301969555 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 11, 2026 |page=77 |date=July 14, 1970}} *{{cite web |title=U-M, Blacks Join Forces For Scholarship Benefit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/300517878 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Miami News |access-date=May 11, 2026 |page=12 |date=March 21, 1970}}</ref> |- | J. L. Plummer (1) || 1971<ref name="R-96-0836">{{cite web |title=R-96-0836 |url=https://documents.miamigov.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=1090670 |website=documents.miamigov.com/ |publisher=Miami City Commission |access-date=November 25, 2025 |date=November 21, 1996}}</ref> | 3rd<ref name="R-96-0836"/> |rowspan=3|David T. Kennedy |- | Edward T. Graham || 1972<ref name="R-96-0836"/> | 5th<ref name="R-96-0836"/> |- | rowspan=3|Theodore Gibson (1) || rowspan=3|1973<ref name="R-96-0836"/> | rowspan=3|5th<ref name="R-96-0836"/> |- | Maurice Ferré (interim) |- | David T. Kennedy |- | Manolo Reboso || 1974<ref name="R-88-1034">{{cite web |title=R-88-1034 |url=https://documents.miamigov.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=1105362 |website=documents.miamigov.com/ |publisher=Miami City Commission |access-date=November 25, 2025 |date=November 3, 1988}}</ref> | 4th<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | rowspan=12| Maurice Ferré |- | J. L. Plummer (2) || 1975<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 3rd<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Rose Gordon || 1976<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 2nd<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Theodore Gibson (2) || 1977<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 5th<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Manolo Reboso (2) || 1978<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 4th<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | J. L. Plummer (3) || 1979<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 3rd<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Armando Lacasa || 1980<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 4th<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Theodore Gibson (3) || 1981<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 5th<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Joe Carollo (1) || 1982<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 2nd<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | J. L. Plummer (4) || 1983<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 3rd<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Demetrio Perez Jr. || 1984<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 4th<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Joe Carollo (2) || 1985<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 2nd<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Miller Dawkins (1) || 1986<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 5th<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |rowspan=7| Xavier Suarez |- | Rosario Kennedy || 1988<ref name="R-88-1034"/> | 4th<ref name="R-88-1034"/> |- | Victor De Yurre (1) || 1989<ref>{{cite web |title=Bosch To Seek Delay of Deportation Order |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/129768368 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=Palm Beach Post |access-date=November 25, 2025 |page=14 |date=July 9, 1989}}</ref> | 2nd<ref name="R-89-1034">{{cite web |title=R-88-1034 |url=https://documents.miamigov.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=1099436 |website=documents.miamigov.com |publisher=Miami City Commission |access-date=November 25, 2025 |date=November 30, 1989}}</ref> |- | Miller Dawkins (2) || 1990<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burkett |first1=Elinor |last2=Crocket |first2=Kimberly |last3=Branch |first3=Karen |title=A Grassroots Welcome for Mandela in Miami |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/635730940 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=November 25, 2025 |page=130 |date=June 29, 1990}}</ref> | 5th<ref name="R-91-0796"/> |- | J. L. Plummer (5) || 1991<ref name="R-91-0796">{{cite web |title=R-91-0796 |url=https://documents.miamigov.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=1096576 |website=documents.miamigov.com |publisher=Miami City Commission |access-date=November 25, 2025 |date=November 14, 1991}}</ref> | 3rd<ref name="R-91-0796"/> |- | Miriam Alonso || 1992<ref name="R-91-0796"/> | 4th<ref name="R-92-0693"/> |- | Victor De Yurre (2) || 1993<ref name="R-92-0693">{{cite web |title=R-92-0693 |url=https://documents.miamigov.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=1095670 |website=documents.miamigov.com |publisher=Miami City Commission |access-date=November 25, 2025 |date=November 12, 1992}}</ref> | 2nd<ref name="R-96-0836"/> |- | Miller Dawkins (3) || 1994<ref name="R-96-0836"/> | 5th<ref name="R-96-0836"/> |rowspan=2|Stephen P. Clark |- | J. L. Plummer (6) || 1995<ref name="R-96-0836"/> | 3rd<ref name="R-96-0836"/> |- | Willy Gort{{efn|became acting mayor after death in office of Mayor Stephen P. Clark}} || 1996<ref name="R-96-0836"/> | 4th<ref name="R-96-0836"/> | Stephen P. Clark; himself (acting); Joe Carollo |- | Tomás Regalado || 1997<ref name="R-96-0836"/> | | Francis Suarez; Joe Carollo |- | Humberto Hernandez Jr. || 1998<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yanez |first1=Luisa |title=Woman Charged in Vote Fraud; Secretary Employed By Miami Vice Mayor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/238699969 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=South Florida Sun Sentinel |access-date=May 11, 2026 |page=7 |date=January 31, 1998}}</ref> | | rowspan=2|Joe Carollo |- | Arthur Teele || 1998<ref>{{cite web |last1=Casimir |first1=Leslie |title=Emotions Flare Over Housing Development |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/641446439 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Miami Herald |access-date=May 11, 2026 |page=91 |date=March 12, 1998}}</ref> | 5th |}
{| role="presentation" class="wikitable mw-collapsible" | <strong> Gallery of Vice Mayors of Miami (partial) </strong> |- | <gallery widths="90px" heights="120px"> File:George DuBreuil (Miami City Commissioner) portrait photograph, circa 1957.jpg|George DuBreuil<br>(1958–1960) File:Sidney Myer Aronovitz.png|Sidney Aronovitz<br>(1964) File:Stephen P. Clark (Mayor of Miami), 1968 black and white photograph.jpg|Stephen P. Clark<br>(1966) File:M Athalie Range.jpg|M. Athalie Range<br>(1970) File:City of Miami Commissioner J. L. Plummer, official portrait photograph.png| J. L. Plummer (1971, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1991, 1995) File:Rose Gordon at dedication of the Abe Goldman Building in Miami's Flagami Park (3x4 portrait crop).jpg|Rose Gordon<br>(1976) Miami Mayor Joe Carollo official municipal photographic portrait, circa 1996 (3x4 crop).png |Joe Carollo<br>(1982; 1985) File:Demetrio perez jr.jpg|Demetrio Perez Jr.<br>(1984) File:Miriam Alonso (Miami City Commissioner) at the First Conference of Community Councils on June 10, 2000, at the Radisson Mart Plaza Hotel.jpg|Miriam Alonso<br>(1992) File:Willy Gort.jpg|Willy Gort<br>(1996) File:Tomás Regalado official portrait as Miami city commissioner, circa early 2000s.jpg|Tomás Regalado<br>(1997) File:Miami City Commissioner Humberto Hernandez Jr., official 1997 photographic portrait.png|Humberto Hernandez Jr.<br>(1998) File:Arthur Teele.jpg|Arthur Teele<br>(1998) </gallery> |}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}} Category:Government of Miami Category:Miami City Commission members Category:Florida city councils