Manny Diaz (Florida politician)

Manny Diaz
Chair of the Florida Democratic Party
In office January 9, 2021 – January 19, 2023
Preceded by	Terrie Rizzo
Succeeded by	Nikki Fried
41st Mayor of Miami
In office November 17, 2001 – November 11, 2009
Preceded by	Joe Carollo
Succeeded by	Tomás Regalado
66th President of the United States Conference of Mayors
In office 2008–2009
Preceded by	Douglas Palmer
Succeeded by	Greg Nickels
Personal details
Born	November 5, 1954 Havana, Cuba
Political party	Democratic (before 2000, 2008–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (2000–2008)
Children	4, including Manny
Education	Florida International University (BA) University of Miami (JD)

Manuel Alberto Diaz (born November 5, 1954) is a Cuban-American politician who served as the chair of the Florida Democratic Party from 2021 to 2023. From 2001 to 2009, he served as the mayor of Miami, Florida.

Early life and career

Diaz and his mother, Elisa, left Cuba in 1961. He graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in 1973. He scored the first touchdown in his high school's football history, and was named "Mr. Belén" in his graduating class. In 1977, Díaz 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's law firm was hired to represent Lázaro Gonzalez in the custody case over his grand-nephew Elián González. Diaz's participation in the trial and presence at the González household during the April 22, 2000, raid propelled him to national prominence.

Mayorship

Diaz ran in the 2001 Miami mayoral election as an Independent. He and Maurice Ferré were the top candidates in the first round, locking out incumbent mayor Joe Carollo. Diaz won the runoff election, and was re-elected in 2005. As mayor, Díaz remained a partner in the law firm, but stated he would not be able to take new cases.

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.

Diaz was awarded the "Urban Innovator of the Year" award by the Manhattan Institute in 2004. In 2007, Diaz served on the selection committee for the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.

In 2008, Díaz 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 Obama's presidential bid. Following Obama's election, Diaz was considered for HHS Secretary; the position would ultimately go to Kathleen Sebelius.

Later career

Díaz left office in 2009 because of term limits. In the spring of 2010, Díaz was an IOP Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Today Díaz is a partner at Lydecker Díaz, LLP in Miami.

On January 22, 2014, Diaz and four other attorneys from his law firm, Lydecker Diaz, filed papers to represent Walmart in its battle to build in Midtown Miami.

On November 23, 2020, Diaz declared his campaign for chair of the Florida Democratic party. He has been endorsed by Mike Bloomberg, whom he supported when Bloomberg ran for president.

Personal life

Diaz is married to Robin Smith and has four children and three grandchildren. His son, Manny, is the head coach of the football team at Duke University, the former defensive coordinator for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team and is the former head coach for the Miami Hurricanes football team. His daughter, Natalie, recently received her master's degree in public health with honors from Florida International University. His son, Robert, is pursuing a political science degree. His daughter, Elisa, recently received her Juris Doctor from the Florida International University College of Law. His grandchildren are Colin, Gavin, and Manny Jr.