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'''Joe Carollo''' (born March 12, 1955) is a Cuban-American politician who served as [[List of mayors of Miami|mayor]] of Miami from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/joe-carollos-five-craziest-moments-as-a-politician-10342796|title=A Brief History of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo's Craziest Moments|date=May 14, 2018|accessdate=August 31, 2018|work=[[Miami New Times]]|first=Jerry|last=Ianelli}}</ref> Following his loss in the 2001 mayoral election, he served as [[Doral, Florida]] city manager from January 2013 until his firing in April 2014;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/doral/article1963541.html|title= Doral Council fires City Manager Joe Carollo|date=April 28, 2014|access-date=November 2, 2021|work=[[Miami Herald]]|first=Joey|last=Flechas}}</ref> he was reinstated in June 2017, then immediately resigned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/former-doral-city-manager-resigns-after-being-reinstated/17480/|title= Former Doral City Manager Resigns After Being Reinstated|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2021|publisher=[[WTVJ]]|first=Keith|last=Jones}}</ref> He successfully ran for election to the Miami city commission in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/little-havana/article185947693.html|title=Carollo wins runoff for Miami City Commission District 3 seat|work=[[Miami Herald]]|first1=David|last1=Smiley|first2=Elizabeth|last2=Koh|date=November 21, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2021}}</ref> |
'''Joe Carollo''' (born March 12, 1955) is a Cuban-American politician who served as [[List of mayors of Miami|mayor]] of Miami from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/joe-carollos-five-craziest-moments-as-a-politician-10342796|title=A Brief History of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo's Craziest Moments|date=May 14, 2018|accessdate=August 31, 2018|work=[[Miami New Times]]|first=Jerry|last=Ianelli}}</ref> Following his loss in the 2001 mayoral election, he served as [[Doral, Florida]] city manager from January 2013 until his firing in April 2014;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/doral/article1963541.html|title= Doral Council fires City Manager Joe Carollo|date=April 28, 2014|access-date=November 2, 2021|work=[[Miami Herald]]|first=Joey|last=Flechas}}</ref> he was reinstated in June 2017, then immediately resigned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/former-doral-city-manager-resigns-after-being-reinstated/17480/|title= Former Doral City Manager Resigns After Being Reinstated|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2021|publisher=[[WTVJ]]|first=Keith|last=Jones}}</ref> He successfully ran for election to the Miami city commission in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/little-havana/article185947693.html|title=Carollo wins runoff for Miami City Commission District 3 seat|work=[[Miami Herald]]|first1=David|last1=Smiley|first2=Elizabeth|last2=Koh|date=November 21, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2021}}</ref> |
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He was born in Caibarién, Cuba, on March 12, 1955. At the age of 6, he traveled alone to the United States as part of the Operation Peter Pan and was fortunate to reunite with his parents 6 months later. They settled in the city of Chicago, where he excelled as a student and athlete. Years later, when he was 15 years old, he moved to Miami with his parents. |
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==Political career== |
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At the age of 18, Joe Carollo graduated from Miami Dade College with a General Studies diploma while also completing his studies at the Miami Dade County Police Academy. He became the youngest law enforcement officer in the state of Florida at that time. He later earned his university degrees in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Administration from Florida International University (FIU), and in 1976, he was awarded a second university degree in International Relations with a concentration in Psychology. |
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===Miami City Commission=== |
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Joe Carollo has extensive experience in executive administration and government knowledge, with over four decades of public service at various levels. He was elected as the youngest Commissioner in the history of the city of Miami at the age of 24. He also served as Vice Mayor for two terms before becoming the Mayor of Miami for two terms. For several years, Joe Carollo served as the President of the Conference of Mayors of Large Cities in the hemisphere. He was the President of the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority for six terms and served as the City Manager of Doral. |
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In 1979, Carollo was elected to the City of Miami commission at the age of 24.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/25/us/cuban-born-commissioner-is-elected-mayor-of-miami.html|title=Cuban-Born Commissioner Is Elected Mayor of Miami |
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</ref> He quickly gained a reputation for making enemies, and in 1982, the police chief Kenneth Harms sent a memo accusing Carollo of seeking political favors for Sheik Mohammed Al-Fassi, bribing the police, seeking career favors for his friends on the police force, and enforcing these demands by withholding budget funds for the police.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-commission-candidate-joe-carollo-accused-of-favors-paranoia-manipulation-9839577|title=Miami's Police Chief Once Slammed Joe Carollo for Trying to "Manipulate System to His Advantage"}}</ref> |
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After 16 years away from the political arena, he returned to a public position and was elected with a wide majority in 2017 as the Commissioner of the City of Miami for District 3. In 2021, he was reelected to his position. District 3 includes the iconic Calle 8 and Little Havana, among other important areas of the city. Joe Carollo is also the President of the Bayfront Park Management Trust and has managed the city's central parks. In addition, Joe Carollo has experience in business and private consulting at the local, national, and international levels. He is married, has 4 children, and 8 grandchildren. |
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During the mayoral election in 1983 between [[Maurice Ferré]] and [[Xavier Suarez]], Carollo was set to endorse Ferré at a public event with the incumbent mayor. Ferré had endorsed Carollo five years earlier for his city commission seat. Instead, at the event, Carollo accused Ferré, who was Puerto Rican, of being anti-Cuban, and lambasted Ferré. Ferré won the election but this event remains a fixture in Carollo’s career in Miami politics.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-07-26-9907260100-story.html|title=A GRAND VISION FOR MIAMI}}</ref> |
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In 1986, as a city commissioner, Joe Carollo attacked a plan to develop [[Watson Island]] as funded by communists. The plan was backed by several conservative leaders, such as former U. S. Ambassador [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]], conservative anti-Castro lobbyist [[Jorge Mas Canosa]], and the Democratic then-mayor Xavier Suarez.<ref name=":0" /> |
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In 1987, at a fundraiser for his mayoral re-election campaign, Suarez said of Carollo "He's really kind of an embarrassment to those people who really are fighting communism and giving their lives and their talents and their time and their money, and in the halls of the U.S. Congress, and in South America and Africa they sometimes give their lives. In fact I think he's an all-around embarrassment."<ref>{{cite web |title=SUAREZ ANNOUNCES BID FOR RE-ELECTION |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1987-08-15-0140090295-story.html |website=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref> |
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Carollo lost his Miami City Commission seat by a wide margin to Victor De Yurre in 1987.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nordheimer |first1=Jon |title=Mayor Wins 2d Term in Miami Runoff Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/11/us/mayor-wins-2d-term-in-miami-runoff-vote.html |access-date=5 May 2023 |publisher=New York Times |date=11 November 1987}}</ref> |
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===Return to Miami City Commission and first mayorship (1996–1997)=== |
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Eight years later, in 1995, Joe Carollo beat Victor De Yurre to retake the same seat on the Miami City Commission he lost to De Yurre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1995-11-15 |title=FORMER MIAMI CITY COMMISSIONER MAKES POLITICAL COMEBACK |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1995-11-15-9511150034-story.html |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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One year later, Carollo won a special election to replace [[Stephen P. Clark]], who died of cancer, as mayor of City of Miami.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1996-07-24 |title=CAROLLO RISES AGAIN, WINNING MIAMI MAYOR POST |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1996-07-24-9607240036-story.html |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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Not long after taking office, several city commissioners were arrested in a bribery sting and it came to light that the City of Miami was $68 million in debt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1996-10-08 |title=MIAMI $68 MILLION IN THE RED |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1996-10-08-9610080044-story.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> Carollo brought in Merritt Stierheim as interim city manager to create a recovery plan. While the city faced scrutiny from Governor [[Lawton Chiles]], reduced bond ratings from Moody, and calls to dissolve the city government, Stierheim’s plan was approved by the city commission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1996-12-08 |title=CAN MIAMI SAVE ITSELF? |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1996-12-08-9612070263-story.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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In 1997, with the first [[Strong-mayor]] system in the City of Miami’s history at stake, Carollo lost his re-election campaign in a runoff election to [[Xavier Suarez]]. Although Carollo alleged ballot fraud in the first voting round, Suarez took office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1997-11-14 |title=SUAREZ UPSETS CAROLLO IN MIAMI RUNOFF |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-11-14-9711140016-story.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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=== Voter fraud lawsuit === |
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Carollo continued his lawsuit alleging ballot fraud in the first round of voting of the 1997 mayoral race. On March 5, 1998, Thomas S. Wilson Jr., a judge in the Florida circuit court voided the first round of the election writing "this scheme to defraud, literally and figuratively, stole the ballot from the hands of every honest voter in the city of Miami."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Navarro |first=Mireya |date=1998-03-05 |title=Fraud Ruling Invalidates Miami Mayoral Election |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/05/us/fraud-ruling-invalidates-miami-mayoral-election.html |access-date=2023-05-09 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |
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A Miami Herald investigation of the mayoral race found that campaign workers for Xavier Suarez and city commissioner Humberto Hernandez were registering voters where they didn't live, punched absentee ballots for voters without permission, casting ballots for voters who did not vote, and signed absentee ballots as witnesses that they did not witness, including for dead people.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dubious tactics snared votes for Suarez, Hernandez |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1929054.html |access-date=2023-05-09}}</ref> |
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On March 13, 1998, Joe Carollo was sworn in as Miami mayor after the 3rd District Court of Appeals threw out 5,100 fraudulent absentee ballots.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1998-03-13 |title=CAROLLO SWORN IN AS MAYOR OF MIAMI |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1998-03-13-9803120513-story.html |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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=== Second mayorship (1998–2001) === |
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Carollo's second mayorship was marked from the beginning with struggles with the City Commission. After City Commissioner Humberto Hernandez was removed from his office by Governor Lawton Chiles, Carollo fired the City Manager Jose Garcia-Pedroza, who had been appointed by his predecessor, Mayor Xavier Suarez. The City Commission voted to reinstate Garcia-Pedroza and Carollo fired him again, a back-and-forth that led to Garcia-Pedroza being fired three times before asking the City Commission to let his dismissal stand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1998-06-18 |title=EX-MIAMI MANAGER TAKES HIS LEAVE |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1998-06-18-9806170693-story.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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==== Miami Circle ==== |
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''Main page: [[Miami Circle]]'' |
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Real estate developer Michael Baumann tore down an existing apartment building in the summer of 1998 and after being pushed to do a required archaeological survey, discovered an ancient 2,000 year old, 38-foot-wide circle beneath the soil at the mouth of the Miami River. Carollo and the developer first attempted to move the site away from its historical location.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1999-02-03 |title=MIAMI, DEVELOPER TEAM TO PRESERVE SITE |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-02-03-9902020643-story.html |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> Carollo opposed preserving the site as it stood because of the possibility of significant tax revenue from Baumann's planned apartment building. However, Miami-Dade County Mayor [[Alex Penelas]] took up the cause of preserving the site after pressure from Native American groups, schoolchildren, archaeologists, the Smithsonian Institute, as well as international scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1999-02-19 |title=ANCIENT CIRCLE TO STAY PUT |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-02-19-9902190058-story.html |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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==== Voter referendum ==== |
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On Election Day, November 3, 1999, Miami voters voted to fire change their system of government to a [[Strong-mayor]] model and as a result, firing city manager Donald Warshaw and forcing Joe Carollo to run for re-election the following March, effectively cutting his term in half.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1999-11-03 |title=MIAMI VOTERS OPT TO CHANGE COURSE OF GOVERNMENT |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-11-03-9911030098-story.html |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> After the election, Carollo sued to overturn the results of the election, arguing that it constitutes an illegal recall vote.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=1999-11-09 |title=MAYOR ASKS COURT TO VOID BALLOTING |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-11-09-9911080716-story.html |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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The results of the election found defenders with City Commissioners [[Arthur Teele]], [[Tomás Pedro Regalado]], and Joe Sanchez, whose attorneys asked the Florida Supreme Court to intervene so they could begin to plan and advertise the March election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=2000-02-18 |title=MIAMI’S OVERHAUL IN LEGAL LIMBO |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2000-02-18-0002180028-story.html |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> When the Florida Supreme Court refused to intervene, Carollo successfully defended his seat against the election results.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=2000-02-23 |title=CAROLLO FOES CONCEDE DEFEAT |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2000-02-23-0002230018-story.html |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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==== Elián González affair ==== |
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''Main page: [[Elián González]]'' |
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In November 1999, Elián González and his mother, along with other Cuban migrants, left Cuba for the United States. While at sea, their boat failed, and most of the passengers, including González's mother, died. González and two other survivors were rescued at sea by fishermen.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-12 |title=Cuban boy draws picture of shipwreck drama / Fox News - Cuba News / Noticias - CubaNet News |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112215621/http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y00/mar00/27e4.htm |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> After arriving, González's family in Miami sued to retain custody of Elián while his father in Cuba, Juan Miguel González Quintana in Cuba, demanded that Elián be returned to Cuba.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-11-10 |title=A little boy named Elian arrived on a raft in 1999. A look at how the saga began |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article237070979.html |access-date=2023-05-18}}</ref> |
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The cause to keep Elián González in the United States was taken up by Miami's Cuban community. On March 29, Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas held a press conference where he announced that the county police department would not assist federal police in removing Elián González from Little Havana.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Tristram Korten, Jose Luis |title=The Return of Loco Joe |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/the-return-of-loco-joe-6355694 |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=Miami New Times |language=en}}</ref> |
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At that point Joe Carollo began a media blitz where he appeared on television more than 50 times, including [[Rivera Live]], [[Nightline]], [[Hannity]], and frequent visits to Miami-area Spanish-language talk radio station [[Radio Mambi]].<ref name=":1" /> |
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Carollo's media appearances garnered local and national derision. He accused Juan Miguel González of child abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=sources |first=Independent Cuban journalist and other media |title=Cuba News / Noticias - CubaNet News |url=https://www.cubanet.org/htdocs/CNews/y00/apr00/21e20.htm |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=www.cubanet.org |language=ES}}</ref> In the days leading up to the April 21st federal raid, City Manager Donald Warshaw wrote memos saying that Carollo was attempting to direct the police to defend the González's home.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=2000-06-06 |title=MEMOS:’MAYOR IS TO BE IGNORED’ – Sun Sentinel |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2000-06-06-0006060289-story.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |language=en-US}}</ref> After Elián was taken by federal agents and reunited with his father, Carollo was one of the first to say that photos of Elián with his father were faked, and said that any supporters of Elián in Little Havana with guns were agents of Fidel Castro.<ref name=":1" /> |
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Carollo fired City Manager Donald Warshaw, who did not support Carollo's actions in the Elián González affair. Subsequently, City of Miami Police Chief William O'Brien resigned.<ref name=":1" /> The shakeup caused Miami City Hall was inundated by bananas, referring to Carollo's leadership as a [[Banana republic|"banana republic"]], with boxes of bananas being delivered and drivers throwing bananas at the building.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami's City Hall inundated by bananas - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/05/04/Miamis-City-Hall-inundated-by-bananas/3870957412800/ |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> |
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==== Failed reelection bid ==== |
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Facing a field of nine opponents and the pressure of a [[#Domestic Violence|public domestic violence scandal]], Carollo failed to make the runoff in the November 2001 election for mayor. He was defeated by former Miami mayor [[Maurice Ferré]] and eventual winner [[Manny Diaz (Florida politician)]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |date=2001-11-07 |title=CAROLLO APPEARS OUT OF RACE |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2001-11-07-0111070203-story.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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=== Doral city manager (2013-2014) === |
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After the resignation of [[Doral, Florida|Doral]] City Manager Yvonne Soler-McKinley, Joe Carollo was appointed January 2013 as city manager without a search being held for a new manager by Mayor [[Luigi Boria]] and the Doral City Council by unanimous vote.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Munzenrieder |first=Kyle |title=Former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo Is the City Manager of Doral Now For Some Reason |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/former-miami-mayor-joe-carollo-is-the-city-manager-of-doral-now-for-some-reason-6541175 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Miami New Times |language=en}}</ref> Interim City Manager [[Merrett R. Stierheim]], who had been brought in to lead the search, called the appointment "a terrible decision."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herald |first=Miami |title=He's baaack: former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo appointed Doral city manager {{!}} Naked Politics |url=https://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/01/hes-baaack-former-miami-mayor-joe-carollo-appointed-doral-city-manager.html |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=miamiherald.typepad.com}}</ref> |
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Fifteen months later, in April 2014, Carollo was fired by the City Council in a 3-2 vote, as according to Vice Mayor [[Christi Fraga]], Carollo "has now escalated to nonsense, untrue allegations, insubordination, intimidation, and bullying by our manager." Carollo had accused several members of the council of taking bribes for votes and predicted his firing in an earlier press conference. The city council members who voted to remove him said that he was creating a toxic work environment leading to high turnover in city staff.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flechas |first=Joey |date=April 28, 2014 |title=Doral Council fires City Manager Joe Carollo |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/doral/article1963541.html |access-date=May 23, 2023}}</ref> |
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Carollo sued the mayor and city council members on [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|first amendment]] grounds and Florida [[whistleblower]] protections. In 2017, Carollo and the city of Doral settled, and Carollo was reinstated as city manager so he could resign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Madan |first=Monique |date=June 21, 2017 |title=Joe Carollo settles with Doral; comes back as city manager for half a day |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/doral/article157369789.html |access-date=May 23, 2023}}</ref> |
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=== Miami City Commission (2017-present) === |
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November 21, 2017, Joe Carollo defeated Alfie Leon in a runoff election to take the district 3 seat on the Miami city commission. The seat was papal held by his brother, [[Frank Carollo]], who was term limited. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Smiley |first=David |date=November 21, 2017 |title=Carollo wins runoff for Miami City Commission District 3 seat |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/little-havana/article185947693.html |access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref> |
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==== Replacing Viernes Culturales ==== |
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[[Little Havana#Viernes Culturales|Viernes Culturales (Cultural Fridays)]] is a festival in the [[Little Havana]] neighborhood in Miami held on the last Friday of the month run by a nonprofit made up of area business-owners and community members. In 2018, Carollo applied for permits on the same space and time that would have held Viernes Culturales in a move to force the festival to shut down. Carollo said that he felt the existing event had become "a flea market." One of the Viernes Culturales nonprofit board members, William "Bill" Fuller, said that the actions were taken to attack him personally.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flechas |first=Joey |date=November 17, 2018 |title=Joe Carollo wants to force out Viernes Culturales and host his own monthly festival |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/little-havana/article221762265.html |access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref> |
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==== Ouster of police chief ==== |
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In March 2021, [[Francis X. Suarez|Mayor Francis X. Suarez]] announced that he had recruited and hired Houston police chief [[Art Acevedo]]. Acevedo said he would “not tolerate mediocrity at the Miami Police Department,” and would make reforms to improve the department.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flechas |first=Joey |date=March 16, 2021 |title=Houston’s police chief brings bravado to Miami PD: ‘We will not tolerate mediocrity’ |work=[[the Miami herald]] |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article249938688.html |access-date=May 26, 2023}}</ref> Acevedo quickly began to follow through with high profile firings of police officers starting in June 2021, which brought controversy to his position, and criticism from the Miami City Commission.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rabin |first=Charles |date=January 12, 2022 |title=Seven Miami cops let go or demoted during purge by fired chief Acevedo to get jobs back |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article257242162.html |access-date=May 30, 2023}}</ref> |
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== Controversies == |
== Controversies == |
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Revision as of 04:37, 5 June 2023
Joe Carollo | |
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 | |
| 38th and 40th Mayor of Miami | |
| In office March 12, 1998 – November 11, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Xavier Suarez |
| Succeeded by | Manny Diaz |
| In office July 24, 1996 – November 14, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Willy Gort |
| Succeeded by | Xavier Suarez |
| Member of the Miami City Commission from the 3rd district | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Carollo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 11, 1955 Caibarién, Cuba |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Marjorie Teresa Carollo |
Joe Carollo (born March 12, 1955) is a Cuban-American politician who served as mayor of Miami from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2001.[1] Following his loss in the 2001 mayoral election, he served as Doral, Florida city manager from January 2013 until his firing in April 2014;[2] he was reinstated in June 2017, then immediately resigned.[3] He successfully ran for election to the Miami city commission in 2017.[4]
He was born in Caibarién, Cuba, on March 12, 1955. At the age of 6, he traveled alone to the United States as part of the Operation Peter Pan and was fortunate to reunite with his parents 6 months later. They settled in the city of Chicago, where he excelled as a student and athlete. Years later, when he was 15 years old, he moved to Miami with his parents.
At the age of 18, Joe Carollo graduated from Miami Dade College with a General Studies diploma while also completing his studies at the Miami Dade County Police Academy. He became the youngest law enforcement officer in the state of Florida at that time. He later earned his university degrees in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Administration from Florida International University (FIU), and in 1976, he was awarded a second university degree in International Relations with a concentration in Psychology.
Joe Carollo has extensive experience in executive administration and government knowledge, with over four decades of public service at various levels. He was elected as the youngest Commissioner in the history of the city of Miami at the age of 24. He also served as Vice Mayor for two terms before becoming the Mayor of Miami for two terms. For several years, Joe Carollo served as the President of the Conference of Mayors of Large Cities in the hemisphere. He was the President of the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority for six terms and served as the City Manager of Doral.
After 16 years away from the political arena, he returned to a public position and was elected with a wide majority in 2017 as the Commissioner of the City of Miami for District 3. In 2021, he was reelected to his position. District 3 includes the iconic Calle 8 and Little Havana, among other important areas of the city. Joe Carollo is also the President of the Bayfront Park Management Trust and has managed the city's central parks. In addition, Joe Carollo has experience in business and private consulting at the local, national, and international levels. He is married, has 4 children, and 8 grandchildren.
Controversies
Domestic violence
On February 8, 2001, Carollo was arrested on charges of domestic violence. He was accused of throwing a terra cotta pot at his then-wife, leaving a golf-ball sized welt on her head.[5]
Civil lawsuit
While serving as a commissioner, Carollo was sued by two businessmen for actions he took as commissioner that they felt violated their first-amendment rights. They claimed Carollo "weaponized" the code enforcement department against them and their businesses as a result of them supporting one of his political opponents. Carollo claims he exercised his powers as commissioner properly. In June 2023 the Jury found Carollo liable for $15.9 million in compensatory damages and an additional $47.6 million in punitive damages. Carollo says he plans to appeal.[6][7]
References
- ^ Ianelli, Jerry (May 14, 2018). "A Brief History of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo's Craziest Moments". Miami New Times. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ Flechas, Joey (April 28, 2014). "Doral Council fires City Manager Joe Carollo". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Keith (June 21, 2017). "Former Doral City Manager Resigns After Being Reinstated". WTVJ. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ Smiley, David; Koh, Elizabeth (November 21, 2017). "Carollo wins runoff for Miami City Commission District 3 seat". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ By (February 8, 2001). "MAYOR CAROLLO CHARGED WITH BATTERING HIS WIFE". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ Mazzei, Patricia (June 1, 2023). "Behind the Shimmer of Miami Is a City Hall in Turmoil". The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ Rabin, Charles (June 1, 2023). "Big, expensive legal loss for Joe Carollo. Jury awards Miami businessmen $63.5 million". Miami Herald. Retrieved June 2, 2023.