Miami News People of Miami

Jose “Pepe” Diaz Chairman, Commissioner, “Leader of the Year”

Now that 2021 is coming to an end and most of us have gotten back to business “not to mention” our lives, Jose “Pepe” Diaz is about to close his first year as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners with yet another title to add to his many medals and accolades. Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz received the “Leader of the Year” award from the Latin Builders Association (LBA) known as the largest Hispanic construction association in the USA and was honored at the Annual LBA Awards Ceremony in October 2021.

Jose “Pepe” Diaz

“Thank you to the Latin Builders Association for awarding me the ‘Leader of the Year Award’ and for everything you do to support Latin entrepreneurs & businesses in Miami-Dade County”.

Chairman Diaz

As Chairman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Jose “Pepe” Diaz sets the commission agenda and general tone of the monthly commission meetings that are open to the public. These meetings take place at the Stephen P. Clarke Building located at 111 NW 1 St. 2nd Floor once a month.

If you live in Miami Dade County and you have not sat through one of these meetings, then you don’t know that it is an arduous task to maintain order in a room filled with decision-makers voting on things that will define our county’s future. The public is always welcome so it’s a great way to see the Chairman in action and stay informed.

Community and Support

In a previous conversation with Calle Ocho News Chairman Diaz shared that he is most passionate about helping the elderly, children, and veterans.  As a matter of fact, he took it upon himself to make sure that there was no veteran who was homeless under his leadership.  In 2018 he worked closely with the Homeless Trust towards making Miami Dade County the first county in the nation to not have any homeless veterans. Chairman Diaz being a former Marine himself has great respect and a special place in his heart for our country’s servicemen.

Growth and Expansion

Chairman Diaz is very passionate about making Miami Dade a world-renowned sports enthusiast location and as Sports Commissioner played a huge role in getting the World Cup and Formula 1 Racing to be hosted in Miami in 2022 and 2026.   Just recently he came back from Italy where he and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava signed a sister cities agreement with Viareggio in the hopes of increasing cultural exchange.  As Chairman Diaz said “If PortMiami is already the “Cruising Capital of the World” then with the right infrastructure I want us to also be the “Yachting Capital of the World” as well.” 

Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz

Office of Policy and Budgetary Affairs

Thanks to collective efforts and board-appointed Jennifer Moon, who is Chief of the Office of Policy and Budgetary Affairs under the leadership of Chairman Diaz there were 80 million dollars in misallocated funds that were found which will save taxpayer dollars in the long run. You heard it right, this year's budget meeting ended with a bang when the announcement was made.  Having a separate group of professionals handle budget concerns and inquiries has really proven to be what the county needed to make things flow smoothly and something Chairman Diaz has been steadfast about implementing.

Affordable Housing and Transit-Oriented Development

Among the initiatives that Chairman Diaz has foreseen and probably one of the most important is one that will generate $1,169,662,369.00 in rental income for the county and approximately $20,165,000.00 in developer investment for improvements made to the Dolphin Station and maintenance services that accumulate a total county benefit in the amount of $1,189,827,369.00.  This is a Transit Oriented Development that will help people that live in the 1,700 apartments that will be built by the Dolphin Station get from East to West on the Park and Ride that travels along the 836.

Past and Future Plans 

Chairman Diaz was first elected as Commissioner in 2002 and then re-elected to a fifth term in 2018.  He also served as the Vice-Chairman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners from 2009-2010. These days Mr. Diaz is focused on wrapping up his legacy as County Commissioner and potentially running for Mayor of Sweetwater in 2023 but who knows what’s in store. With a man like Chairman Diaz who not only says “Public service is about helping others” but demonstrates it daily one thing is for sure.  He has his eye on the prize “Miami” and he is not going anywhere.

Chairman Diaz gives all the credit for his accomplishments to his team of people that dot his I’s and cross his T’s because without them he would not be where he is today because for him there is no I in TEAM.

To stay up to date with Jose“Pepe” Diaz follow his Instagram page @CommishDiaz or visit the Miami-Dade District 12 website for the latest.

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