Miami Lakes Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez was among 17 elected officials from three South Florida counties who graduated on December 15 from the Good Government Initiative’s Leaders of Excellence Program.
Founded by former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, the program is designed to provide elected officials with skills and knowledge they can apply to their public service.
Elected officials participate in training over six months, including two weekend retreats. This year’s curriculum educated the class in critical core areas including ethics, budget and finance, land use and natural resources, media relations, leading in a diverse community and economic development.
Presenters included a bipartisan array of community leaders, public officials and outside experts including former Senator Bob Graham, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, former Ambassador Sue Cobb, Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust executive director Joe Centorino, and Urban Land Institute Florida director Carla Coleman.