Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban L. Bovo Jr. is the guest speaker for the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, where he will discuss events and programs for District 13 residents and business owners and the state of the county, as Miami-Dade is preparing to balance a difficult budget for the next fiscal year.
The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, at Don Shula’s Hotel.
County Mayor Carlos Gimenez was the guest speaker at last month’s Chamber of Commerce event, indicating the private sector helped Miami-Dade complete a pipeline of infrastructure projects and is seeking to extend the partnership for next year to help save taxpayers money.
Despite a conceivable budget crisis, Gimenez said his intention is to hold the line for property taxes for the budget while maintaining services for two million residents.
Next week, Bovo will give his take on the financial condition of Miami-Dade and the direction of the county for next year.
In 2011, Bovo was elected to the County Commission during a special election to represent District 13, which includes the cities of Hialeah and Miami Lakes, and neighboring unincorporated areas including Palm Springs North and Lakes on the Green.
His political career started in 1998, when he was appointed to the Hialeah City Council and sponsored the anti-predator legislation.
Following his second term in office, Bovo was selected as president of the City Council before he decided to run for higher office.
In 2008, Bovo was elected as State Representative for District 110 and was re-elected without opposition in 2010. During his tenure in the Florida Legislature, Bovo was an outspoken advocate for the historic Hialeah Park and worked diligently towards its re-opening.
Bovo continued to push his legislative agenda on the betterment and safety of local communities by sponsoring the Ashley Nicole Valdes Act, which requires defendants who have been arrested for leaving the scene of a fatal accident to be held in custody until a judge ruling.
Due to his tenacity and dedication to public service, his colleagues in the Florida Legislature nominated him as chairman of the Hispanic Legislative Caucus and was subsequently chosen to chair the Committee of Business Regulation in Tallahassee.
Bovo currently serves as chairman of the Finance Committee, vice chair of the Public Safety and Animal Services Committee, and is a member of the Transportation and Aviation Committee for Miami-Dade County. As a County Commissioner, Bovo maintains an open-door policy and continues his commitment to improving the quality of life in Miami-Dade County.
Bovo was born in 1962 in Queens, New York, to Marilyn and Esteban Bovo-Carás. As a member of the 2506 Brigade, Bovo’s father instilled in his son the value of fighting for justice while his mother taught him the importance of compassion and service to the community. Bovo has been a resident of Miami-Dade County for over 45 years and holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Florida International University. He is married to Viviana and has five children – Oscar, Bianca, Esteban, Sofia, and Alessandro.
Networking starts at 11:30 a.m., luncheon at noon. Deadline to RSVP is Friday at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $30 for members and their guests who RSVP, $35 for members and their guests who do not RSVP, and $40 for non members (cash only). For more information, contact Marta Diaz at mdiaz@miamilakeschamber.com