Ryan Nicol
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber says he officially filed paperwork on Thursday to kick off his campaign for re-election in 2020.
“It’s been my greatest privilege to serve the only hometown I’ve ever known,” Gelber said in a statement announcing the filing. “I’ve tried to serve honorably and openly, and would like to continue to help make our City the best version of itself.”
Gelber pushed for the creation of a new inspector general’s office during his 2016 run. That office was eventually approved by voters last November. And in January, the Miami Beach Commission approved an ordinance laying out the details of the new position.
Gelber, whose filing comes on the anniversary of the Parkland shooting, also moved to assign Miami Beach Police officers to every public school, beginning in the 2018-19 school year.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act required some sort of security personnel be assigned to each public school throughout the state. However, officials have expressed concern that not every school district is complying with that requirement.
Gelber’s administration has also acted on environmental initiatives, expanding its plastic straw ban to cafes and other locations along the beach.
Gelber was first elected to the Mayor’s spot in 2016, replacing outgoing Mayor Philip Levine. Levine went on to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2018, losing out to Andrew Gillum.
“While much has been done, there is much more to do. We are a City with high expectation of itself and its leaders,” Gelber added. “I will continue to work every day to earn your trust as Mayor.”
