Jesse Scheckner
After two decades in South Florida politics, including three separate stints as the Mayor of Surfside, Charles Burkett is setting his sights higher.
He’s gearing up to run for Governor, and he says he plans to put policy — not political posturing — at the forefront of his campaign.
“The Governor’s race is going to come down to ideas, (each candidate’s) platform and what their backgrounds are,” he told Florida Politics. “I think we each have a story to tell.”
Burkett, a 64-year-old real estate investment and management executive, was born and raised in Miami Beach and worked as a construction laborer until he attained a degree in finance from the University of Miami. He bought his first property in 1983. Today, he owns and operates the Burkett Companies, which does business in multiple Florida counties and several states.
While in Miami Beach, Burkett served on several local boards, including the Noise Abatement Board, Code Enforcement Board and Miami Beach Housing Authority, which he chaired.
He moved to Surfside in 1996 and was first elected Mayor a decade later, serving until 2010. He won the office again a decade after that and served from 2020 to 2022, during which he led the small, beachside municipality of fewer than 5,500 residents through the COVID pandemic and saw national exposure following the deadly collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo.
He lost his re-election bid in 2022 by just 35 votes, placing third in a three-way contest. Some cited unrest at Town Hall as the reason for his ouster. But two years later, voters liked his anti-overdevelopment platform more than the incumbent Mayor’s and sent him back to the town’s top office.
Burkett has been mulling a gubernatorial run since. He said as much on one of his websites, TeamSurfside.com: “(Like) all red-blooded, patriotic Americans, I love our Country, and want the best for it and our citizens. When my service to Surfside is complete one day, I plan to run for Governor and hope that I can bring the passion and love I have dedicated to our beautiful hamlet on the beach, to all the citizens of Florida.”
On another website of his (AmericaWantsBetter.org), Burkett outlines Florida-specific priorities likely to be part of his campaign platform. Among them: enforcing immigration laws, cutting taxes, limiting gambling to what’s currently allowed in the state, limiting housing development until more public transportation is available and supporting environmental stewardship.
State records show Burkett, who hasn’t yet filed to run, is registered to vote without party affiliation. He was previously registered with the Independent Party and Republican Party. But he thinks he “might be forced to pick a side” between Democrat and Republican to have a chance at winning, and he doesn’t sound keen on choosing the former.
“I don’t think I could go Democrat because the road they’ve been going down these days isn’t the John Kennedy party my family used to root for,” he said.
Burkett added that he doesn’t think Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who officially entered Governor’s race last month, is “a bad guy.” And Burkett said the Congressman likely has an advantage over First Lady Casey DeSantis, who hasn’t filed but is rumored to considering a run, because President Donald Trump has endorsed Donalds.
“My (campaign) is not going to be hostile,” Burkett said. “I’m going to put my positions out there, and if voters think that’s something they want, that’s fine. If not, that’s OK too.”
26 comments
Fernandez H
March 31, 2025 at 3:28 pm
What a joke! This guy has been surrounded by nothing but controversy! He’s been in the news for sexual harassment of one of his police officers, not maintaining his buildings… even after the Surfside collapse, going to war with his own police Union, impersonating a police officer and pulling his residents over… in Surfside he’s king of the asylum… and this move only proves why.
Charles W. Burkett
March 31, 2025 at 4:22 pm
https://surfside2024.com/f/why-wait-for-the-the-bloc-of-three-the-mystery-pac
https://teamsurfside.com/mayors-page/f/popular-chief-resigns-why-mayor-pulling-people-over-true
A.O.
March 31, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Good luck running as a Republican after you sponsored the first ever LGBTQ+ event in Surfside!
Charles W. Burkett
March 31, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Glad you asked for my position on the LGBTQ+ issue, which can be found on my positions website, Americawantsbetter.org.
LGBTQ+
From the beginning to time, humanity has produced people with an unlimited array of views, beliefs, preferences, opinions and every other descriptor one could come up with, showcasing how we are all different – while at the very same time, all being identically human.
As such, it’s no surprise that those differences, while often interesting and wonderful, can also be contentious.
If history has taught us anything, it’s that history has not taught many as much as it should have. Lost is the one important lesson, ‘Live and Let Live.’
The live and let live axiom, more clearly understood to mean, ‘do what you like, as long is it doesn’t negatively affect or hurt others,’ should be liberally applied to the debate surrounding sexual orientation.
Having said the above, there are immutable truths:
1) Our society has agreed that one reaches majority and the freedom to make decisions for oneself, at the age of 18. Given same, any non life-threatening, permanent, life-altering medical decisions must be delayed until that age.
2) While every person has the right to identify as anything they wish – there is no reciprocal, moral obligation for any other person to be forced to accept, or embrace another’s assumed identity.
3) The fight for equal rights, and our successes with same have been a blessing for America. Sadly, the associated proposition that one can change one’s sex or gender at will, completely transform one’s self into their biological opposite and naturally function as same, cannot be seen as one of those successes, but rather a fantasm.
The harmful fallout emanating from the above proposition is causing irreparable harm to the noble civil and gender rights movements – think women’s sports for example.
As in everything, there are limits and boundaries. The notion that boys and men… can “trans”form themselves into girls and women, is a notion that goes far beyond those thresholds.
Bestowing equal protections upon Americans is laudable, but the presumption that laws can be passed which defy nature, or which obligate Americans to accept and embrace the artifice that one’s God-given gender is alterable, is unconscionable and un-American.
Martin L
March 31, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Didn’t the Surfside towers come down on his watch right after his city inspected the building?
Charles W. Burkett
March 31, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Yes.
Paul
March 31, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Martin L That’s a dooshy comment. Pathetic.
Tina
March 31, 2025 at 3:46 pm
This mayor walks around town in shorts and a badge pulling people over. I would never trust him with the powers of the Governor’s office!!!!
Charles W. Burkett
March 31, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Shorts yes. The rest partially true with a bit of extra hyperbole added. Below is the full story.
https://teamsurfside.com/mayors-page/f/popular-chief-resigns-why-mayor-pulling-people-over-true
Michael K
March 31, 2025 at 3:48 pm
I wonder if the Dubai developers he’s so cozy with will be funding his governor’s campaign?!
ed
March 31, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Dubai was the Mayor that lost the election. He’s was butting heads with developers in Miami Beach 30 years ago
Charles W. Burkett
March 31, 2025 at 4:28 pm
They won’t.
Charles W. Burkett
March 31, 2025 at 4:31 pm
You’re thinking of the mayor I defeated. He was the developer cozy mayor, not me.
Ryan S
March 31, 2025 at 6:10 pm
Your company website says you’re a developer? I’m confused.
Charles W. Burkett
March 31, 2025 at 4:34 pm
They won’t be.
Tom G
March 31, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Good at least this Will finally end his political career in Florida.
GB
March 31, 2025 at 4:55 pm
As a Surfside resident I can warn others in the great state of Florida, run in the other direction from this man. He is a complete crazy person. The Town has been in shambles since he was elected! They cannot hire good people because his reputation is so bad no one will come work here. They had to grossly overpay the town attorney to become the town manager because no qualified person has applied for the job!
Charles W. Burkett
March 31, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Running for office means that you will always have those who oppose you. GB and his fellow travelers are unhappy, I understand, they lost last time.
Rule number one in making political decisions, is consider the source and be very, very careful about taking advice from those who give it “anonymously.” GB?
Rule number two in making political decisions is take a look at each candidate for yourself. In my case, my entire history can be found on my mayor’s website, http://www.teamsurfside.com and my positions website, http://www.Americawantsbetter.org.
Finally, GB I leave you with the quote below, and appreciation for your giving me the opportunity to share.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” Winston Churchill
Robert L
March 31, 2025 at 5:35 pm
As a surfside resident I will be voting for Burkett!! Not because he’s any good, but because I want him far away from my Town! Good luck Charlie!
Cocoa Nelly
March 31, 2025 at 8:46 pm
Charles is a great person and leader he has let me stay at his house after Surfside meetings so that I did not have to drive back to Cocoa Beach. He also promised to support me in bankrupting the town by doing Abbott Avenue drainage and the undergrounding project. He is a man who likes to take charge and has no problem impersonating police officers and pulling people over and spending money on an illegal gate that was removed by Miami-Dade County. If your looking for a leader who has been voted out of Surfside office 4 times I strongly encourage you do vote for Charlie. Florida needs to make the same mistake Surfside residents have over and over. Did I mention he just spent tens of thousands of dollars on an illegal charter amendment special election that the court said was illegal.
Goldstein M
March 31, 2025 at 9:02 pm
As a legacy resident of Surfside for over 30 years I can state that all of the above is true. I sadly made the mistake of supporting him last election and will never make that mistake again. He is a misogynistic, anti police and anti anyone who does not follow his religious beliefs and only cares about himself and being in power.
Goldstein M
March 31, 2025 at 9:02 pm
As a legacy resident of Surfside for over 30 years I can state that all of the above is true. I sadly made the mistake of supporting him last election and will never make that mistake again. He is a misogynistic, anti police and anti anyone who does not follow his religious beliefs and only cares about himself and being in power.
Dianagonzalez r
March 31, 2025 at 9:11 pm
He thoroughly enjoys the sound of his own voice. He is an egomaniac without any real ideas so he just resorts to insults. He will align himself with whoever will take him and he will use them because he cannot be successful on his own “ideas” (or lack thereof). This is evident in his inability to even pick a party and his likely AI-generated platform ideas. He lacks the ability to hear criticism from his constituents and will retaliate against anyone who threatens his title. He is incapable of discerning whether people actually like him or whether they merely tolerate him because of his position in office. What is he compensating for 🤷🏻♀️. He’s a poor-man’s Trump – so maybe he does have a chance.
Steve S.
April 2, 2025 at 12:01 am
Charles Burkett is finally coming out of the closet… in more ways than one – if you know what I mean! A 64-year-old “bachelor” who has never been seen in the company of women… good luck in Talahhassee, buddy!
E. Stupel
April 2, 2025 at 12:04 am
As a lifelong Surfside resident, I voted for Burkett twice. It will never happen again. The man is a liar and a snake. He took in my house and made promises during campaign season, but when he took office, he broke every one of them. Shame on me for allowing this grifter to take me twice. Never again.
Jeff Platt
April 2, 2025 at 12:11 am
What a moron! Hope he spends every last penny of his on his delusion!