Jesse Scheckner
Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz has tapped Chrstine Del Portillo, a veteran government and community outreach professional, to lead the Sheriff’s Office’s external communications with lawmakers and the public.
Del Portillo brings more than a quarter-century’s worth of experience in campaign and government work to the job.
She worked for two decades for former U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, including as Deputy Chief of Staff, and six years as South Florida Regional Director for U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. Del Portillo joined Cordero-Stutz’s team last month.
Her title: Head of Government and External Affairs.
“I’m excited to have her on my team,” Cordero-Stutz said on X.
In the role, Del Portillo serves as a bridge between the Sheriff’s Office and federal, state and local leaders, dignitaries and community partners.
It’s an inspiring venture, she told Florida Politics, that offers ample opportunity for personal and professional growth.
“This is new to me, being in the law enforcement world, and I’m really looking forward to learning from the inside what they do day-to-day,” she said.
“I’m also excited about showing them the political side of things. I’m going to learn stuff from them, and they’re going to pick my brain too. It’s going to be a great combination.”
Several notable people applauded the hire.
U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez, the immediate past Mayor of Miami-Dade, called Del Portillo a “class act” and “one of the most effective public servants in our community.”
Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, the Consul General of Israel in Miami, praised the move.
“Not sure who is luckier — Christine to work with the Sheriff, or the Sheriff to have Christine by her side,” he wrote on X. “One thing is for sure: the real winners are the residents.”
Public strategy pro Armando Ibarra, a former President of the Miami Young Republicans and past Director of Government Affairs for the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, said of Del Portillo, “She is the best.”
Nikki Whiting, who leads government affairs for Miami Dade College, described Del Portillo as “a committed public servant who truly cares about our Miami-Dade community.”
A Miami-Dade native, Del Portillo holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and criminal justice from Florida International University and a master’s degree in peace and conflict resolution from American University.
She began working for Ros-Lehtinen in 1999 as Deputy Director, a job she held until 2016, when she became Deputy Chief of Staff. She also worked as the Volunteer Operations Director for Ros-Lehtinen’s campaigns during that stretch, her résumé says.
In 2018, ahead of Ros-Lehtinen’s retirement, Del Portillo worked as an adviser on María Elvira Salazar’s first campaign to succeed the Congresswoman. Del Portillo then joined Scott’s team, where until recently she led the Senator’s Miami office team and oversaw various constituent service work and community outreach efforts.
Now she’s joined with Cordero-Stutz, who made history in November by becoming Miami-Dade’s first Sheriff since the 1960s and the first woman to hold the job.
Del Portillo was impressed by Cordero-Stutz’s electoral success.
“She just set her mind to it, said, ‘I’m going to put 150%,’ and she did it,” Del Portillo said.
