Bruno Arthur Barreiro (born December 14, 1965) is a Republican politician from Florida. He served on the Miami-Dade County Commission from 1998 to 2018, representing part of Miami Beach and the Miami neighborhoods of Brickell, Little Havana, Coral Way, and West Flagler.[1] He resigned on March 31, 2018, to run unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Florida's 27th congressional district in the 2018 election.
Bruno A. Barreiro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Miami-Dade County Commission from the 5th district | |
| In office June 2, 1998 – March 31, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Kaplan |
| Succeeded by | Eileen Higgins |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 107th district | |
| In office November 3, 1992 – June 2, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Gustavo Barreiro |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 14, 1965 Clearwater, Florida |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Zoraida A Barreiro |
| Residence | Miami, Florida |
| Alma mater | University of Miami |
| Occupation | Business owner |
| Website | www.BarreiroFL.com |
Early life and education edit
Barreiro is the son of Cuban immigrant parents and was born in Clearwater, Florida.[2] He graduated from Christopher Columbus High School and attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.[2]
Political career edit
Florida House of Representatives edit
Barreiro was first elected into public office in 1992 to serve in the Florida House of Representatives representing District 107.[2][3] While serving in the Florida House of Representatives, he chaired the Tourism Committee. He also got the nickname "el mudo" (the mute).[4]
Miami-Dade County Commission edit
On June 2, 1998, Barreiro was elected to serve as Miami-Dade County Commissioner representing District 5.[5] He served as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners in 2007 and 2008. He was re-elected for subsequent terms to represent constituents in portions of the Cities of Miami and Miami Beach, as well as the communities of Little Havana, Downtown, and South Beach.
Barreiro was a key figure behind the Marlins Park baseball stadium in Miami, which attracted controversy due to its enormous cost to Miami-Dade County and benefit to Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.[6]
Barreiro voted in 2012 to award a $25 Million contract to Munilla Construction Management (MCM) for a testing track for Metrorail cars after receiving maximum donations from 4 Munilla family members, renting subsidized office space from the family, and acknowledging he was "close friends" with the family members.[7] As of November 30, 2015, $21 Million of the $25 Million contract had been paid and construction was never completed.[8]
In 2018, the Miami Herald described Barreiro as "a powerful figure in Miami politics."[9]
2018 U.S. House campaign edit
In May 2017, Barreiro announced he would run for Florida's 27th congressional district in the 2018 election, after incumbent Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen announced she was retiring.[10]
On March 31, 2018, Barreiro resigned his County Commission seat to run for Congress, following a change in Florida's resign-to-run law.[11] He timed his resignation so that a special election would be called, in which his wife Zoraida could win his seat. He used over $95,000 of his own campaign funds to support Zoraida, but she lost the June special election to Democratic candidate Eileen Higgins.[9]
Barreiro's support of his wife's campaign weakened his ability to campaign against his eight challengers for the Republican House nomination, of whom the strongest was TV journalist Maria Elvira Salazar.[9] Salazar ultimately won the August primary election with 40.5% of the vote, with Barreiro coming in second place with 25.7%.[12]
2020 Florida House of Representatives edit
Barreiro ran for District 112 in the 2020 Florida House of Representatives election, challenging incumbent Nick Duran.[13] Duran defeated Barreiro 53%-47%.[14]
2021 Miami City Commission edit
On June 4, 2021, Barreiro filed paperwork to challenge Joe Carollo for city commission district 3.[15] He withdrew from the race on July 21.[16]
Electoral history edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bruno Barreiro (Incumbent) | 13,689 | 57.56 | |
| Democratic | Marc Anthony Lemonis | 10,092 | 42.44 | |
| Total votes | 23,781 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bruno Barreiro (Incumbent) | 10,681 | 53.87 | |
| Democratic | Andres Rivero | 9,146 | 46.13 | |
| Total votes | 19,827 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bruno Barreiro | 13,567 | 50.89 | |
| Democratic | Steve Leifman | 13,091 | 49.11 | |
| Total votes | 26,658 | 100 | ||
Personal life edit
He and his wife Zoraida are parents of two children, Bianca Fatima and Bruno Antonio.[20]
Barreiro is the owner of BABJ Investment Corporation, Marketing Vice President of Fatima Home Care and a Director of IUSA Partners, Inc.
References edit
- ^ "About Commissioner Barreiro". www.miamidade.gov. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ a b c Burke, Peter (May 10, 2017). "Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro announces bid for Congress". WPLG. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- ^ "SFRTA elects top officers". South Florida Business Journal. June 27, 2006.
- ^ Schorsch, Peter (October 20, 2020). "Bruno Barreiro's sad (and final) campaign". Florida Politics. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
In his short time in the Legislature, Barreiro got the nickname "el mudo" (translation: the mute)
- ^ Mazzei, Patricia (May 10, 2017). "Miami-Dade commissioner launches Republican candidacy for Congress". The Miami Herald. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017.
- ^ Iannelli, Jerry (May 14, 2017). "Five Times Congressional Candidate Bruno Barreiro Helped His Wealthy Donors". Miami New Times. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ Shammas, Tim Elfrink, Brittany. "Contractors Behind Collapsed FIU Bridge Are Major Miami Political Players". Miami New Times. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Test track two years late for 132 Metrorail cars". Miami Today. August 16, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c Smiley, David (June 20, 2018). "Miami Democrats may have won two victories by capturing one County Commission seat". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ Mazzei, Patricia (May 5, 2017). "Republican Miami-Dade commissioner says he's running for Ros-Lehtinen's seat in Congress". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ Smiley, David (March 31, 2018). "Barreiro resigns, plans to run for Congress". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
- ^ Vassolo, Martin (August 28, 2018). "Salazar beats Barreiro in GOP primary in Florida's 27th congressional district". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ Nicol, Ryan (June 12, 2020). "Two Republican challengers emerge for Nick Duran's House seat". Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "2020 Florida House of Representatives elections, District 112 results". Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Flechas, Joey (June 4, 2021). "Bruno Barreiro will challenge Joe Carollo for Miami city commission seat". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Flechas, Joey (July 22, 2021). "After six weeks, Barreiro drops bid to challenge Carollo for Miami commission seat". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "Florida Department of State Division of Elections". November 5, 1996.
- ^ "Florida Department of State Division of Elections". November 8, 1994.
- ^ "Florida Department of State Division of Elections". November 3, 1992.
- ^ "About Commissioner Barreiro". Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.