Miami-Dade Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, who represents District 8, served as a delegate to the recent 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. This was Levine Cava’s first time at a Democratic National Convention and it made a huge impact on her as a commissioner.
The Convention ran from Monday, July 25, to Thursday, July 28.
“It is a convention of a lifetime,” Levine Cava said. “I had never been active in Democratic Party matters prior to the convention.”
Levine Cava said she believes this upcoming presidential election is important because it determines what is at stake for the nation. She was excited to attend the convention for a couple of reasons. In addition to being her first time at a convention, her son just moved back to Philadelphia after being out of the country for one year in India.
The ability to witness Hillary Clinton on the convention stage was an overpowering experience for Levine Cava.
“I have been a great admirer of her for many years,” Levine Cava said.
She knows Clinton personally because they worked on the same children and women’s issues for organizations that supported the Children’s Defense Fund where Clinton served as the board chair. Clinton and Levine Cava also attended Yale University, although at different times. Levine Cava went to Yale as an undergraduate student and Clinton went as a law school student.
“I feel confident that the Democratic nominee will be able to move the country forward. She will be inclusive and be able to allay our fears. I think she will be able to strengthen our economy and restore trust in the government,” the commissioner said. “The whole tone of the convention was one of optimism with a path toward strengthening our democracy and country.”
Levine Cava takes her job as a commissioner for Miami-Dade County seriously. She serves in a non-partisan seat and believes that it is very important to solve issues at the local level. She said that the decisions that are made cross political lines, and she doesn’t want to mix her Democratic Party affiliation with her commissioner duties.
“I’m always looking for a commonsense approach for my constituents,” Levine Cava said.
She was sworn into office in November 2014 and wants to accomplish many things for South Miami-Dade including enhancing environmental factors, creating more jobs, improving transportation options and solving economic issues. “It has been a great opportunity, and I’m so grateful that I was elected.”
Levine Cava said the main reason ran for office is because of the distrust in the government, which she feels is hurtful.
“I will do everything I can do in my lifetime to instill a sense of pride in the government and the country.”
She has worked on improving government transparency as a commissioner.
Levine Cava received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Yale University and graduate degrees in law and social work from Columbia University. She is married to Dr. Robert Cava and raised two children, Eliza and Edward Cava, in Miami-Dade County.
