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Anthony Rodriguez, Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 10, and Kionne L. McGhee, who represents District 9, were installed as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Miami-Dade County Commission on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 4 p.m., at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science.
Chair Rodriguez was joined onstage by his family and installed by the Honorable Daniel Perez, Florida House Speaker. The installation ceremony was a celebration of community, fellowship, and new opportunities for the board and residents countywide. Each Commissioner had a remarkable narrative to share, such as Rodriguez, a son of immigrants whose family, like many, came to the United States for a bigger and brighter future.
“Every person here has a special story, and together, those stories have created one of the most vibrant communities in the world,” Rodriguez said. “Now, the question has to be asked – what are we going to do with the opportunities ahead of us? We have all the tools to be successful.
“A county that has quickly become a financial hub on the international stage. World-class universities and medical centers. Neighborhoods as rich in culture and diversity as they are in beauty. And we’re a global destination for visitors, businesses and capital alike,” he continued.
“Our task, now, is to work together to take the advantages our grandparents never had and build something they never could have imagined. To take the opportunities our ancestors could only have dreamt of and turn them into a reality for every person in Miami-Dade County. The next two years, I want us to be honest, open, and ready to take action to solve the challenges we face. This Commission’s work should reflect the priorities of those we represent, not our own interests or special interests,” Rodriguez added.
Vice Chair McGhee, who was installed as Commissioner of District 9 for a second term and as vice chair of the board for the next two years, shared his words of hope and appreciation to the crowd.
“Today, in the greatest county in the land, boarded by the Everglades, the Biscayne, the Atlantic, and the beaches, another story unfolds,” McGhee said. “Our precious streets are filled with old, young, rich, and the poor who dream, but feel unseen — the unhoused seeking shelter, the unconnected looking for belonging, and the ones with untethered dreams, yearning to take flight.
“And found on the very same streets are also those with homes, connections, and a sturdy ground beneath their feet. If we are honest, we know deep down all of them carry the same willingness to do more and stretch a little further for the betterment of each other.
This is a not a story of leaders or grand speeches, but one of a shared heart,” he continued.
“It’s one neighbor helping another and one stranger extending a hand. It’s about small act – you know – a shared meal, a kind word, an open door – that leads the unseen into the seen and the forgotten into the cherished,” McGhee added.
The commissioners recited the Oath of Office for their elected roles during the installation, which included Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert, III, representing District 1; Commissioner Keon Hardemon, representing District 3; Commissioner Eileen Higgins, representing District 5; Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado, representing District 7; Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez, representing District 11, and Sen. René García, representing District 13.
With more than 300 people in attendance, including the Miami-Dade County Commission, Miami-Dade County directors and employees, elected officials, faith-based leaders, and the public, the installation ceremony was a momentous occasion. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and a sense of unity as everyone came together to commemorate this important event.
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