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Due to the resignation of City of Miami Commissioner Ken Russell, a Special Election (Feb. 27) to replace his District 2 seat is underway. 15 candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for the 45-day sprint, among them former Judge Martin Zilber.
Zilber is well-known throughout South Florida, given his long history of civic involvement, private law practice and service as Judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. We asked him about all of this in a lively discussion covering qualifications for office, plans for the abbreviated election season and vision for District 2.
Tell us about your qualifications for this office.
I’m a lifetime Miami resident and Grovite homeowner. My wife of 30 years and I have raised two great kids in our community, and always taken pride in public service. This is an opportunity to get involved and give back, which has been a part of my ethos for decades.
Throughout my career I’ve served as adjunct professor at Miami Dade College and FIU; a board member of the University of Miami School of Law; a member of the Jackson Hospital Public Health Trust; vice chair of the Cultural Affairs Council and elected councilman for the Village of Coconut Grove.
From 2014 to 2021, I proudly served our community and was a dedicated, passionate, and impartial jurist. I was among the top-rated judges in case load efficiency, jury trials conducted, accessibility, fairness in sentencing, and well-regarded by my colleagues.
I was often forced to make difficult decisions and, as you may have read, this created entrenched enemies in our system who leveled false attacks against me. I would never act in the way their caricature was drawn, and strongly deny the accusations. My situation arose because of a disgruntled employee, and ethically challenged attorney, who chose to come after me for their own self-interest.
I am proud to announce here that I was finally vindicated. The Florida Bar opened a formal investigation into the public allegations leveled against me. As the most important governing legal body in our state, the Bar conducted a comprehensive investigation that lasted nearly a year, including due diligence into every detail of these claims. After this exhaustive process, including discussions with dozens of lawyers and judges, in a formal letter dated Aug. 24, The Florida Bar cleared me of wrongdoing and issued a declaration of “no probable cause.”
After all these years, I remain called to service and passionate about making our community a little better every day.
What do you view as the key issues for district 2?
The truth is, we have a remarkable city on the rise across virtually all sectors of Miami (and our district is no exception). However, we must preserve our quality of life amidst a dramatic evolution underway, and for me that narrows down to three focal points:
Safety – We must keep crime down, put more police on the streets and prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our residents.
Greenspace – Miami has incredible natural resources, but we can’t take them for granted. Unfortunately, I’ve been witness to gross negligence in protecting our greenspaces, including Regatta Park. Too often we prioritize for-profit public events that destroy the habitat, as opposed to letting these resources flourish for the everyday enjoyment of families.
Collaboration – perhaps the greatest asset I would bring if victorious is an ability to get along with fellow Commissioners, and a capacity for compromise. To put it bluntly, people are sick of watching their elected officials spend more time fighting with each other than getting things done. Some current and many former commissioners are actively supporting our campaign, which indicates a path to conciliation on behalf of our residents.
You’ve outlined why you would be qualified to run, but tell us why you want to?
It’s quite simple. As I look towards the next generation, including my two children, it’s important for me to help shape the future they will inherit.
Between my credentials, proven community impact and clear vision for District 2, I hope the voters give me a chance to serve them once again.
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