Dear Friends & Colleagues,

On September 3, 2024, I began service as the fourth Executive Director for the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, taking the reigns from Jose Arrojo, who we thank for his six years of model leadership guiding our agency to much success.

During this initial time as Executive Director, I witnessed our agency’s devotion to meeting the mission of Miami-Dade County’s Guardian of the Public Trust. The Commission is an inspiring place to serve, and I am honored to lead it. 

Before joining the Ethics Commission, I served as a civil and criminal litigator, beginning my career as an associate attorney specializing in catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and maritime law. Afterward, I was fortunate to serve as a Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney, with my final assignments in the Office’s Special Prosecutions service area handling gang and racketeering initiatives and ultimately serving as a cross-designated Special Assistant United States Attorney. In this role, I participated in the United States Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, coordinating State and Federal firearm and gang-related prosecutions. 

Following my state service, I was honored to join the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida as an Assistant United States Attorney. As a federal prosecutor, I had the opportunity to lead multiple Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces addressing violent and corrupt criminal enterprises, in addition to leading Department of Justice-authorized racketeering investigations. Through these initiatives, I focused my federal practice on prosecuting networks engaged in racketeering, corruption, violence, fraud, and money laundering. Additionally, I served as the District’s Special Prosecutions Section’s Deputy Chief, Section Chief, Gang Coordinator, and Violent Crime Coordinator.

My time as a civil attorney and prosecutor has given me a great appreciation for the Commission’s efforts, which strive to ensure government and electoral integrity. Whether through our efforts to provide ethics training, advisory opinions, or enforcement actions to defend the public trust, the Ethics Commission is committed to providing dedicated service. We are enthused to honor our traditions of service while endeavoring to build upon our partnerships with Miami-Dade County’s enforcement and support officials, and, most importantly, the citizens we serve. As this new chapter begins for the Commission, we are eager to continue our efforts to expand accessibility and engagement with the public, our most critical partner in the work to elevate public integrity and ethics within Miami-Dade Dade County.  



Much Regards,

Ignacio

Commissioners

Dr. Judith Bernier, Chair

Wifredo Gort, Vice Chair

Nelson C. Bellido Esq.

Dava J. Tunis, Esq.

Sandy Boisrond, Esq.

Executive Director

Ignacio J. Vazquez, Jr. Esq.

General Counsel

Loressa Felix, Esq.

Advocate

Radia Turay, Esq.

COE Staff Attorney’s Nolen “Drew” Bunker and Etta Akoni took part in the 5th Annual Miami-Dade County Procurement Expo held at the Miami-Dade County Library, hosted by the Mayor's Office and the County's Strategic Procurement Department. 652 attendees were informed of contracting opportunities available with Miami-Dade County as well as learning of collaborative efforts, specific operational need and other professional services. 

The COE provided information regarding critical legal standards and ethical principles that should govern decisions and actions taken by county and municipal government procurement personnel as well as private businesses that engage in dealings with municipal and county government.

In an effort to further engage with our community and expand our outreach efforts, the COE will soon be launching a social media campaign that the COE will use as a tool to spread specific awareness about Its services, events, trainings, laws, deadlines, and other important COE happenings. Beyond this social media campaign, the COE is also currently in the testing phase of live streaming its monthly board meetings. Live streaming will make meetings more accessible to the community and will allow citizens to see Board activities and decisions in real time, which helps build trust in government. Stay tuned!

Summary of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics & Public Trust Meetings Held on September 11, 2024.

The Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust held a public meeting on September 11, 2024. The following actions took place:

Letter of Instruction Ratified in Case Involving Former Port Director

C 24-20-06: The Commission ratified a Letter of Instruction issued to Juan Kuryla, the former Port Director and Chief Executive Officer at PortMiami, who previously stipulated to a finding of Probable Cause and entered into a settlement agreement for violating the Continuing After Application of County Service section of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance, more commonly known as the Two-Year Rule.

Complaint Filed Against City of Hialeah Manager Found Not Legally Sufficient

C 24-06-03: A complaint filed against City of Hialeah Manager, Rafael Suarez-Rivas, was found Not Legally Sufficient and dismissed. The complaint alleged that Mr. Suarez-Rivas violated the Miami-Dade County Citizens’ Bill of Rights Truth in Government provision when he accepted a professional property appraisal prepared by an outside contractor that allegedly contained false or incorrect information regarding the value of certain real property parcels.

Complaint Filed Against Miami-Dade County Mayor Found Not Legally Sufficient

C 24-30-08: A complaint filed against Miami-Dade County Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, was found Not Legally Sufficient and dismissed. The complaint alleged that Mayor Levine Cava violated the Ethical Campaign Practices ordinance due to a “deliberate attempt to manipulate” the requirement that candidates for a particular office be listed on the ballot in alphabetical order by last name to benefit Mayor Levine Cava. The Commission found that the complaint did not articulate a violation of the Miami-Dade Ethical Campaign Practices Ordinance or the Miami-Dade Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance nor did the COE have jurisdiction to interpret or enforce Florida law.

Public Hearing Date Set in Case Involving Former Town of Surfside Mayor

C 23-53-11: A public hearing was set for the December 11, 2024 COE Meeting in a complaint involving former Town of Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger. The Commission previously found Probable Cause that Mr. Danzinger violated the Exploitation of Official Position Prohibited section of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics ordinance while making a power point presentation where he used Town resources to promote his mayoral campaign.

Letter of Instruction Ratified in Case Involving Former City of Miami Beach Employee

C 24-22-06: The Commission ratified a Letter of Instruction issued to Karhonda White, a former City of Miami Beach Financial Analyst, who previously stipulated to a finding of Probable Cause and entered into a settlement agreement for violating the Exploitation of Official Position Prohibited and Conflicting Employment Prohibited sections of the MiamiDade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics ordinance

Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics & Public Trust

Phone: 305-579-2594

Email: ethics@miamidade.gov

Website: www.ethics.miamidade.gov

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