Daniella Levine Cava

Daniella Levine Cava (born September 14, 1955) is an American lawyer, social worker, and politician who has served as mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida since 2020. Previously, she served as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner from 2014 until her election as mayor.[2]

Daniella Levine Cava
8th Mayor of Miami-Dade County
Incumbent
Assumed office November 17, 2020
Preceded by	Carlos A. Giménez
Member of the Miami-Dade County Commission from the 8th district
In office November 5, 2014 – November 17, 2020
Preceded by	Lynda Bell
Succeeded by	Danielle Cohen Higgins[1]
Personal details
Born	Daniella Levine September 14, 1955 New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Robert Cava
Children	2
Education	Yale University (BA) Columbia University (JD, MSW)

Early life and education

Daniella Levine was born on September 14, 1955 in New York City. She traveled throughout Latin America in her youth.[3] She later attended Yale University, where she served as the President of the Student Council, graduating in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She later attended Columbia University, receiving a Juris Doctor in 1981 and a Master of Social Work in 1983. She moved to Miami in 1980 with her husband, Dr. Robert Cava.[4][5]

Legal and non-profit career

Upon her arrival to Miami in 1980, Levine Cava became an attorney with Legal Services of Greater Miami, later leaving in 1985 after becoming legal director for the Guardian Ad Litem program, a court-run child welfare legal program. During her time as a lawyer, she served on the Florida Bar Committee on Legal Needs of Children. In 1992, following Hurricane Andrew, she was appointed as the Miami-Dade County program manager for the Florida Department of Children and Families, holding the position until 1994. The following year, she founded a youth outreach program with Barry University.[2][6]

In 1996, Levine Cava founded the Human Services Coalition, later renamed Catalyst Miami, which, through partnerships with the United Way and local businesses, aids low-income families with monetary advice. At Catalyst Miami, she launched the Prosperity Campaign which helps people increase their income and savings, allowing families to build financial security. She served as the president and chief executive officer of Catalyst Miami until 2013.[7]

Political career

Miami-Dade County commission

In 2013, Levine Cava, a Democrat, ran against incumbent Miami-Dade County District 8 Commissioner Lynda Bell, a conservative. The district includes much of southern Miami-Dade County, including suburban localities like West Kendall and Cutler Bay, and agricultural communities like Homestead and Redland. Levine Cava entered the race in 2014, taking her husband's last name in a district where more than 40% of the district's population is Hispanic.[5] Levine Cava narrowly defeated Bell in the August 26 election, receiving 52% of the vote to Bell's 48%.[8]

In 2016, Levine Cava sponsored legislation in the Miami-Dade County Commission that requires local candidates for office to register when they raise money for political action committees.[9]

Levine Cava won reelection in 2018, receiving over 61% of the vote.[10]

In November 2019, Levine Cava published a letter in the Miami Herald criticizing the Florida State Legislature for diverting funds for affordable housing. This diverted nearly $1.4 billion to balance the state budget.[11] She also created the Infill Housing Program which aims to build affordable housing on County-owned land in her district.[12]

During her tenure, Levine Cava has advocated for the protection of the environment. In 2017, she sponsored the resolution to support the Paris climate agreement. In response to the presence of fecal bacteria in Biscayne Bay in early 2020, she also sponsored legislation to improve water testing in the area.[13] [14]

In 2018, Levine Cava created an initiative to protect pedestrians and bikers from harm's way. The initiative featured a plan for engaging with the business community to create incentives that could train people to be better drivers and an agenda for improving biking accessibility on roads.[15]

Levine Cava gained endorsements from labor unions like the Service Employees International Union, and the AFL–CIO, and environmental groups like the Sierra Club.[16][17]

2020 Miami-Dade County mayoral election

In early 2020, Levine Cava announced her run for the 2020 Miami-Dade County mayoral election, to succeed incumbent Mayor Carlos Giménez, who is term-limited.[18] She earned the endorsements of many major organizations and newspapers, including the Miami Herald, and received the endorsement of many prominent Democrats, including congresswomen Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Donna Shalala.[19][20] Levine Cava has also received significant funding from Donald Sussman, a hedge fund executive who was the largest single donor to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 United States presidential election[21]

In the August 18 primary, Levine Cava placed second behind fellow Commissioner Esteban Bovo, receiving 28% to Bovo's 29%, with former County Mayor Alex Penelas trailing in third with 24%.[22] Since neither Levine Cava or Bovo received over 50% of the vote, this triggered an runoff election between the two candidates, which was held on November 3, 2020.[23]

Electoral history

Miami-Dade County Commission District 8 election, 2014[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Daniella Levine Cava	9,078	51.97
	Republican	Lynda Bell (incumbent)	8,390	48.03
Total votes			17,468	100.00

Miami-Dade County Commission District 8 election, 2018[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Daniella Levine Cava (incumbent)	15,289	61.2
	Republican	Gus Barreiro	5,431	21.7
	Democratic	Johnathan Burke	4,278	17.1
Total votes			24,998	100.00

Miami-Dade County mayoral blanket primary, 2020[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Esteban Bovo	122,135	29.28
	Democratic	Daniella Levine Cava	120,089	28.79
	Democratic	Alex Penelas	102,338	24.53
	Independent	Xavier Suarez	43,831	10.51
	Democratic	Monique Nicole Barley	22,823	5.47
	Republican	Ludmilla Domond	5,230	1.25
	Write-in		715	0.17
Total votes			417,161	100

Miami-Dade County mayoral election, 2020[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Daniella Levine Cava	576,647	53.97
	Republican	Esteban Bovo	491,838	46.03
Total votes			1,068,485	100.00

Personal life

Levine Cava is married to Dr. Robert Cava, a Miami-Dade doctor of Italian American descent. They have two children, Eliza and Edward.[2]

Awards

For her non-profit work, Levine Cava has received numerous awards. Most notably, she received the Most Distinguished Pioneer Award from the National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Youth. She also received the Joanne Hayes Democracy and Mentoring Award from the League of Women Voters.[28]

References

1. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/danielle-cohen-higgins-appointed-to-miami-dade-commission-seat-vacated-by-levine-cava/2338354/
2. "About Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava". www.miamidade.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
3. "EYE ON MIAMI: Do you know anything about Daniella Levine Cava? I do. By Geniusofdespair". EYE ON MIAMI. 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
4. "Daniella Levine | HuffPost". www.huffpost.com. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
5. Hanks, Douglas (November 23, 2014). "After a life of social work, Levine Cava takes a seat of power". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
6. "Meet Daniella | Daniella Levine Cava for Mayor". Daniella Levine Caba for Mayor. 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
7. "Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava". Catalyst Miami. 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
8. "Dade - Election Results 2014". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
9. Douglas, Hanks (May 18, 2016). "County commissioners endorse campaign reform. After grumbling". Miami Herald.
10. "Election Night Reporting 2018". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
11. Levine Cava, Daniella (November 4, 2019). "Protect affordable housing funds to boost our economy". Miami Herald.
12. DeVane, Mia. "Commissioner Cava Announces Program to Help Tackle Affordable Housing Crisis". www.caribbeantoday.com. Retrieved 2020-09-03.
13. Aguirre, Louis (2020-02-27). "Is Miami's beach water filled with poop? Volunteer testing proves it's so". WPLG. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
14. Douglas, Hanks (June 20, 2017). "Miami-Dade backs Paris climate agreement that President Trump rejected".
15. Linda, Robertson (May 24, 2018). "Her husband was hit by a car. Now she's pushing to make streets safer for bicyclists".
16. Nicol, Ryan (2020-01-09). "Sierra Club Miami endorses Daniella Levine Cava for Miami-Dade County Mayor". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
17. Nicol, Ryan (2020-07-21). "Daniella Levine Cava, Alex Penelas tout new labor endorsements in Miami-Dade County mayoral race". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
18. Nicol, Ryan (2020-02-28). "Daniella Levine Cava talks breaking 'glass ceilings' in new ad". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
19. THE MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL BOARD (July 26, 2020). "Daniella Levine Cava for Miami-Dade County mayor | Editorial". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
20. Nicol, Ryan (2020-08-27). "Former Miami-Dade mayoral rival backs Steve Bovo, while Daniella Levine Cava adds support from congressional Democrats". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
21. "In the race for Miami-Dade mayor, Alex Penelas is leading the pack in donations". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
22. Douglas, Hanks (August 19, 2020). "A Republican and a Democrat are running for county mayor, and Trump's along for the race".
23. "Summary Results - Election Night Reporting". enr.electionsfl.org. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
24. "Miami Herald". miamiherald.com.
25. "Ballotpedia". ballotpedia.org.
26. "Summary Results - Election Night Reporting". enr.electionsfl.org. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
27. "Dade - Election Results". results.enr.clarityelections.com.
28. "About Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava - Awards & Certificates". www.miamidade.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-06.