List of mayors and city managers of Miami Beach, Florida

Miami Beach, Florida operates under a council-manager system (weak mayor), with both an office of mayor and city manager.

Office of Mayor

Mayor of the City of Miami Beach
Seal of the City of Miami Beach
Incumbent
Steven Meiner
since November 28, 2023
Term lengthTwo years
Inaugural holderJohn Newton Lummus, Sr.
Formation1915
Salary$10,000 (as of 2025)
WebsiteMayor's official website

The mayor of Miami Beach is the nonpartisan chief executive of the municipal government of Miami Beach, Florida, and the presiding member of its seven-member City Commission. Modern-day mayors are elected to two-year terms and are term-limited to no more than 3 terms, which can be consecutive or non-consecutive. The mayor and other members of the City Commission appoint a city manager to administer the day-to-day affairs and operations of City Hall and its various departments. City Hall is located at 1700 Convention Center Drive; the mayor's office is located on the fourth floor.

Three father-son combinations have held the office: the John Lummuses (Jr. and Sr.), the Dermers (Jay and David), and the Gelbers (Seymour and Dan). One woman has served as mayor (Matti Bower). She is also, thus far, the only Hispanic person to serve.

Six mayors (D. Lee Powell, Alex Daoud, Seymour Gelber, David Dermer, Matti Bower, and Dan Gelber) served 3 terms while Louis Snedigar is the only one elected to 4.

Snedigar was the longest-serving mayor, with a non-consecutive total of eight years and 8 months in office. Acting mayor Stanley Arkin was the briefest, filling in for three months in 1991 following Daoud's removal from office.

As of November 2025, there are six living former mayors: Norman Ciment, Neisen Kasdin, David Dermer, Matti Bower, Philip Levine, and Dan Gelber.

The current mayor is Steven Meiner, who was elected on November 21, 2023, and assumed office on November 28, 2023.[1] He was reelected to a second term on November 4, 2025.[2]

As of 2025, the mayor is paid an annual salary of $10,000 and also receives taxable fringe benefits of $37,800.[3]

List of mayors (1915–present)

No. Portrait Name Term in office Terms Approximate
length of service
Notes
1
John Newton Lummus Sr.
1871–1961
March 26, 1915

October 28, 1918
2 3 years,
7 months
Father of 5th mayor, J. N. Lummus, Jr.
2
Thomas Jessup Pancoast
1865–1941
October 28, 1918

October 25, 1920
1 2 years [4]
3 Thomas E. James
1872–1936
October 25, 1920

October 23, 1922
1 2 years
4 Louis Fielding "Red" Snedigar
1890–1951
October 23, 1922

December 21, 1926
1st and 2nd of 4 terms 4 years,
2 months
Longest-serving mayor (8 years, 8 months over 4 terms)
5 John Newton Lummus Jr.
1899–1983
December 21, 1926

December 18, 1928
1 2 years Son of 1st mayor, J. N. Lummus, Sr.
6 Louis Fielding "Red" Snedigar
1890–1951
December 18, 1928

December 16, 1930
3rd of 4 terms 2 years
7 Val C. Cleary
1882–1966
December 16, 1930

December 20, 1932
1st of 2 terms 2 years [5]
8 Arthur Frank Katzentine
1902–1960
December 20, 1932

December 18, 1934
1 2 years
9 Louis Fielding "Red" Snedigar
1890–1951
December 18, 1934

June 1, 1937
4th of 4 terms 2 years,
612 months
10 John Hale Levi
1875–1948
June 1, 1937

June 3, 1941
1st and 2nd of 3 terms 4 years [6][7][8][9][10]
11 Val C. Cleary
1882–1966
June 3, 1941

June 1, 1943
2nd of 2 terms 2 years [5]
12 Mitchell Wolfson
1900–1983
June 1, 1943

June 5, 1944
1 1 year
13 John Hale Levi
1875–1948
June 5, 1944

June 5, 1945
3rd of 3 terms 1 year [6][7][8][9][10]
14 Herbert A. Frink June 5, 1945

June 3, 1947
1 2 years
15 Marcie Liberman
1896–1966
June 3, 1947

June 7, 1949
1 2 years [11]
16 Harold Turk
1915?–1988
June 7, 1949

June 5, 1951
1 2 years [12]
17 D. Lee Powell
1908–1983
June 5, 1951

June 2, 1953
1st of 3 terms 2 years [13]
18 Harold Shapiro
1906?–1981
June 2, 1953

June 7, 1955[14]
1 2 years Born in Russia, emigrated to U.S. at age 4[15]
19 D. Lee Powell
1908–1983
June 7, 1955

June 4, 1957
2nd of 3 terms 2 years [13]
20 Kenneth Oka
1916–1987
June 4, 1957

June 2, 1959[14]
1st of 2 terms 2 years [16][17]
21 D. Lee Powell
1908–1983
June 2, 1959

June 6, 1961[14]
3rd of 3 terms 2 years [13]
22 Kenneth Oka
1916–1987
June 6, 1961

June 4, 1963[14]
2nd of 2 terms 2 years [16][17]
23 Melvin J. Richard
1911?–2001
June 4, 1963

June 1, 1965[14]
1 2 years [18][19][20]
24 Elliott Roosevelt
1910–1990
June 1, 1965

June 6, 1967[14]
1 2 years Son of Franklin D. Roosevelt[21][22][23][24][25]
25 Jay Dermer
1929–1984
June 6, 1967

November 2, 1971[14]
2 4 years,
5 months
Father of 35th mayor, David Dermer[26][25]
26 Chuck Hall
1918?–1974
November 2, 1971

August 10, 1974
(died in office)
2 2 years,
9 months
Previously served as the first mayor of Miami-Dade County, 1964–1970[27][28][29]
Acting Harold Rosen
1925–2018
August 10, 1974

November 4, 1975[14]
1 year,
3 months
Appointed to fill office upon Chuck Hall's death; later elected in his own right[30][31][32][33][34]
27 November 4, 1975

November 1, 1977[14]
1 2 years
28 Leonard Haber
1933–2015
November 1, 1977

November 6, 1979[14]
1 2 years [35]
29 Murray Selbert Meyerson
1931?–2017
November 6, 1979

November 3, 1981[14]
1 2 years [36][37][38]
30 Norman Ciment
1936–
November 3, 1981

November 1, 1983[14]
1 2 years [39][40]
31 Malcolm Hubert Fromberg
1935–2016
November 1, 1983

November 5, 1985[14]
1 2 years [41][42][43]
32 Alex Daoud
1943–2025
November 5, 1985

October 31, 1991
(suspended from office)
3 6 years First mayor to serve 3 consecutive terms

Suspended by Gov. Lawton Chiles following federal indictment
[44][45][46]
Acting Stanley Arkin
1932–2015
October 31, 1991

November 20, 1991
3 weeks Vice mayor at time of Alex Daoud's suspension[47][48]
33 Seymour Gelber
1919–2019
November 20, 1991

November 4, 1997[14]
3 6 years Father of 38th mayor, Dan Gelber[49][50][51][52][53]
34 Neisen Kasdin
1954–
November 4, 1997

November 13, 2001
2 4 years [54]
35 David Dermer
1963–
November 13, 2001

November 21, 2007
3 6 years Son of 25th mayor, Jay Dermer[25][55][56]
36 Matti Herrera Bower
1939–
November 21, 2007

November 25, 2013
3 6 years First woman and Hispanic person to serve as mayor[57][58]
37 Philip Levine
1962–
November 25, 2013

November 13, 2017
2 4 years [59][60]
38 Dan Gelber
1960–
November 13, 2017

November 28, 2023
3 6 years Son of 33rd mayor, Seymour Gelber[51][53]
39 Steven Meiner
1971–
November 28, 2023

Incumbent
2

Office of City Manager

In Miami Beach, city manager is responsible for administering governmental operations. An appointed city manager is responsible for administration of the city.[61]

As of 2025, the city manager is paid an annual salary of $375,000.[3]

List of city managers

City managers of Miami Beach[62]
# Manager Years served Notes
1st Claude A. Renshaw 1924–1958
2nd Morris N. Lipp 1958–1962
3rd O.M. Pushkin 1962–1966
4th J.C. Duffield 1966
5th Robert M. Oldland 1966–1967
6th J.C. Duffield 1967–1969
7th Clifford W. O'Key 1969–1972
Frank R. Spence (acting manager) 1972–1976
8th D.A. Southern 1976–1979
9th Gavin W. O'Brien 1978–1979
10th Harold T. Totall 1979–1982
11th Rob W. Parkins 1982–1991 initially acting manager in 1982, before being permanently that same year
Carla B. Talarico (acting manager) 1991–1992
12th Roger M. Carlton 1992–1995
13th Jose Garcia-Pedrosa 1995–1998
14th Sergio Rodriguez 1998–1999
Lawrence Levy (acting manager) 1999–2000
15th Jorge M. Gonzalez 2000–2012
Kathie G. Brooks (interim manager) 2012–2013
16th Jimmy L. Morales 2013–2020
Raul J. Aguila (interim manager) 2020–2021
17th Alina T. Hudak 2021–2024
Rickelle Williams (interim manager) 2024
18th Eric T. Carpenter 2024–present

See also

References

  1. ^ "Steven Meiner sworn in as Miami Beach's new mayor; talks priorities during one-on-one interview – CBS Miami". www.cbsnews.com. November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Scheckner, Jesse (November 5, 2025). "Steven Meiner repels lone challenger, wins second term as Miami Mayor". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Karantsalis, Theo (May 22, 2025). "Power and Pay: The Salaries Behind Every City Hall in Miami-Dade". Miami New Times. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  4. ^ Florida, State Library and Archives of. "Portrait of Thomas J. Pancoast – Miami Beach, Florida". Florida Memory. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Lavender, Abraham D. (2002). Miami Beach in 1920: The Making of a Winter Resort. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738523514.
  6. ^ a b "This is What the 44 Star Destroyer House is Destroying". Curbed Miami. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "TIME Magazine Cover: John H. Levi – Feb. 19, 1940". Time. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Miami Beach Mayor on Cover of Time in 1940". February 19, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Bramson, Seth (2005). Miami Beach. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738541747.
  10. ^ a b "The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 28, 1948 · Page 20". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  11. ^ "Babe Ruth Receiving Key to Miami Beach". Getty Images. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  12. ^ "Harold Turk, 73, Dies; A Miami Beach Mayor". The New York Times. July 23, 1988. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c Cooke, Bill (May 25, 2015). "Spectacular Scandals Have Plagued Miami Beach Police For a Century". Miami New Times. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "#1114-2 List of City Commission Members 1953 to 1999". docmgmt.miamibeachfl.gov. Miami Beach City Clerk. 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  15. ^ "The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 29, 1981 · Page 13". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Judge Kenneth Oka". geni_family_tree. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Kenneth Oka (1916–1987) Grave Site | BillionGraves". BillionGraves. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  18. ^ Harris, Arthur Jay (April 23, 1998). "He Did a Job on the Mob". Miami New Times. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  19. ^ "#487 11 Memorial for Mayor Melvin Richard 2005 – Laserfiche WebLink". docmgmt.miamibeachfl.gov. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  20. ^ "Claude Pepper and Miami Beach Mayor Melvin J. Richard holding plaques | fsu.digital.flvc.org". fsu.digital.flvc.org. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  21. ^ Hevesi, Dennis (October 28, 1990). "Elliott Roosevelt, General and Author, Dies at 80". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  22. ^ "Elliott Roosevelt (1919–1990)". www2.gwu.edu. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  23. ^ "Nation: Elliott for Mayor Too". Time. March 5, 1965. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  24. ^ "Deck the Halls With Matzo Balls. Going Home for the Holidays—to Miami Beach". December 18, 2014. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  25. ^ a b c "The Jewish impact on Miami Beach – Miami Beach 411". www.miamibeach411.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  26. ^ UPI (April 7, 1984). "JAY DERMER". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  27. ^ "CHARLES HALL DIES, MIAMI BEACH MAYOR". The New York Times. August 11, 1974. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  28. ^ "The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida on August 11, 1974 · Page 33". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  29. ^ Florida, State Library and Archives of. "Portrait of Miami Beach mayor Charles F. "Chuck" Hall". Florida Memory. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  30. ^ Hersh, Carl (August 25, 2016), Harold Rosen, former Miami Beach Mayor, retrieved December 6, 2017
  31. ^ Miami Beach 100 (November 12, 2014), Harold Rosen – Celebrating 100 Years of Miami Beach!, retrieved December 6, 2017{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Cooke, Bill (April 23, 2015). "Miami Beach's Long History of Ridiculous, Fun-Killing Laws". Miami New Times. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  33. ^ Clarke, Jay (September 19, 1977). "Miami Beach Looks to Casino Gambling for Salvation". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  34. ^ "Harold Rosen, former Miami Beach mayor who helped rid city of rent control, dies at 92". miamiherald. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  35. ^ "Former Miami Beach mayor, psychologist Dr. Leonard Haber dies at 82". miamiherald. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  36. ^ "Election officials in Miami predict a 50 percent voter..." UPI. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  37. ^ "Signed portrait of Claude Pepper posing with Miami Beach Mayor Murray Meyerson | fsu.digital.flvc.org". fsu.digital.flvc.org. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  38. ^ Johnson, Janis (November 19, 1980). "Miami Homicides at a Record-Killing Pace". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  39. ^ Quindlen, Anna (1982). "ABOUT NEW YORK". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  40. ^ UPI (September 22, 1983). "AROUND THE NATION; Mayor of Miami Beach Is Fearful of Refugees". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  41. ^ "Former Miami Beach mayor and longtime attorney Malcolm Fromberg dies at 81". miamiherald. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  42. ^ Rangel, Jesus (August 12, 1984). "MIAMI BEACH IS STRIVING TO REBUILD AS A CLASSY HOME AND PLACE TO VISIT". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  43. ^ "Claude Pepper with Miami Beach Mayor Malcolm Fromberg and others holding a proclamation | fsu.digital.flvc.org". fsu.digital.flvc.org. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  44. ^ "Miami Beach Mayor Named in Indictment". The New York Times. October 30, 1991. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  45. ^ "Sins of South Beach – Book – The True Story". www.sinsofsouthbeach.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  46. ^ Alvarado, Tamara Lush, Chris Joseph, Francisco (December 20, 2007). "How Alex Daoud Got His Groove Back". Miami New Times. Retrieved December 6, 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  47. ^ "Stanley Arkin, builder, former Miami Beach commissioner, dies at 82". miamiherald. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  48. ^ "Community Leader Stanley Arkin Passes Away | Miller School of Medicine | University of Miami". med.miami.edu. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  49. ^ "2008 – Seymour Gelber – The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section". The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section. April 25, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  50. ^ ScSil (October 26, 2007), Judge Seymour Gelber on being the Mayor of Miami Beach, retrieved December 6, 2017
  51. ^ a b "Former state lawmaker Dan Gelber will run for Miami Beach mayor". miamiherald. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  52. ^ Kissell, Ted B. (July 9, 1998). "Gelber Unbound". Miami New Times. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  53. ^ a b "He was mayor once. Now at 98, he swore his son into the same office". miamiherald. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  54. ^ "Miami Beach Mayor Neisen Kasdin". South Beach Magazine. October 5, 2001. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  55. ^ Hersh, Carl (December 9, 2016), David Dermer Interview Excerpt, retrieved December 6, 2017
  56. ^ Chichi Pierce (August 9, 2014), Dermer 2014, retrieved December 6, 2017
  57. ^ Alvarez, Lizette (November 1, 2011). "Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower Wins Re-Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  58. ^ uVu (July 21, 2014), Miami Today – Interview with Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower, retrieved December 6, 2017
  59. ^ "After recount, Levine wins Miami Beach mayoral race". miamiherald. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  60. ^ "Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine easily defeats opponent; Arriola and Alemán also win". miamiherald. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  61. ^ "The Journey to Excellence". City of Miami Beach. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  62. ^ "City Manager History". City of Miami Beach. Retrieved October 23, 2025.