Eric Diaz-Padron: West Miami mayor adds services, keeps city tax rates low

Since becoming mayor of West Miami in 2022, Eric Diaz-Padron has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to enhancing the quality of life for residents. 

Mayor Diaz-Padron said he understands the burden of taxes on families and businesses and has made it his priority to reduce the property tax rate to the lowest West Miami has seen in over 30 years. 

Under his leadership, the City of West Miami has improved services to residents. Among these improvements are the provision of uniform waste bins at no cost to all homes, tree trimming and sidewalk cleaning services, the introduction of a West Miami Police Department bike patrol unit to enhance community safety, and the renovation of a new multi-purpose recreational facility at the Recreation Center Park. 

“These initiatives reflect my commitment to maintaining and improving our city’s services and sense of community,” he said, “while ensuring that residents keep more of their hard-earned money.”

Born in the city he now serves, Mayor Diaz-Padron attended St. Theresa Catholic School, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, and Florida International University before earning a Dean’s Merit Scholarship to attend the University of Miami School of Law, where he graduated with honors. 

In 2019, while in law school, he was sworn into public office as a city commissioner and was subsequently re-elected in 2020 and named vice mayor. In 2022, he was then elected mayor and re-elected last year unopposed.

In the private sector, Mayor Diaz-Padron is an attorney and business consultant with his own firms Diaz-Padron Law PA and EDP International Consulting LLC.

On top of his experience dealing with government and public policy from various perspectives, he also serves on civic boards including the Miami-Dade International Trade Consortium, as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointment to the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization Governing Board, and as chairman of the board of directors for Coral Gables Hospital.

Previously, Mayor Diaz-Padron has served as a trustee on the Miami-Dade Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (overseeing use of the half percent transportation surtax), City of West Miami Charter Review Board, Miami-Dade Millennial Task Force (chairman of Economic Development Sub-Committee), and a Florida Bar Grievance Committee.

“A lot of people run for public service for a specific reason,” he said. “For example, because they wanted to have a park next to their house, or they got something that the government didn’t let them do. So, they run for a particular reason.”

But that was not his reason to run for public office.

“I ran for every reason. I ran because I love to solve problems in every aspect of life,” he said. “I do that in the public capacity and in the private capacity. My job is essentially as a problem solver across different fields. I really do enjoy that, and even if I didn’t run for public office, I would have found other ways to better the quality of life of others and our community, both privately and publicly.”

Mayor Diaz-Padron spoke with Miami Today reporter Abraham Galvan.

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