David Rivera

David Rivera
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 25th district
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by Mario Diaz-Balart
Succeeded by Joe Garcia
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 112th district
In office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by Mario Diaz-Balart
Succeeded by Jeanette Nuñez
Personal details
Born David Mauricio Rivera
(1965-09-16) September 16, 1965
New York City, New York
Political party Republican
Residence Miami, Florida
Alma mater Miami Christian School
Florida International University (B.A.)
Florida International University (Masters)
Religion Catholic
Website davidrivera.org

David Mauricio Rivera (born September 16, 1965) is the former U.S. Representative for Florida's 25th congressional district and is a member of the Republican Party. Formerly, he was a Florida state representative who served District 112. He is also a Miami-based public affairs consultant.

Early life, education, and early career

Rivera was born in New York City on September 16, 1965 and moved to Florida in 1974. He graduated from Miami Christian High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Political Science from Florida International University in 1986 and his MPA in 1994.[1]

After college, Rivera worked as Public Affairs Director for the Washington D.C.-based Valladares Foundation, an international human rights NGO. The organization was founded by U.S. Ambassador Armando Valladares, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Then, he worked for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting managed by auspices of the U.S. State Department. He has also been an adjunct professor in the FIU School of Policy and Management. His articles on U.S.-Cuba relations have been published in The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald.

Florida House of Representatives

Elections

In 2002, he ran for Florida's 112th house district of the Florida House of Representatives. In the Republican primary, he defeated Ray Gonzalez 52%–48%.[2] He won the general election unopposed. No Democrat ever filed to run against him as he won re-election unopposed in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Tenure

In addition to his legislative office, he has served the Republican Party as State Committeeman for the Republican Party of Florida and as the Executive Director for the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County.[3][4]

Committee assignments

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

In January 2009, Rivera filed to run for the state senate seat being vacated by J. Alex Villalobos.[5] However, when neighboring U.S. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart decided not to run for another term in 2010, his brother, U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, opted to run for a new term in Lincoln's district rather than his current one. This created an opening in the seat and prompted Rivera to announce he would run for Florida's 25th congressional district on February 25, 2010. On August 24, he won the Republican primary with 63% of the vote.[6] On November 2, Rivera defeated Democratic nominee Joe Garcia 52%–43%.[7]

2012

Redistricting resulted in Rivera's district being renumbered as the 26th district. It lost its share of Collier County and picked up the Florida Keys, as well as portions of Miami-Dade County. While the old 25th leaned Republican, the new 26th is more of a swing district and is equally split between Democrats and Republicans. In a rematch from 2010, Garcia defeated Rivera 54%–43%.[8][9]

2014

In May 2014, Rivera announced he would run again,[10] but temporarily suspended his bid in July, saying he would run for the State House in 2016 instead. He cited a court decision which said that two of the state's congressional districts had to be redrawn, though the case did not affect the 26th district.

2016

In March 2016, David Rivera announced he would run for state representative of district 118. [11]

Committee assignments

Controversies

Mail truck collision

On September 6, 2002, Rivera was involved in a traffic collision with a truck carrying thousands of fliers, produced by Rivera's campaign opponent at the time, that included a last-minute attack on Rivera's character and detailed past domestic violence accusations against him.[12] According to reports filed by the Florida Highway Patrol, a car driven by Rivera hit the truck and forced it to the shoulder of the Palmetto Expressway, ten minutes before the truck's 6 p.m. deadline to deliver the fliers to the post office, preventing the fliers from being delivered in time to be mailed.[13][14]

Rivera has said that he had planned to meet up with the truck on an exit ramp off the Expressway so he could retrieve a batch of his own campaign fliers.[15] The owner of the company that produced the anti-Rivera fliers maintains that the truck driver did not voluntarily pull off the highway. According to the FHP incident report, the collision occurred in the middle of the road.

References

  1. ↑ "RIVERA, David". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  2. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=219676
  3. ↑ "Full Biography | Congressman David Rivera". Rivera.house.gov. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  4. ↑ "David Rivera: Biography". davidrivera.org. 2002-11-05. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  5. ↑ "THE BUZZ: FLORIDA POLITICS. St. Petersburg Times. January 21, 2009. Online. February 25, 2009". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2011-04-07.(subscription required)
  6. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=625340
  7. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=488504
  8. ↑ "THE TOP ELECTION 2012 HEADLINES FROM NBC 6 SOUTH FLORIDA AND NBC NEWS". nbcmiami.com. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  9. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=712470
  10. ↑ "Under federal investigation, ex-Rep. David Rivera announces he'll run for congress again". Miami Herald. May 3, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ Miami-Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article66551492.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ Stock, Stephen (August 17, 2010). "I-Team: Questions Remain of David Rivera's Crash". CBS 4 Miami. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  13. ↑ Lebovich, Jennifer (August 19, 2010). "Congressional candidate David Rivera fights off old attacks". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  14. ↑ Jackson, Jill (August 20, 2010). "Democrats Seize on David Rivera Controversies". CBS News. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  15. ↑ Allen, Nicole (August 20, 2010). "Campaign Scandals Are Weirder in Florida". Atlantic Monthly. Retrieved September 30, 2010.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Mario Diaz-Balart		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 25th congressional district
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 		Succeeded by
Joe Garcia
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