Oliver Gilbert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oliver Gilbert III
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| Miami-Dade County Chairman of County Commissioners | |
| In office November 20, 2020 – December 11, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Jose Pepe Diaz |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Rodriguez |
| Miami-Dade County Commission District 1 | |
| Assumed office November 17, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Barbara Jordan |
| Mayor of Miami Gardens | |
| In office 2012 – November 16, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Shirley Gibson |
| Succeeded by | Rodney Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 15, 1972 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Walkeria Castillo Gilbert |
| Children | 1 son Oliver Gilbert IV |
| Alma mater | Florida A&M University (B.A) Criminal Justice St. Thomas University University of Miami School of Law (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Oliver Gilbert III is an American politician. He is currently a Commissioner for Miami-Dade County in District 1. He also served as the mayor of Miami Gardens before becoming a County Commissioner.
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Oliver Gilbert's Early Life and Education
Oliver Gilbert III was born on August 15, 1972. He studied at Florida A&M University, where he earned a degree in Criminal Justice. Later, he went to University of Miami School of Law and earned a law degree. This education prepared him for a career in law and public service.
Starting a Career in Politics
Gilbert began his political career in 2000, right after finishing law school. He worked for Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, who was a state representative at the time. He helped her with her work in the government.
After that, he worked for Janet Reno, who was a former U.S. Attorney General. He helped with her campaign when she ran for governor. These early experiences helped him learn a lot about how government and political campaigns work.
Serving as Mayor of Miami Gardens
Oliver Gilbert III first tried to become mayor of Miami Gardens in 2003, but he did not win that election. Miami Gardens is a city in Florida that was newly formed at that time.
In 2008, he was appointed to the Miami Gardens city council. Four years later, in 2012, he was elected as the mayor of the city. He was the second African-American person to hold this important position. Miami Gardens is known for having a large African American population. It is also the third largest city in Miami-Dade County. He served as mayor until November 2020.
Becoming a County Commissioner
In 2020, Oliver Gilbert III ran for a position as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 1. This was a very important election. He ran against Sybrina Fulton, who was also a strong candidate. Many well-known political figures supported Fulton in this election.
Gilbert won the election by a small margin, receiving 50.5% of the votes. This meant a second election, called a runoff, was not needed. He started his term as a County Commissioner on November 17, 2020. He also became the Chairman of the County Commissioners on November 20, 2020. His term as Chairman is set to end in December 2024.
Personal Interests
Oliver Gilbert III is known for his unique style, especially his love for bowties. He often wears them. He is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, which is a social and service organization.
