Angelo Castillo

Angelo Castillo is a Cuban-born American politician. He is the mayor of Pembroke Pines, Florida, serving since April 2024. He was previously a city commissioner in Pembroke Pines. ^[1]

Castillo, raised in New York City, is the 12th mayor of the city and the first of Hispanic origin. ^[1]

Early life and education

Castillo earned an academic and athletic scholarship to Wagner College, where he completed a degree in business administration and a masters of business administration in finance. Castillo also graduated from New York Law School and completed a senior executives program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. His career includes executive roles in the administrations of New York City mayors Ed Koch, David Dinkins and Rudy Giuliani and New York governors Mario Cuomo and George Pataki. ^[2]

Career before becoming mayor

In 1996, Castillo was appointed director of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Florida State Office of Community Planning and Development, and in 1998, he became the Director of Human Services for Broward County, managing a $250 million budget and 1,200 staff. He returned to HUD as Deputy State Coordinator for Florida in 2000. From 2003 to 2013, he served as president and CEO of a non-profit corporation and was an adjunct professor at St. Thomas University’s Graduate School of Management. ^{[2] [3]}

In 2004, Castillo was elected to the Pembroke Pines City Commission, becoming the first Hispanic member to serve in 30 years. He served four terms as vice mayor of Pembroke Pines. ^{[2] [4] [1] [3]}

Throughout his career, Castillo has received numerous awards for his contributions to health and human services, housing and community development, economic development, and government finance. ^{[2] [5] [3]}

In November 2013, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel appointed Castillo to his executive team as director of research and strategic planning at the Broward Sheriff's Office. In this role, Castillo collaborated with stakeholders to define the agency's mission, vision, and long-term goals, and oversees the collection and analysis of data to enhance public safety missions and optimize funding opportunities. ^{[2] [3]}

Successful mayoral bid

In 2020, Castillo unsuccessfully ran for mayor against then-Mayor Frank Ortis. Ortis retired in 2024, and Castillo ran once more, this time in a three-person race that included fellow Commissioner Iris Siple and resident Elizabeth Burns. Key issues in the race included the possible construction of an incinerator that would affect the western part of Pembroke Pines, the rising cost of housing, and declining enrollment in local schools. ^{[6] [7]}

Personal life

Castillo and his wife, Lisa Yagid Castillo, have two adult daughters, one a nurse practitioner and the other a public relations executive. In his free time, Castillo enjoys reading, writing, and playing golf. ^[2]

References

1. "Pembroke Pines voters choose Angelo Castillo for mayor". March 20, 2024.
2. "The City of Pembroke Pines Official Site". www.ppines.com.
3. Castillo, Angelo (February 11, 2024). "Questionnaire: Angelo Castillo, candidate for Pembroke Pines mayor".
4. Scheckner, Jesse (March 20, 2024). "Pembroke Pines voters pick Angelo Castillo as first new Mayor in 20 years, elect 2 City Commissioners".
5. Dwork, David (March 20, 2024). "Pembroke Pines residents select Angelo Castillo as next mayor". WPLG.
6. https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/08/22/who-wants-to-live-close-to-an-incinerator-pembroke-pines-residents-vent-at-town-hall/
7. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/665784-pembroke-pines-election-march-19/