Christi Fraga

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Mayor of Doral, Christi Fraga. Mayor Christi Fraga.jpg
Mayor of Doral, Christi Fraga.

Christi Fraga (born December 22, 1986) is a Cuban-American politician serving as the Mayor of Doral, Florida, since 2022. [1] She made history by becoming Doral's first female mayor after winning a special runoff election in December 2022. [2] Fraga was re-elected in 2024 with over 79% of the vote. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Fraga has lived in Doral for more than two decades. She earned an associate degree in Business Administration from Miami Dade College and a bachelor's degree in Financial Management and Accounting from Florida International University. In 2014, she completed the Good Government Initiative's Leaders in Excellence program at the University of Miami. [4]

Early career

Fraga was elected to the Doral City Council in 2012 and later served as vice mayor during three of her eight years on the council. [5] In 2013, she proposed the creation of a Youth Advisory Board to increase student civic involvement; the council established the board that year. [6] [7] Local coverage in 2019 described her work on initiatives for youth, women and the elderly while on the council. [8]

In 2020, Fraga was elected to the Miami-Dade County School Board (District 5). [9]

Mayor of Doral

Fraga won a December 2022 runoff to become Doral's first woman mayor. [10] She was re-elected in 2024; official city results reported about 79% of the vote and local media noted an easy victory. [11] [12]

During her mayoral term, the city opened major phases of Doral Central Park in 2024–2025 following voter-approved bond work. [13] [14]

The administration also advanced transportation planning to expand the city's trolley network and update the transit plan. [15]

Pension reform

In 2023, the City Council voted to move toward repealing a lifetime pension program for elected officials and to suspend payments while a new ordinance was prepared; the vote was unanimous. [16] Former officials subsequently sued. In October 2024, a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge ruled that the city had not followed the required procedures to terminate benefits already being paid and ordered the city to use the proper mechanism; the ruling did not affect the city's ability to eliminate the program for future officeholders. [17] [18] In 2024, Fraga urged four former officials to return payments they had received and to drop their lawsuit. [19]

Politics and views

Fraga's priorities have included public safety enhancements, school choice policies, and fiscal oversight. [20]

In April 2025, the Doral City Council approved a cooperation agreement under a federal immigration enforcement program. According to Fraga, the agreement was intended to comply with existing law; she stated the city would continue to treat all residents with respect. [21]

Personal life

Fraga lives in Doral with her family. [22]

References

  1. Hernandez, Andrea (October 30, 2024). "Race for Doral mayor comes down to incumbent, former supporter". Local 10 News. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  2. "Empowering Change: How Christi Fraga Became Doral's First-Ever Woman Mayor". Latino Business Review. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  3. Anderson, Anne Geggis (November 6, 2024). "Christi Fraga dusts challenger to keep job as Doral Mayor". Florida Politics. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  4. "Christi Fraga". City of Doral. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  5. "Christi Fraga". City of Doral. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  6. Pulgar, María Alejandra (January 2013). "Christi Fraga: "A Daughter for the City"". Doral Family Journal. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  7. "CITY OF DORAL—Ordinance 2013-02 (Youth Advisory Board)". Doral Family Journal. January 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  8. Pulgar, María Alejandra (January 31, 2019). "Christi Fraga is the new Vice Mayor of the City of Doral". Doral Family Journal. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  9. "Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida, elections". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  10. "Race for Doral mayor comes down to incumbent, former supporter". Local 10 News. October 30, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  11. "Doral Voters Re-elect Mayor Fraga and Councilman Pineyro". City of Doral. November 7, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  12. "Fraga and Pineyro reelected in Doral. One council seat heads to runoff". Miami Herald. November 6, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  13. "New Central Park in Doral set to open". Miami Today. July 23, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  14. "Grand opening held for Doral Central Park; 78-acre community hub hailed as historical milestone for city". WSVN 7News. May 18, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  15. "Doral seeks input on update to city transit plan, expanded trolley service". Political Cortadito. March 4, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  16. "City Council approves motion against elected officials pension". Doral Family Journal. April 13, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  17. "Judge allows former Doral officials to keep pension benefits". Miami Herald. October 11, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  18. "City of Doral has to restore pension plan for former elected officials". Doral Family Journal. October 12, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  19. "Doral Mayor calls on ex-Council members to return canceled pension money". Florida Politics. May 11, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  20. "Christi Fraga". City of Doral. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  21. "City of Doral votes to partner with ICE". NBC Miami. April 16, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  22. "Christi Fraga". City of Doral. Retrieved August 13, 2025.