Dariel Fernandez
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Dariel Fernandez | |
|---|---|
 Official Portrait, 2025 | |
| 1st Miami-Dade County Tax Collector | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Havana, Cuba |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Carolina Vester |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Miami Dade College |
| Occupation | Businessman • politician |
| Signature |  |
| Website | mdctaxcollector |
Dariel Fernandez is a Cuban American businessman, civil servant, and politician who has served as the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector since 2025, becoming the first elected official in that role. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served on the Miami-Dade County Community Council from 2021 to 2024.
Early life and Career
[edit]Fernandez was born in Güines, Cuba, and grew up in Madruga.[1] He later immigrated to the United States and studied at Miami Dade College.[2]
Fernandez began his career in public engagement in 2004 at Radio Paz 830AM, where he discussed local and regional issues.[3] Fernandez served on the Miami-Dade County Community Council and participated in zoning and land use decisions.[4] He was also President of the international movement "Somos Mas" and served on the Miami-Dade Cryptocurrency Task Force.[5]
He is the founder of Ponemus Group, a marketing and software development company based in Miami.[6]
Miami-Dade County Tax Collector
[edit]
Following the 2018 passage of a Florida constitutional amendment, the role of Miami-Dade Tax Collector transitioned from an appointed to an elected position.
On April 5, 2024, Fernandez announced his candidacy for the office of the tax collector of Miami-Dade County. He won the Republican primary against Bryan Calvo and later defeated Democratic candidate David Richardson in the general election with 55.7% of the vote.[7][8]
His campaign emphasized government modernization, operational efficiency, and addressing corruption in local services. He was endorsed by public figures including Mayor Esteban Bovo, Francis Suarez, Kevin Marino Cabrera, and Rick Scott.[9][10]
On March 17, 2025, Fernandez announced an investigation into DMV appointment scalping in coordination with local law enforcement. The probe aimed to crack down on fraudulent resale of driver license appointments.[11] The investigation received national attention and led to a proposed ordinance by Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to criminalize appointment scalping.[12]
Additionally, as part of his effort to improve service accessibility, Fernandez announced a partnership with Publix supermarkets to install kiosks across multiple locations. These kiosks allow residents to renew their vehicle registrations and license plates conveniently, bringing government services closer to the community.[13]
Anti-Scalping Campaign
[edit]In April 2025, Miami-Dade County enacted a pioneering ordinance to combat the unauthorized sale of public service appointments, particularly those related to driver's license services. This measure was introduced in response to widespread issues where individuals and entities used automated bots to hoard appointment slots, subsequently reselling them at inflated prices.[14]
Following the county's initiative, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 961 in May 2025, which extended the ban on unauthorized appointment sales statewide.[15]
This legislation criminalizes the sale or offer to sell service appointments with the Department of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) or authorized tax collector offices without written authorization. Offenders are subject to a first-degree misdemeanor charge, reinforcing the state's commitment to ensuring equitable access to public services and deterring fraudulent activities.
Impact and Reception: The enactment of both the local ordinance and state legislation received widespread support from public officials and the community. The coordinated efforts between county and state authorities aim to restore public trust, enhance the efficiency of service delivery, and ensure that all residents have fair access to essential government appointments.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Fernandez is a practicing Roman Catholic and has spoken publicly about the importance of his faith in guiding his values and approach to public service.[17] He is married to Carolina Vester, a public administrator who serves as Assistant City manager for the City of Coral Gables.[18]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dariel Fernandez | 576,601 | 55.7 | |
| Democratic | David Richardson | 459,445 | 44.3 | |
| Total votes | 1,036,046 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dariel Fernandez | 54,467 | 51.7 | |
| Republican | Bryan Calvo | 50,844 | 48.3 | |
| Total votes | 105,311 | 100.00 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Biography of Dariel Fernandez". Miami-Dade County Website. 2025-05-01. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "Dariel Fernandez Education Profile". Local News. 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "Radio Paz Host Dariel Fernandez". Radio Paz. Archdiocese of Miami. 2004-10-15. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "Community Council Member Fernandez". Miami-Dade County. 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "Dariel Fernandez and Somos Mas". MSN. 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "Ponemus Group Leadership". Ponemus Group. 2024-01-01. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "2024 General Election Summary Results - Miami-Dade County". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ Morgan Rynor (January 13, 2025). "Dariel Fernandez sworn in as Miami-Dade's new Tax Collector". CBS News Miami. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ Scheckner, Jesse (January 7, 2025). "Constitutional officers installed in Miami-Dade, where a GOP wave helped deliver a sweep". Florida Politics. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ Leonard, Kimberly (January 15, 2025). "The Trumpification of Miami-Dade". Politico. Retrieved March 24, 2025.[dead link]
- ^ "Dariel Fernandez to take on DMV scalping in Miami-Dade". Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ Robbins, Lizette Alvarez (March 20, 2025). "Scalpers Exploited DMV Chaos in Miami, Officials Say". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ "Miami-Dade Vehicle Registration Kiosks at Publix". Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ "Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez talks problems at the DMV". Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ "Florida Legislature approves bill making it illegal to sell DMV appointments". Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ "Miami DMV office extends hours, opens new windows to reduce wait times". Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ "Interview with Dariel Fernandez on Faith and Leadership". Faith & Community. NBC. 2025-05-11. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
- ^ "Profile of Carolina Vester". City Government Today. CityGov Media. 2024-11-02. Retrieved 2025-06-09.