“The Raucous Politics of Development in Miami Beach: 1995-2005”
Tuesday, 10/20/2015 – 07:00 pm –
Art Deco Museum
1001 Ocean Drive,
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
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Cost: Free for MDLP members; $5.00 General admission

David Dermer, former Miami Beach’s mayor will give a lecture on the politics of development in Miami Beach 1995-2005, focusing on the Save Miami Beach movement and his efforts battling big money to try to limit development on Miami Beach.

David Dermer Bio:
On September 9, 2005, Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer was returned to office for a third and final term. Dermer was the second youngest mayor in city history when first elected to the post in 2001 at age 38. Only his father, former Miami Beach Mayor Jay Dermer was younger, when he was elected mayor in 1967.
Prior to becoming Mayor, David Dermer also served a successful 4-year term as a Miami Beach City Commissioner. A dedicated community activist and attorney, Dermer first emerged onto the Miami Beach political scene as the leader of the successful “Save Miami Beach” (SMB) ballot initiative, a movement aimed at curbing overdevelopment along the City’s waterfront. Dermer’s grassroots organization gathered more than 6000 voter signatures, placing the charter amendment on the ballot. The SMB campaign won over voters and the initiative passed overwhelmingly, despite the fact that SMB’s opposition spent $2 million to Dermer’s $25,000. David Dermer graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1980. He received his Bachelors Degree in Justice from American University in Washington D.C. and subsequently earned his Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law. He served as a State Prosecutor for the 17th Judicial Circuit after graduation and in 1990 he opened his own firm, David Dermer Law Offices. He currently teaches History and Government at Miami Beach Senior High School.