Barbara Sharief

Barbara Muhammad Sharief is an American politician and Broward County (Florida) Commissioner since 2010. She was re-appointed Mayor of Broward County for the 2016–2017 term, having previously served from 2013 to 2014. She is the county's first African-American female and Muslim Mayor.[5][6] Sharief is also a former Miramar City Commissioner and Vice Mayor.[7] In 2020 she announced her intention to run for Florida's 20th congressional district against incumbent Democratic representative, Alcee Hastings in 2022.

Barbara Sharief
Mayor of Broward County
In office
November 22, 2016 – November 17, 2017
Preceded byMarty Kiar[1]
Succeeded byBeam Furr[2]
In office
November 19, 2013 – November 18, 2014
Preceded byKristin Jacobs
Succeeded byTim Ryan[3]
Personal details
BornMiami, Florida
Political partyDemocratic[4]
Children5
Alma materMiami Dade Community College, ASN; Jackson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, RN; Florida International University, BSN, MSN, ARNP

Early life and education

Sharief is a native Floridian. Born November 7, 1971 in Miami Beach, she grew up in Miami and Broward County, one of eight children of a self-employed clothing salesman and a retired schoolteacher.[8][9] In 1985, at age 14, her father, James Muhammad Sharief, was shot and killed by a 15-year-old robber. She began work soon after to support her family.[8][10][11][12]

Sharief attended North Miami Senior High School. After high school she obtained an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree from Miami Dade Community College followed by an RN Diploma from Jackson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She later attained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) Certification from Florida International University.[7]

Professional career

After graduation, Sharief worked for Jackson Memorial Hospital, followed by a national home health agency.[10] In 2001, she founded South Florida Pediatric Homecare, Inc.[13] The company provides home healthcare services for children and adults who would otherwise need to stay in a hospital or intensive care environment.[14]

Political career

In 2009, Sharief was elected to the Miramar City Commission. She served as the Vice Mayor in 2010.[15] While serving on the City Commission, she donated her annual salary to charities.[16] In May 2010, Sharief filed to run for the Broward County Commission District 8 seat being vacated by Diana Wasserman-Rubin.[17] In November 2010, she was elected to serve the residents of the cities of Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Southwest Ranches, Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Park and West Park.[18] In 2012, she was named Vice Mayor of Broward County.[19] In November 2013, the County Commission voted unanimously to appoint Sharief Broward's first African-American female Mayor.[20] In November 2014, she was re-elected to a second four-year term on the County Commission.[21] In November 2015, Sharief was named Vice Mayor for the second time.[22] In November 2016, Sharief was re-appointed Mayor for the second time.[12]

As County Commissioner, Sharief served on several boards including the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization and on the Large Urban County Caucus and the Health Steering Committee for the National Association of Counties.[7] In 2016, Sharief was elected President of the Florida Association of Counties. She is also a member of the National Democratic County Officials, the Urban League of Broward County, Miramar–Pembroke Pines Chamber of Commerce's Governmental Affairs committee, the Caribbean American Democratic Club, and Minority Women Business Enterprises.[23]

Over the course of her political career, Sharief has been focused on the financial health of her constituents, enacting programs to provide foreclosure assistance and help residents get through the economic slump.[24] She created Commissioner on a Mission, a program focused on the elderly, foreclosure, and unemployment issues.[25] In 2013, Sharief proposed a countywide ban on pit bulls, similar to the one implented in neighboring Miami-Dade County.[26][27] She later withdrew requests for the ban in favor of calling for regulations on dog owners and new funds for animal control.[28][29] Sharief was also instrumental in advocating for the completion of the Pembroke Road overpass off Miramar Parkway and Pines Boulevard.[30] As Mayor, Sharief adeptly kept America up to date as events unfolded on January 6, 2017 when a lone shooter opened fire killing five people and injuring six more at the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the deadliest airport shooting in U.S. history.[31]

Financial issues

In 2013, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration concluded in a routine audit that Sharief's firm overbilled Medicaid for patient services by close to $500,000.[32] The audit found that from June 2007 to March 2011, SFPH was overpaid for some services that were not covered by Medicaid.[32] Sharief disputed the audit results, but agreed to "settle the matter rather than fight and continue to mount legal fees." In May 2013, Sharief signed an agreement to repay $540,328 over three years, an amount that includes the Medicaid overcharges as well as additional fines and costs[32] According to the Agency for Health Care Administration, the settlement agreement did "not constitute an admission of wrongdoing or error by either party with respect to this case or any other matter."

In April 2014, the Florida Commission on Ethics announced that it had found probable cause to believe that Sharief violated state ethics laws and the state constitution by failing to properly disclose her financial interests for three years.[33] An ethics commission investigator recommended that the Commission rule against Sharief, finding that she had filed inaccurate financial disclosure forms in 2010, 2011 and 2012.[33] Sharief disputed the claims, but agreed to settle with the Commission and paid a $1,000 fine for each violation.[34] The Office of the State Attorney cleared Sharief of any wrongdoing stating there was no evidence that she "fraudulently falsified any document belonging to any public office in this state."[35]

Personal life

While Sharief has stated that she has not visited a mosque since she was a teenager, she considers her position as Broward County's first Muslim Mayor an important platform against prejudices against Muslim people.[12] She has three children: Amanda, Alyssa, and Hailey.[36]

References
  1. "Broward Selects New Mayor, Vice Mayor". CBS Miami. November 17, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  2. http://www.broward.org/Commission/District6/Pages/default.aspx
  3. Brittany Wallman (November 19, 2014). "Broward has new mayor". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  4. "Barbara M. Sharief - Democratic Municipal Officials". Nationaldmo.org. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  5. "Broward County Elects First Black Woman Mayor". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  6. "A Short History of Broward County". Broward.org. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  7. Martez, Antonio (September 29, 2013). "About Barbara Sharief". Sun Sentinel.
  8. Brittany Wallman, Sun Sentinel (November 19, 2013). "Barbara Sharief named Broward County's first black, female mayor - Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  9. "Ih jan feb 14 by Islamic Society of North America". ISSUU. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  10. "ICABA Profile Directory - ICABA Honors Community Leaders & Entrepreneurs 2012". Digital.icabaworld.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  11. Calloway, Al (March 29, 2014). "Broward mayor's success a tribute to late father". sfltimes.com. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  12. Brittany Wallman (November 22, 2016). "Barbara Sharief becomes Broward mayor for the second time". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  13. "The Broward County Commission chooses Barbara Sharief to serve as County Mayor | Coral Springs Connection". Coralspringsconnection.wordpress.com. November 19, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  14. Casciato, Daniel. "Helping Children Lead a Better Quality of Life: Current Articles". South Florida Hospital News. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  15. "30th Anniversary NightinGala" (PDF). Florida International University Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences. 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  16. Daniel Chang, Miami Herald (September 5, 2010). "On her own, Miramar vice mayor finds favor with voters - Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  17. The Miami Herald (May 14, 2010). "Miramar official jumps into county race | Naked Politics". Miamiherald.typepad.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  18. "Miramar to swear in new commissioner". Blogs.trb.com. November 11, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  19. "Broward Commission Picks New Mayor, Vice Mayor « CBS Miami". Miami.cbslocal.com. November 20, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  20. "Broward Elects First African American Female Mayor « CBS Miami". Miami.cbslocal.com. November 19, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  21. Wallman, Brittany (November 18, 2014). "Broward has new mayor". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  22. "Broward Selects New Mayor, Vice Mayor". CBS Miami. November 17, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  23. "Voters to choose new commissioner - Page 5 - Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. March 5, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  24. "Commissioner targets Miramar homeowner woes". Therealdeal.com. March 31, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  25. "Commissioner on a Mission Guide" (PDF). Broward County, FL. 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  26. McCoy, Terrence (February 21, 2013). "Broward County May Ban Owning Pit Bulls (UPDATED)". Blogs.browardpalmbeach.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  27. "Miami-Dade may repeal its 1989 ban on pit bulls". miamiherald. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  28. McCoy, Terrence (April 29, 2013). "Pit Bull Ban Nixed: County Commissioner Sharief Now Wants Control of "Backyard" Dog Breeding". Blogs.browardpalmbeach.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  29. "Group Led by #Broward County Vice Mayor Sharief Agrees on Proposals to Control Aggressive Dog Population in the County | Broward News and Entertainment Today". Browardnetonline.com. April 26, 2013. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  30. Roustan, Wayne (September 18, 2016). "Long-awaited span opens over I-75 in southwest Broward".
  31. Blitzer, Wolf (January 6, 2017). "Mayor on shooting: We do not yet have a motive". CNN.
  32. Carney, Heather (September 19, 2013). "Broward vice mayor's company overbilled Medicaid nearly $500,000, state audit says". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  33. Wallman, Brittany (April 30, 2014). "Broward County mayor faces ethics charges". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  34. Brittany, Wallman (November 25, 2014). "Broward's Sharief to settle ethics complaint for $3,000". Sun Sentinel.
  35. Wallman, Brittany (November 7, 2014). "Broward mayor cleared in records complaint". Sun Sentinel.
  36. "Broward County's first Black female mayor". The Westside Gazette. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
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