Damian Pardo: New Miami commissioner targets corruption, polarization

Damian Pardo was elected the City of Miami’s District 2 Commissioner in November. It is his first time holding public office, a desire fueled by frustrations as he observed long-standing issues go unresolved in the neighborhood he resided in for decades.  

As a political newcomer, Mr. Pardo says he wants to bring a fresh perspective to city governance, renew its basic commitment to the community and prioritize residents. His top concerns include increasing responsiveness to constituents, environmental resiliency, enhancing parks and green spaces, increasing affordable and workforce housing, and creating more opportunities for Miami’s marginalized neighborhoods that have been disproportionally affected by gentrification. 

For over 35 years, Mr. Pardo has been advocating for equality, diversity, and inclusion. He helped create SAVE – Safeguarding American Values for Everyone – in 1993 while serving as a two-term president of the largest AIDS Health Organization, CareResource (formerly Health Crisis Network). In 2015 he co-founded 4Ward Miami and the Gay8 Festival, dedicated to uniting South Florida’s diverse communities. He served on the Miami Dade Equal Opportunity Board for 12 years, the Board of Trustees of the Miami Foundation, the Celia Cruz Foundation and national and local non-profit boards. 

Outside of his political life, Mr. Pardo has had a career in finance. He started at Southeast Bank, later specializing in corporate lending for the cruise industry and then transitioning to private banking and trusts. Mr. Pardo is now a regional director at First Horizon. His experiences in banking and wealth management, he says, have given him a comprehensive understanding of family planning, managing small businesses and developing complex budgets. 

Mr. Pardo went to St. Hugh School in Coconut Grove and graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in 1981. He attended Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, rowed crew and ultimately graduated from the University of Miami School of Business.

Mr. Pardo currently lives in Morningside and is dedicated to his immediate and extended family, which includes two dogs and a cat. 

Mr. Pardo spoke with Miami Today reporter Genevieve Bowen. 

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