Personal:
I was born at St. Francis Hospital (which is now Aqua, on 63rd Street) and raised in Miami Beach.
I moved to Surfside in 1996 to take advantage of the unparalleled lifestyle and have lived here, in the same home, ever since.
Julia and I are the proud parents of William Michael Burkett (now 20).
I enjoy skiing, diving, flying, boating & ...good food :)
Education:
Pre-school: The Cushman School, Miami
Grammar: St. Patrick's School, Miami Beach
High: Archbishop Curley High School, Miami
College: University of Miami, BS, Finance
Work:
After I graduated from College, I used my savings from working as a construction site laborer to buy my first property in 1983. It was a home in Miami Beach that I renovated, with help from friends I hired, and then leased. I then purchased my first building in Miami Beach's budding Art Deco District with the remainder of my savings. I renovated that building, was able to get a loan on the equity I created in the property, and bought my next property.
I did this over and over throughout the 80's, 90's and early 2000's.
I subsequently went on to expand on a national basis into an additional seven States.
I currently operate a national management and investment company, which I own 100% of, which oversees those investments.
For the record, with the exception of my home in Surfside, I do not own any property or have any financial interests in Town. My family did own property in Surfside's commercial district, but it was sold in the 80's.
Civic:
When I lived in Miami Beach, I was:
A board member and chairman of the Miami Beach Housing Authority for nine years.
A board member of the Nuisance Abatement Board,
Member of the Code Enforcement Board,
Member of the Community Development Block Grant Board,
A Police Academy member,
A board member of the Miami Beach Chamber,
The President of the North Beach Development Corporation,
A board member of my neighborhood association, the Lagorce-Pinetree Homeowners assoc.,
I have also participated in many blue ribbon & ad hoc committees in Miami Beach over my 35 years living there.
Surfside Civic:
In 2004, I ran for Mayor of Surfside and lost my first election by only a handful of votes.
In 2006, I was elected Mayor of Surfside.
In 2008, I was re-elected Mayor of Surfside.
In 2020, I was re-elected Mayor of Surfside.
I'm proud of my record of service in Surfside to protect our town and its residents from exploitive predators interested only in financial gain at the cost of our precious small town way of life.
There is a vast difference between Shlomo Danzinger and Charles Burkett.
Charles Burkett has kept and will continue to Honor his Promises, and to Stand Strong for a Superior, Small-Town, Unparalled Quality of Life for our Residents.
VS.
Shlomo Danzinger: “The days of Surfside being a quaint, quiet town are behind us."
Charles Burkett as Surfside's Mayor:
My promise to residents is that Surfside's days of "being a quiet and quaint town are {NOT} behind us," and that I will reject the notion that developers, promoters and house flippers should run our government and control our destiny. My focus will be exclusively on making life better in Surfside for residents, not making life better for developers!
(I delivered on the following promises last time I was Surfside Mayor, and will do it again)
Low taxes.
Parks, kids and seniors programs.
All hands-on deck heavy police patrols. All officers in cars and out of the police station.
Open and inviting Commission meetings, where residents are not intimidated by a heavy presence of Surfside police or worse, residents forcibly removed from meetings, at the mayor's direction for saying something Mr. Danzinger does not agree with.
As your next Mayor I will...
Complete our parks, flooding and undergrounding projects.
Eliminate Town meetings that extend past 11pm.
Schedule meetings so residents can conveniently attend and be heard.
Reverse Danzinger’s zoning code giveaways and revert back to the zoning code that kept Surfside small, uncrowded and cozy and envied by all.
Continue to protect the tranquility our beaches for our residents and hotel guests.
Maintain free downtown parking to residents and not allow parkers from Bal Harbour shoppers or construction companies to use our lots.
Oppose all efforts to extend the terms of elected officials, or increase their pay.
Bring back open, transparent approachable government.
Eliminate cut through speeders in our residential district.
That person must tell the truth. Not some of it, or most of it.
That person must expect to serve and do so.
That person must have demonstrated all of the foregoing in their own life, before expecting to lead others in theirs.
Getting very personal
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