About Charles...

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.