City of Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins announced in a memo on Monday that she will be replacing Christine King as chairwoman of the Miami City Commission.
“Effective today, I will serve as Chairwoman of the Miami City Commission, a responsibility given to me under our City Charter and, most importantly, by you — the residents who elected me to lead this city,” the memo reads.
The commission chairperson presides over all city commission meetings and manages debate among the five commissioners to pass local ordinances, approve the city budget and set policy.
King has held the role since December 2021, when she became the first woman to hold the gavel and lead the commission in the city’s history. She had been elected to the commission to represent District 5 just a month earlier.
King learned of the mayor’s decision through the memo on Monday morning, according to a statement.
“As the first woman to chair the Miami City Commission and the longest-serving chair in Miami’s history, it has been a privilege and an honor to serve in that role,” King’s statement reads.
District 5 Commissioner Christine King
(City of Miami)
“Thank you to my colleagues for your respect and to Mayor Francis Suarez for your confidence in me. Being Chairwoman of the commission has been an exercise in humility. My favorite was listening to community voices during public comment period. Thank you. I remain committed to the community as I am beholden to you, not to a title. Community First.”
Higgins’ memo thanked King for her nearly five years of leadership.
“Her dedication to our residents and her commitment to public service have made a lasting difference for our city, and I’m grateful for her continued partnership as we move forward together,” it reads.
The mayor said she will focus on leading the city’s first budget under her administration, advancing permitting reforms, tackling infrastructure initiatives and ensuring efficiency and effectiveness during commission meetings.
“As we move into this next chapter, my focus remains squarely on you,” the memo says. “Every decision made from this chair will be guided by one question — does it make life better, easier, and fairer for the people of Miami?”