Barbara Sharief

Barbara Sharief
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 35th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 5, 2024
Personal details
Born (1971-11-07) November 7, 1971 (age 53)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMiami Dade College (ASN)
Florida International University (BSN, MSN)
Wilkes University (DNP)
WebsiteOfficial website

Barbara Muhammad Sharief (born November 7, 1971) is an American politician and nurse who has served as a member of the Florida Senate since 2024. She has also served as a Broward County commissioner from 2010 to 2021, she was appointed mayor from 2013 to 2014, and again from 2016 to 2017.[1][2][3] She is the county's first African-American female and Muslim mayor. Sharief is also a former Miramar city commissioner and vice mayor.[4][5][6]

Early life and education

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Sharief was born in Miami Beach, Florida, and grew up in Miami and Broward County, one of eight children of a self-employed clothing salesman and a retired schoolteacher.[7][8] 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.[7][9][10][11]

Sharief attended North Miami Senior High School. After high school, she earned an Associate of Science in Nursing from Miami Dade Community College followed by a registered nurse diploma from Jackson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She later attained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing, and an advanced registered nurse practitioner certification from Florida International University.[4] She then earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Wilkes University[12]

Career

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Nursing

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After graduation, Sharief worked for Jackson Memorial Hospital, followed by a national home health agency.[9] 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]

Politics

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In 2009, Sharief was elected to the Miramar City Commission.[15] She served as the vice mayor in 2010.[16] While serving on the City Commission, she donated her annual salary to charities.[17] In May 2010, Sharief filed to run for the Broward County Commission District 8 seat being vacated by Diana Wasserman-Rubin.[18] 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.[19][20] In 2012, she was named vice mayor of Broward County.[21] In November 2013, the County Commission voted unanimously to appoint Sharief Broward's first African-American female mayor.[22] In November 2014, she was re-elected to a second four-year term on the County Commission.[23][24] In November 2015, Sharief was named vice mayor for the second time.[25] In November 2016, Sharief was re-appointed mayor for the second time.[11]

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.[4] 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.[26][27]

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.[28] She created Commissioner on a Mission, a program focused on the elderly, foreclosure, and unemployment issues.[29] In 2013, Sharief proposed a countywide ban on pit bulls, similar to the one implemented in neighboring Miami-Dade County.[30][31] She later withdrew requests for the ban in favor of calling for regulations on dog owners and new funds for animal control.[32][33] Sharief was also instrumental in advocating for the completion of the Pembroke Road overpass off Miramar Parkway and Pines Boulevard.[34] As mayor, Sharief oversaw the immediate response to the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting.[35]

Lawsuits

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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.[36] The audit found that from June 2007 to March 2011, SFPH was overpaid for some services that were not covered by Medicaid.[36] 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[36] 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.[37] 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.[37] Sharief disputed the claims, but agreed to settle with the commission and paid a $1,000 fine for each violation.[38] 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."[39]

In July 2022, Barbara Sharief sued political opponent Lauren Book and a political committee after numerous allegedly libelous ads were circulated to the residents of Florida’s new 35th Senate District via mail, email, and text message allegedly paid for by Book and the committee.[40]

Personal life

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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 a platform against prejudices against Muslim people.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Brittany Wallman (November 19, 2014). "Broward has new mayor". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  2. ^ "Broward Selects New Mayor, Vice Mayor". CBS Miami. November 17, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  3. ^ "District 6".
  4. ^ a b c Martez, Antonio (September 29, 2013). "About Barbara Sharief". Sun Sentinel.
  5. ^ https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_State_Senate_District_35
  6. ^ Geggis, Anne (September 13, 2022). "Barbara Sharief announces 2024 Senate run". Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Brittany Wallman, Sun Sentinel (November 19, 2013). "Barbara Sharief named Broward County's first black, female mayor". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  8. ^ "Ih jan feb 14 by Islamic Society of North America". ISSUU. January 5, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "ICABA Profile Directory - ICABA Honors Community Leaders & Entrepreneurs 2012". Digital.icabaworld.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  10. ^ Calloway, Al (March 29, 2014). "Broward mayor's success a tribute to late father". sfltimes.com. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Brittany Wallman (November 22, 2016). "Barbara Sharief becomes Broward mayor for the second time". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  12. ^ "Meet Barbara Sharief of South Florida Pediatric Homecare Inc. in Miami Lakes". VoyageMIA. December 19, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  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. ^ "Our Campaigns - City Commissioner-Seat I Race - Mar 10, 2009".
  16. ^ "30th Anniversary NightinGala" (PDF). Florida International University Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences. 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  17. ^ Daniel Chang, Miami Herald (September 5, 2010). "On her own, Miramar vice mayor finds favor with voters". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  18. ^ The Miami Herald (May 14, 2010). "Miramar official jumps into county race". Miami Herald. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  19. ^ "Our Campaigns - Broward County Commissioner 8 Race - Nov 02, 2010".
  20. ^ "Miramar to swear in new commissioner". Blogs.trb.com. November 11, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  21. ^ "Broward Commission Picks New Mayor, Vice Mayor « CBS Miami". Miami.cbslocal.com. November 20, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  22. ^ "Broward Elects First African American Female Mayor « CBS Miami". Miami.cbslocal.com. November 19, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  23. ^ "Our Campaigns - Broward County Commissioner 8 Race - Nov 04, 2014".
  24. ^ Wallman, Brittany (November 18, 2014). "Broward has new mayor". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  25. ^ "Broward Selects New Mayor, Vice Mayor". CBS Miami. November 17, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  26. ^ "Voters to choose new commissioner". South Florida Sun Sentinel. March 5, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  27. ^ "Barbara M. Sharief - Democratic Municipal Officials". Nationaldmo.org. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  28. ^ "Commissioner targets Miramar homeowner woes". Therealdeal.com. March 31, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  29. ^ "Commissioner on a Mission Guide" (PDF). Broward County, FL. 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  30. ^ McCoy, Terrence (February 21, 2013). "Broward County May Ban Owning Pit Bulls (UPDATED)". Blogs.browardpalmbeach.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  31. ^ "Miami-Dade may repeal its 1989 ban on pit bulls". miamiherald. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ "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.
  34. ^ Roustan, Wayne (September 18, 2016). "Long-awaited span opens over I-75 in southwest Broward".
  35. ^ Blitzer, Wolf (January 6, 2017). "Mayor on shooting: We do not yet have a motive". CNN.
  36. ^ a b c 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.
  37. ^ a b Wallman, Brittany (April 30, 2014). "Broward County mayor faces ethics charges". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  38. ^ Brittany, Wallman (November 25, 2014). "Broward's Sharief to settle ethics complaint for $3,000". Sun Sentinel.
  39. ^ Wallman, Brittany (November 7, 2014). "Broward mayor cleared in records complaint". Sun Sentinel.
  40. ^ Milberg, Andrea Torres, Glenna (July 30, 2022). "Florida Senate District 35 race: Barbara Sharief sues Lauren Book". WPLG. Retrieved July 30, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barbara Sharief.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Broward County
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Broward County
2016–2017 		Succeeded by
Beam Furr
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