Mayor of Opa-locka explained

Post:	Mayor
Body:	Opa-locka
Incumbent:	John Taylor
Insigniacaption:	Seal of Opa-locka
Incumbentsince:	2022
Formation:	1926
Termlength:	4 years

The Mayor of the City of Opa-locka is the official head of the city of Opa-locka in the U.S. state of Florida.

In the November 2002 election, voters approved extending the term of the mayor from two to four years.^[1]

Mayors of Opa-Locka

Image	Mayor	Years of service	Notes	Citation
	?	1960–1962
	?	1962–1964
	?	1964–1966
	Kenton N. Wells	1966–1968		^[2]
	Robert J. Anderson	1968–1970		^[3]
	Kenton N. Wells	1970–1972
	Ronald Pierson	1972–1974		^[4]
	Kenton N. Wells	1974–1975*	Wells tied with Albert Tresvant in the general election and they decided to split the two-year term with Wells serving the first year.^[5]
	Albert Tresvant	1975–1976*	First African-American mayor of Opa-locka^[6] *Tresvant tied with Kenton Wells in the general election and they decided to split the two-year term with Wells serving the first year.
	Candido Giardino	1976–1977	Resigned in June 1977 after suspension by Governor Rubin Askew over corruption charges^[7]
	C. William Hartman	1977–1978	Acting mayor^[8]
	Willie Young (mayor)	1978–1980
	Willie Logan	1980–1982
	Helen L. Miller	1982–1984	First female African-American mayor in the state of Florida and the first female mayor of Opa-locka	^[9] ^[10]
	John Riley	1984–1986
	Robert B. Ingram	1986–1998	First directly elected African-American mayor of Opa-locka^[11] Choose to not run for re-election in 1998 in order to run for the school board of Miami-Dade County^[12]	^[13]
	Alvin L. Miller	1998–2002	Son of former mayor Helen L. Miller	^[14]
	Myra L. Taylor	2002–2004	First mayor elected to a 4-year term. Removed from office in 2004 by governor Jeb Bush after being indicted for defrauding the Internal Revenue Service later pleading guilty to a misdemeanor of failing to promptly file her taxes^[15]	^[16]
	Joseph L. Kelley	2004–2010	Finished term of Myra L. Taylor after special election in September 2004 then elected to a 4-year term in 2006	^[17]
	Myra L. Taylor	2010–2018		^[18]
	Matthew Pigatt	2018–2021	Resigned November 10, 2021^[19]
	Veronica Williams	2021–2022	As the elected Vice Mayor, she filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Matthew Pigatt.
	John H. Taylor, Jr.	2022–present	John H. Taylor, Jr. was elected to the City of Opa-locka Commission in 2020, was appointed Vice Mayor in 2021 and was elected as Mayor in 2022.

Notes and References

1. News: Charles . Rabin . Runoffs Ahead in N. Bay Village, Key Biscayne . The Miami Herald. November 6, 2002. Opa-locka residents did vote to change the mayor's term limit from two to four years... .
2. News: Kenton Wells Wins Opa-locka's Mayoral Seat. The Miami News. April 22, 1970 .
3. News: Fred J. . Barger Jr. . Five Seek Three Seats in Opa-Locka Election . The Miami Herald. April 21, 1970 .
4. News: First Black is Elected in Opa-locka; Pierson, Bowers, Tresvant Lead Vote . The Miami Herald . April 19, 1972 .
5. News: Two mayors; one town . Dixon Evening Telegraph. April 20, 1974 . Wells and Tresvant tied in the election for mayor of Opa-locka, so they decided that each of them would serve half the two-year term. Wells will serve the first year.
6. News: Cristina . Gordon . State of the City Address’ . Miami's Community News. March 26, 2012 .
7. News: Two Opa-locka Officials Suspended . Orlando Sentinel. June 8, 1977.
8. News: Joe. Oglesby. Opa-locka Elects Pastor As Mayor . The Miami Herald. April 19, 1978 . Hartman served as acting mayor after Giardino's resignation.
9. Web site: HONORING HELEN MILLER - HON. CARRIE P. MEEK of Florida in the house of representatives Friday, October 4, 1996 . govinfo.gov. October 4, 1996 .
10. Web site: Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HR 9159 By Representative Bush . Florida House of Representatives. 1997 . WHEREAS, Helen L. Miller was the first African-American female mayor in Florida....
11. News: Mark . Kriegel. Ingram Wins Opa-Locka's Mayor's Seat . The Miami Herald. November 6, 1986 .
12. News: Ajowa Nzinga . Ifateyo. Mayor's Plans Sparks Election Fever in Opa-Locka . The Miami Herald . July 23, 1998.
13. Web site: RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO DESIGNATE OPA-LOCKA BOULEVARD/N.W. 135TH STREET FROM N.W. 7TH AVENUE TO N.W. 47TH AVENUE AS THE "HONORABLE ROBERT B. INGRAM, PH.D. BOULEVARD"; APPROVING SUCH DESIGNATION; AND URGING THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA TO APPROVE SUCH DESIGNATION . miamidade.gov. 2007.
14. News: Draeger . Martiniez . 2 Political Novices Join Miller . The Miami Herald. November 12, 2000 .
15. News: Ines . Mato . Voters Choose Taylor for Mayor . The Miami Herald. November 10, 2010.
16. News: Draeger. Martinez. Mayor, 2 Commissioners Take Oath . The Miami Herald. November 10, 2002 .
17. Web site: Kelley, Joseph L. . ourcampaigns.com. January 28, 2021.
18. News: Maya . Kaufman . Jay . Weaver. Matthew Pigatt defeats legacy politicians to win election as mayor of Opa-locka . Miami Herald. November 7, 2018 .
19. News: Samantha J. . Gross . State law enforcement investigating Opa-locka after allegations made by former mayor . The Miami Herald. November 12, 2021 .