About Commissioner Eileen Higgins

Eileen Higgins was elected on June 19th, 2018 to serve as the County Commissioner for District 5. A dynamic and vibrant district, she represents parts of Miami Beach, Downtown, and Brickell as well as Coral Way neighborhoods like the Roads, Silver Bluff, and Shenandoah — along with Little Havana and West Flagler to the north.

Eileen believes that Miami-Dade can be the best place on Earth to live, but only if we come together to solve our most pressing problems. This is why Eileen has always fought — and continues to fight — for resiliency in the face of a changing environment, common sense gun reforms to keep us safe, and programs that afford everyone an equal shot at the American Dream. From more reliable transportation to sea level rise, from affordable housing to better paying jobs, she is a champion for the policies that help everyone in our community succeed.

As the Commissioner for a district with stark inequality, she is dedicated to investing in our students, small business owners, and working families. Through her experience as a business owner, diplomat, and community advocate, she knows how to grow our economy and deliver prosperity for all.

After graduating from the University of New Mexico, Eileen got her start as an engineer in a blue jumpsuit at a heavy-duty manufacturing plant, where she learned to streamline processes and solve inefficiencies. She then earned her MBA from Cornell University, working as a marketing executive for some of the world’s largest brands.

This international business expertise would prove vital when, in 2006, she accepted a commission to serve as Country Director for Peace Corps Belize. As Director, she oversaw an 85-person team and revamped operations, developing new ways to understand local concerns and affect change in the Central American nation. She later continued her public service as a Foreign Service Officer in the State Department, working to improve the bilateral relationship with Mexico and implementing U.S. economic policy in South Africa.

Eileen’s breadth and depth of professional experience allows her to look at our local challenges in a unique way. Since moving to Miami following her diplomatic service, she’s joined various organizations and boards, including but not limited to the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), People Acting for Community Together (PACT), the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, Miami Climate Alliance, Sierra Club, League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade County, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

When she’s not fighting for the families and individuals who call District 5 home, she enjoys exploring the different parts of Miami and taking in the natural beauty of our city. She’s an avid reader and user of public transportation, and loves combining the two when she rides the bus listening to an audiobook. If you spot her on your daily commute, she invites you to say hello and tell her your Miami story.