On the Record with Doral Vice Mayor, Rafael Pineyro

On the Record with Doral Vice Mayor, Rafael Pineyro

City of Doral

by Lucy Gonzalez and by Joyce Melendez
March 8, 2023

 

Q/A with the Vice Mayor

What have you learned while working with your team that has impacted your success as Vice Mayor?

“Being able to listen is something to always put into practice. You have to listen to others, and that is something that I have learned from different people while working in the campaign cycle and especially now, as an elected official. You don’t know everything, and you need to learn how to take advice from others.” 

If you were able to sit down for dinner with any politician or idol that you admire, who would it be and what would you talk about?

“If I could go back in time, I would like to have coffee with Ronald Reagan, because regardless that he was a Republican, he was someone that Democrats were able to work with and he was more about the people and not the party life. I think we’re missing that in today’s world as well…also Meryl Streep, she is a very talented actress.”

Do you have any tips for students who are trying to figure out what they want to study?

“I always like to tell people, not everything is about the money, it’s about what your passion is. So, do what you like. Study something that you know is going to help you in your future, but at the same time, that you’re going to enjoy. Also, do something that you can see yourself doing for the rest of your life – pretty much.”

What advice would you give to teenagers who aren’t civically active within their communities?

“We need younger people like you guys to be more involved. I always like to say you don’t want to have others make the decisions for yourselves and that is what has been happening in politics … There is a lack of awareness of what’s going on locally and even nationwide. And if you think about it, local is what impacts your life. We make decisions about your taxes, quality of life, the streets, the police, the parks, and everything you deal with on a daily basis.”

How can the youth in Doral become involved in politics and the decisions of their community?

“The Youth Advisory Board actually got approved a couple of weeks ago, and youth members are able to submit their applications. If you have an idea or initiative that you believe the city can do to make life better, you can come and actually share and work with us to make it happen.”

What is a fun fact about yourself that many might not know?

“That’s a good question because what’s fun to me might not be fun to you .Well, I got my first phone when I was eighteen years old.”

Were you always interested in politics from a young age?

“Before coming to the states, ever since I was younger, I’ve always loved politics. I was the one teen watching CNN, and FOX News, and watching everything going on in the country.” 

As a teenager, finding out what to do in life can be a challenge. Fortunately, the newly elected Vice Mayor of Doral, Rafael Pineyro, never questioned his life’s calling: public service.

After studying at Miami Dade College College, Pineyro became involved with the parks department. “I thought, if I really like working with the community and for the community, let me just get into the public administration side,” said Pineyro, who originally thought of getting his degree in Criminal Justice, before getting a Bachelor’s in Public Administration at FIU. Later on, Pineyro lived in Tennessee, where he studied for his degree in Psychology at Lipscomb University and worked for an elected official judge. 

In 2014, interested by local politics, Pineyro continued to level up his career and became Chief of Staff in the City of Doral. He worked alongside both Mayor Boria and Mayor Bermudez and also grew closer to the residents of Doral. “That has been something that made me have the decision to run for office as well.” Before running in the 2022 elections, Pineyro spent time with the community through non-profit organizations, the Doral parks, and his own company. 

In retrospect, Vice Mayor Pineyro admits he has had a mix of consistency and change in his life. ”When you run for office, you have a commitment to the residents. Regardless of what you do on the side, you have to dedicate time to the city.” While he still works in his company, being a councilman is a part-time job. “Before I was just part of the staff, now as an elected official, I am on the other side. You have a say in the decisions of what goes on in the city. I try to bring all that experience to the table because there are certain things we can do better.”

In his free time, Pineyro tries his best to spend family time with his wife and son at the many attractions in Doral, binge-watch Designated Survivor on Netflix, and jam out to Latin artist Shakira.