During its regular meeting Jan. 6, the HART Board elected Councilman Mike Suarez as chair, Steve Polzin, PhD, was re-elected vice chairman and Temple Terrace Councilman Eddie Vance as secretary of the HART Board of Directors for 2014.
"It is a great privilege to be elected as HART board chairman and continue working alongside the dedicated board members to serve our customers, employees and the community," Suarez said after the vote. "I look forward to working together to operate a safe, reliable, efficient and fiscally sound transit system that contributes to the economic success and quality of life of this region and Hillsborough County."
Suarez has been a board member since April 2011 and has served as HART board secretary since 2012. Suarez is a third generation resident of Tampa, with deep roots in West Tampa.
He has provided service to many government and non-profit agencies, including his current term as District 1 At-Large Tampa City Council; president of the Guardian Ad Litem Guild (renamed Voices for Children); served on the subcommittee for Urban Enterprises Initiatives; and was chairman of the water resource subcommittee for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. He has also been a board member and past president of the Insurance Agents of Greater Tampa, a board member of the Centro Asturiano de Tampa and a board member of the Macfarlane Park PTA.
Suarez has been married for 20 years to Laura Ankenbruck and they have three sons, Vincent, Anthony and Nicholas.
