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(305) 861-4863 |
Term - 2012 - 2014 |
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(305) 861-4863 |
Term - 2012 - 2014 |
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(305) 861-4863 |
Term - 2012 - 2014 |
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(305) 861-4863 |
Term - 2012 - 2014 |
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(305) 861-4863 |
Term - 2012 - 2014 |
The Town of Surfside, Florida is a Commission-Manager form of government. Article II of the Town of Surfside Charter provides a detailed explanation of the associated rights, responsibilities and prohibitions governing the Commission.
The Legislative Department consists of the Mayor, Vice Mayor and three Town Commissioners. They are identified by name and title on the title page of this document. Collectively, the legislative body is responsible principally for setting the general policy direction of the town. The Town Commission makes four critically important appointments on behalf of the Town and provides oversight to those appointments. The appointments are: 1) the Town Attorney, 2) Town Board members, 3) the Town Manager, and 4) the Town’s external auditor.
The powers and responsibilities of the Town Commission designated in the Town Charter include, among others: 1) appointments, 2) establishing administrative departments through the adopted budget, 3) levying taxes and assessments, 4) authorizing bond issuance, 5) adopting and modifying the official Town map, 6) regulating development consistent with governing laws, 7) addressing neighborhood development, 8) granting public utility franchises, 9) providing for an employee pension plan, 10) monitoring administrative services through the Town Manager, 11) appointing interim Commissioners in the event of a vacancy of office, and 12) providing Town ceremonies.
Daniel Dietch, Mayor
Phone: (305) 861-4863
Welcome to Surfside. It is my privilege to serve as the 32nd Mayor of Surfside. In 2010, we celebrated a significant milestone: Surfside’s 75th anniversary. I pledge to continue to honor our illustrious past by planning for an economically stable and sustainable future. This is my goal and my promise to the residents of Surfside.
Surfside already has much to be proud of including our diverse recreation programs, our beautiful beaches and parks, a diverse downtown shopping district, caring residents and a staff dedicated to serving the Town and its residents. We are currently working on many initiatives, including the opening of our new and state of the art community center, improving our technology services, revamping and improving the capacities of our water/sewer/stormwater management systems, business district improvements, and looking for opportunities to improve services and lower costs by collaborating with our neighboring communities.
As we move forward, my commitment to you is to be open-minded, thorough, fair, and honest. My priority is to solicit feedback, to listen to my constituents and the Town’s stakeholders and to act in the best interests of Surfside.
I thank you for your confidence in me. I look forward to hearing from you and continuing to work to keep Surfside a great community to live, work, visit, raise a family and enjoy life.
Michael Karukin, Vice Mayor
Phone: (305) 861-4863
Michael Karukin has been involved in Surfside’s policy direction since 2008. In 2010, after serving on the Charter Review Board, he was elected to the Surfside Commission and re-elected in 2012 as Vice Mayor. He is very appreciative of the opportunity to serve another two years.
Michael has worked as a clinical research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 30 years. He is a Physician’s Assistant with Bachelor’s degrees in Physiological Psychology and Medicine from the University of Florida and has a Ph.D in Health Services Administration from Walden University.
From 1982 to 1991, Michael was research director and clinician at one of the first private clinical trial study centers in South Florida, focusing on investigational drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, stroke and migraine headache. In 1991, he joined IVAX Corporation, a Miami based pharmaceutical company as a clinical research scientist. IVAX wasacquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals (the world largest generic drug company) in 2006. Michael is now Director of Patient Registries at Teva managing research projects in the area of medication safety.
Michael grew up in Miami Beach. In 1999, he found his dream home in Surfside, his slice of paradise. There are not too many places that offer the peace, tranquility and security of a small town yet so close to what makes South Florida a great place to live, work and play. Surfside is a family friendly residential coastal community that offers great schools, great location, great people, and a great place to visit. We have a Town administration that is professional, responsive, and accessible to all residents and visitors. Open a business, buy a home, eat at one of our great restaurants, go shopping or stay on the beach to just relax. Welcome to Surfside.
Joe Graubart, Commissioner
Phone: (305) 861-4863
 Commissioner Joe Graubart was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and has lived in Surfside since childhood when his parents Samuel and Shirley, and brother David moved here in 1957.
He attended Bay Harbor Islands Elementary School - Go Bobcats! Joe is also an alumnus of Nautilus Junior High School and Miami Beach Senior High - Go Hi Tides! He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Florida International University in 1975. During his college years at FIU, Commissioner Graubart owned and operated seasonal gift shops on the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire for twenty five years while living in Surfside the remainder of the year.
Commissioner Graubart served four years (2002 – 2006) as Chair of the Planning and Zoning Board and received the most votes out of eight candidates resulting in his becoming Vice Mayor (2010 – 2012). He returned to the Town Commission after winning in a three-way race in this year’s August 2012 Special Election held as a result of an open seat created by the resignation of a Commissioner.
Joe supports all efforts to maintain Surfside’s small town charm and puts the interests of the residents first.
Michelle Kligman, Commissioner
Phone: (305) 861-4863
Cell Phone: (305) 619-5748
Michelle was born and raised in Miami, where she has spent the majority of her life. For almost eight years she has been a resident of Surfside, where she lives with her husband Jacob and their two children. For nearly a decade Michelle has facilitated community outreach in South Florida through her professional and personal experience in public service. She worked for the City of Miami as a Senior Assistant to the City Manager, for three different City Managers and under two different administrations. She has served as a board member of Miami-Dade County's Building Better Communities Advisory Board, Chair of Surfside's Green Advisory Board, and as an active participant in South Florida's Neighbors 4 Neighbors program. She has gained broad experience through her work as a liaison to the City of Miami's Community Relations Board, the
Commission on the Status of Women, and The Little Havana Advisory Board.
Michelle's strength has been translating concerns into a call to action. She has conducted extensive research on policy and legislation and has been recognized by Miami-Dade County for her participation in the community. She is a tireless advocate on women's issues, and in 2004 she was featured in Latino Leaders magazine, "Latina Advocates Making the World A Better Place" for her grassroots work to promote minority women in the workplace. She holds a a doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in clinical psychology, with a focus on organizational psychology, and proudly served the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center as a psychology resident.
Marta Olchyk, Commissioner Phone: (305) 861-4863
My name is MARTA OLCHYK. I was born in Cuba where I lived until 1960 when I emigrated to the U.S, specifically to Dallas, TX , where I lived for forty (40 )years until 2000.
When I left Cuba with my now deceased dear husband Dr. Oscar Olchyk and my first born child, Samuel Olchyk, currently a Tax attorney in Washington .D.C., I was a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Havana, Cuba.
In Dallas, I was able to continue my education. I got an M.A from Texas Woman's University and a PH.D from Texas Christian University. My second child, Sonia Olchyk, was born in Dallas and is also living in Washington D.C. where she teaches Spanish and is a curriculum developer at a High School.
My professional career includes teaching Spanish and Latin American Civilization in High School and in College for 8 years. Then I became a federal Investigator with the Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This assignment lasted 28 years until I retired in 2003.
An important aspect of my life has always been my commitment to community involvement which includes volunteering in organizations such as American Association of University Women, Hadassah, Jewish Federation of Dallas and Greater Miami, and AIPAC, among many others.
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