GOVERNOR NAMES SUAREZ TO COLLEGE BOARD

SHE IS AN ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY & TWO -TIME POLITICAL CANDIDATE

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 16 announced the appointment of Alexandria Suarez to the College of the Florida Keys’ seven-member board of trustees.

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Motorists traveling north in the Upper Keys on June 18 experienced heavy traffic backups after a sewer line break at MM 92.5 in Tavernier closed one road lane.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the village of Islamorada issued alerts around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday regarding a wastewater line break. Crews arrived on scene to conduct repairs, leaving only one northbound lane open to vehicles on a busy Father’s Day and three-day weekend with the federal holiday Juneteenth celebrated Monday, June 19.

A.J. Engelmeyer, Islamorada wastewater services director, told the Keys Weekly via email that the break was to the village wastewater’s conveyance force main. Repairs to the main and the road went into the night as northbound traffic remained heavy. Traffic returned to normal Monday morning as the repairs were complete.

Engelmeyer said the road repairs took some time to complete before two lanes were back open.

“The limiting factor is the asphalt plant and getting one to open,” he said.

On June 20, Islamorada crews returned to the site to repair the asphalt where the break occurred. Repairs took roughly four hours.

Islamorada’s collection system, which serves residents and businesses from Plantation Key to Lower Matecumbe Key, is a combination of vacuum and low pressure with sewage conveyed to the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The closure of one northbound lane had traffic backed up for several miles throughout the day and into the evening. The village alert urged residents to avoid the area if possible. A post by MCSO stated that traffic was still flowing, but the closure of one northbound lane remained due to the continued sewer issue.

This isn’t the first time a sewer line broke in the area. In March 2019, a 20-foot sewer line broke at MM 92.5. Repairs took roughly 12 hours to complete. Breaks also occurred May 2019 and November 2020.

Suarez will fulfill the remaining two years of former board member Stephanie Scuderi’s four-year term, CFK President Jonathan Gueverra told the Keys Weekly on June 20. Scuderi left the board in October to accept a job as the college’s vice president of advancement.

Suarez’s first meeting was June 27 at the college’s Upper Keys campus. Suarez told the Keys Weekly she looks forward to contributing her talents and expertise on the board as a former educator and practicing attorney.

“I am excited to support the focus on academic rigor and opportunities that will lead to a bright future for College of the Florida Keys students,” she said.

Suarez is an assistant state attorney for the 16th Judicial Circuit. She is currently a member of the Florida Bar and was previously a teacher with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 16 appointed Alexandria Suarez to the College of the Florida Keys board of trustees. CONTRIBUTED

A member of the Republican Party, Suarez in 2020 ran for the Florida House of Representatives to represent District 120, which includes the Florida Keys.

She lost in the Republican primary in August 2020 to Jim Mooney, who remains the District 120 state representative.

Suarez then ran for the Monroe County school board in 2022, with the governor’s endorsement, but lost to incumbent Sue Woltanski, who continues to represent District 5 in the Upper Keys on the county school board.

Board members of the College of the Florida Keys are appointed by the governor, and the board currently includes: chairman Kevin Madok, vice chair Sheldon Suga, Daniel Leben, Michelle Maxwell, Mike Puto, Richard Weinstein and Suarez.

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