Bryan Avila
| Bryan Avila | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 111th district |
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| Assumed office November 18, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Eduardo González |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 25, 1984 Hialeah, Florida |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Cindy Avila |
| Alma mater | Miami-Dade College (A.A.) University of Miami (B.A.) Florida International University (M.P.A.) |
| Profession | College professor |
| Religion | Catholicism |
Bryan Avila (born June 25, 1984) is a Republican politician who currently serves as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 111th District, which includes parts of Miami and Hialeah in northeastern Miami-Dade County, since 2014.
History
Avila was born in Hialeah, Florida, and graduated from Miami Springs High School in 2002. He then attended Miami-Dade College, receiving his associates degree in 2002, and the University of Miami, where he graduated with a degree in political science in 2006. Avila then attended Florida International University, graduating with a masters degree in criminal justice as a Master of Public Administration in 2010. He then took a position as an English professor at Miami-Dade College. In 2013, Avila was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Miami Dade County Republican Party, and served on the Scholarship Board and the Planning and Zoning Boards for the City of Hialeah.
Florida House of Representatives
In 2014, incumbent State Representative Eduardo González was unable to seek re-election due to term limits, so Avila ran to succeed him. He faced Alexander Anthony, a former candidate for Mayor in Miami Springs in the Republican primary. Avila campaigned on improving the state's economy, promoting public education, cutting taxes, reducing the size of government, and on his roots in the community.[1] He earned the endorsement of the Miami Herald, which, though it recommended his candidacy, criticized his opposition to Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, noting that his opposition "will help him get along with Republican House leaders...but it won't help constituents who lack access to medical care."[2] Avila ended up defeating Anthony by a wide margin, winning the primary with 60% of the vote, and advancing to the general election, where he faced Mariano Corcilli, the Democratic nominee and a former prosecutor and veteran.[3] This time, he did not earn the endorsement of the Herald, which supported his opponent over his opposition to Medicaid expansion.[4] Ultimately, it was not a close election, with Avila defeating Corcilli in a landslide, winning 67% of the vote.
