Francis Suarez’s fundraiser appears at U.S. mayors’ meeting as a ‘city official’
The man who’s helped Miami Mayor Francis Suarez rake in millions in campaign contributions attended this week’s U.S. Conference of Mayors event in Miami Beach, posing with celebrities and wearing an ID badge with a curious title: “City Official.”
Brian Goldmeier is principal of BYG Strategies, a key cog in Suarez’s political machine, and not a city of Miami employee. But he is a fixture in the local political establishment as a go-to rainmaker for campaigns. During the mayor’s 2021 reelection campaign, Suarez amassed a war chest of more than $6.5 million, and Goldmeier’s firm was paid more than $962,000, according to campaign finance reports.
Goldmeier tweeted a picture Friday morning posing with DJ Irie and actor Jamie Foxx where he thanked the celebrities for stopping by the leadership meeting held by the national mayors’ group.
“Thank you so much @IRIE and Jamie Foxx for stopping by to surprise our @usmayors leadership meeting last night!” Goldmeier wrote.
In January, Suarez was sworn in as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a leadership position among mayors across the country that gives him a platform to push what he’s called an “agenda for urban America” — one that includes promoting the use of cryptocurrency, a tactic that has attracted criticism in the wake of MiamiCoin’s sustained dip in value.
The position also bolsters Suarez’s growing national profile, a perk for the 44-year-old Republican who could be a player in the future of national GOP politics. Suarez has said he plans to help Republicans raise money to help the party retake the U.S. House and Senate.
Suarez and Goldmeier did not immediately respond to the Miami Herald’s questions about why Goldmeier was present with the “city official” credential.
