Today, Valente Brothers Brown Belt, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla won the race for the Florida Senate with a margin of 10 points. Miguel began training with Professor Pedro Valente back in 1997 and was part of Pedro’s first group of students. Miguel recently received the brown belt and continues to practice on a regular basis.
Miguel, a Miami Dade native, graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory school in 1981, attended the University of Miami earning his B.A., Cum Laude in 1984, and then went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 1987.
As Miami-Dade County Commissioner from 1993-2000, Miguel created the Office of the Inspector General, founded the Miami Dade County Expressway Authority, created Community Zoning Adjustment Boards and transformed the land use and zoning process in Miami-Dade County.
Miguel is the youngest person to have chaired the Miami Dade County Commission.
