Doral Council selects Zeida Sardiñas as City Manager

DORAL, FL – Zeida Sardiñas is the new Doral City Manager following a special meeting held Thursday in which city officials interviewed the final three candidates out of 17 applicants. 

After the interviews, Doral councilmembers unanimously voted in favor of selecting Sardiñas as the new city manager, a position that now has been held by five individuals in 2024. 

The last city manager was Rey Valdes who presented a resignation letter that was made public on Sept. 30 during a special council meeting to discuss his job performance and a salary evaluation that would potentially end in a reduction of it. 

Valdes had been in the position since June 2024 in replacement of Interim Manager, Kathie Brooks, who took office after Barbara Hernandez was removed from her position leaving Deputy City Manager Frank Rios temporarily in the position.

After Dec. 26 appointment, Doral Mayor Christi Fraga said on her social media accounts she was excited to welcome the unanimously selected City Manager. “With her proven dedication, extensive experience, and deep ties to our city and beyond, I’m confident she will bring stability and continued success to Doral. Congratulations, Zeida!,” Fraga said on X. 

Sardiñas, who worked in Doral for five years from June 2014 to May 2019 as a legislative analyst, said in her statement to the council that she wants to return to Doral to use her “executive level leadership experience and institutional knowledge to guide Doral towards its next phase of growth and innovation.”

She also mentioned she has a “deep connection and commitment” to Doral, a city where her parents have lived for more than 26 years. 

Before being selected as city manager, Zeida Sardiñas was working as the asset manager for the City of Coral Gables since 2019. Her role encompassed overseeing the development and management of city-owned leased properties and handling the acquisition and disposition of city assets.

Photo by: X.com