As mayor of a diverse city, I focus on how we can work together, progress, and be a community where everyone is respected.

 

Our residents come from all over the world with different creeds, accents, colors, and religions.  

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Pembroke Pines Mayor Angelo Castillo is originally from Cuba and came to New York with his family, where he grew up, attended high school and college, and pursued graduate studies in law. His career in government began in New York. In 1996, he and his wife moved to Florida. Before becoming the city's first Hispanic mayor in 2024, he served as a city commissioner for 20 years.

 

When asked what issues concerned him most about Pembroke Pines, a city with a total population of 179,300, of which 87,718 are Hispanic, he stated that the city is very diverse. “We have residents from all over the world with different beliefs, accents, skin colors, and religions. I'm a glass-half-full kind of person and I'm optimistic. As mayor of a diverse city, I focus on how we can work together, progress, and be a community where everyone is respected,” he affirmed.

He maintains that he and his commission work diligently to ensure they represent all residents. “We may not always agree, but we listen, we learn, and we are dedicated to ensuring everyone’s safety and addressing their concerns and needs,” he adds.

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If you had to fix something in your city, where would you start?

Pembroke Pines is a great city. We have the same concerns as other growing cities, but we always do our best to find solutions. When the whole world is facing so many challenges, it is up to our city to ensure that residents feel at home, that they are protected by the best police and fire services, that our services meet their needs, that our parks are welcoming so that residents can feel safe, have fun, and enjoy them, that seniors can retire, and that young people can thrive, but above all, to be a strong and supportive community.

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Does it have close ties or share events with its nearby cities?

We have excellent relationships with all of Broward's neighboring cities. It's always important to maintain that, to understand what other cities are doing or going through, and to know that we never live in a bubble, but are part of a better life here in South Florida.

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If Broward has a total population of approximately 2,037,472, of which about 700,890 are Hispanic, why do you think a very low percentage of Hispanics decide to pursue a career in politics or develop any interest in public office?

I believe this applies to all cultures today, but I do believe that, especially for Hispanics, the situation is changing. We now see many more Hispanics entering public service and actively participating in local, state, and national politics. It all starts with giving our youth the opportunity to see how governments work and helping them understand the legislative process, public policy, and the issues that impact everyone's lives. Programs like the Pembroke Pines Student Ambassadors are critical in showing students how they can be key players in creating positive change in their community and making significant contributions.

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“Our city is constantly evolving. We must adapt in order to combine planning and strategy, carefully analyze how we can meet new demands, and face the difficult challenges we may encounter. We maintain our resilience and strength,” he added.

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How do you see the evolution of Pembroke Pines over all these years?

Pembroke Pines was once one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, but we are now practically overflowing. New businesses are seeking to locate in our city, and we remain a thriving municipality. However, finding housing across the country has become difficult for many young people and couples starting families. We want to address this and are constantly seeking strategic solutions to this problem.

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And to conclude our interview with the mayor of Pembroke Pines, Angelo Castillo, we wanted to know if he has any favorite hobbies and he replied that he is a passionate reader who also loves to write, but that in his free time he can be found at the Pembroke Lakes golf course.

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“My family, of course, is very important to me. My wife and I enjoy doing many activities and traveling together. We love spending time with our two adult daughters. I enjoy everything about our city, from its many restaurants and parks to attending all the special events it offers.”

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Every Hispanic immigrant has their own story, and that of Angelo Castillo, mayor of Pembroke Pines, is one of them.

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The mayor's career

He earned an academic and athletic scholarship, graduating from Wagner College with a degree in business administration and an MBA in finance. A graduate of New York Law School, he completed an executive program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and served as an executive in the administrations of Koch, Dinkins, Giuliani, Cuomo, and Pataki in New York. He was appointed director of the Florida State Office of Community Planning and Development for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1996 and Broward County Director of Human Services in 1998, where he was responsible for a $250 million budget and 1,200 employees. He returned to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as Deputy State Coordinator for Florida in 2000. From 2003 until he joined the Broward Sheriff's Command Staff in 2013, he served as President and CEO of a nonprofit corporation. He also served as an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Management at the University of St. Thomas. For the past 20 years, he was a Pembroke Pines city commissioner before being elected in 2024 as the city's first Hispanic mayor, an achievement of which he is very proud.