David Richardson

David Richardson moved to Florida over 50 years ago and has proudly called the state his home ever since. David was endorsed previously by the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund in his successful campaign as Florida’s first out LGBTQ+ elected state legislator (2012).

He’s running for Tax Collector to defend our hard-earned dollars and ensure government works for ALL Miami-Dade residents! After graduating with degrees in Accounting and Biology from the University of Central Florida, Richardson earned an MBA from the University of Tampa. For the past 39 years, Richardson has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida, using his extensive experience to serve as a State Representative and Miami Beach City Commissioner since 2012.

Richardson’s successful career in accounting and auditing began at the Department of Defense, where he served as an auditor. He later joined Ernst and Young, an international accounting firm, before establishing his own small business focused on forensic auditing and expert witness testimony on matters concerning federal government contracts.

During his time in the state legislature, Richardson was a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. His legislative accomplishments include enacting rule changes within the Department of Children and Families and the Guardian Ad Litem programs to protect LGBTQ+ children in foster care and under the care of the state of Florida. Additionally, Richardson championed initiatives addressing youth homelessness in South Florida and successfully secured state funding for a pilot project to combat LGBT youth homelessness. He was successful in leading the effort to remove the gay adoption ban from state statutes in 2015.

Richardson is also recognized for his unwavering commitment to government accountability and transparency. As a State Representative, he utilized his forensic auditing expertise to identify challenges within the Department of Corrections, successfully fighting for more oversight of both public and private prisons contracts; his efforts exposed many misdeeds within the department.

As a Miami Beach City Commissioner, David became known as “the budget guy” due to his staunch commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars. He’s also been a leading advocate for quality of life measures, including public safety, transit, and environmental protection. He lead the effort on many LGBTQ+ related funding and policy initiatives.

After more than a decade in public service, David is running for Tax Collector to ensure government works for all of us, protect our tax dollars, and fight for lower taxes and fees. Armed with years of experience in government and accounting, he’s ready to be “the budget guy” for ALL Miami-Dade residents! This is an opportunity to establish a new government agency.