Juan Fernandez-Barquin

Juan Alfonso Fernandez-Barquin (born March 6, 1983) is an American attorney, politician, and professor who has served as the Miami-Dade County clerk and comptroller since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2018 to 2023.

Juan Fernandez-Barquin
Official portrait, 2023
Miami-Dade County Clerk and Comptroller
Assumed office
June 12, 2023
Preceded byHarvey Ruvin
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 118th district
In office
November 6, 2018 – June 11, 2023
Preceded byJeanette Nuñez
Succeeded byMike Redondo
Personal details
Born
Juan Alfonso Fernandez-Barquin

(1983-03-06) March 6, 1983 (age 41)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCatalina Santaella
EducationBelen Jesuit Preparatory School
Alma materFlorida International University (BA)
American University (JD)
Occupation
  • Attorney
  • politician
  • professor

Early life and career

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Fernandez-Barquin was born on March 6, 1983, in Miami, Florida. He graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School and earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Florida International University. He received his Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law.[1]

Fernandez-Barquin served as an assistant public defender in Palm Beach County before returning to Miami in 2013 to open his private law firm.[1]

He serves on the governing board of Jackson Health System and works as an adjunct professor at Miami Dade College.[1]

Florida House of Representatives

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Fernandez-Barquin defeated three opponents in the August 28th Republican primary, winning 44.2% of the vote.[2] In the 2018 general election, Fernandez-Barquin won 53.09% of the vote, defeating Democrat Heath Rassner and a third candidate.[3] He was reelected to the state House in 2020 and 2022.

During his tenure, he served as Chair of the Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee and was a member of the State Affairs Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Energy, Communications & Cybersecurity Subcommittee, and Justice Appropriations Subcommittee.[1]

Fernandez-Barquin resigned from the House on June 11, 2023.[4]

Miami-Dade County Clerk

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On June 9, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Fernandez-Barquin as clerk of the circuit court of Miami-Dade County, following the prior clerk's death.[5] He was officially sworn into office on June 12, 2023. As clerk, he manages an office of 1,300 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of approximately $145 million.[1]

 
Fernandez-Barquin with Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, 2025

In the 2024 Miami-Dade County Clerk election, Fernandez-Barquin defeated Democratic nominee Annette Taddeo with 55.4% of the vote.[6]

Personal life

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Fernandez-Barquin is married to his wife, Catalina Santaella.[1] He is Roman Catholic.

Electoral history

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Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Clerk and Comptroller election, 2024[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Juan Fernandez-Barquin (incumbent) 580,202 55.4
Democratic Annette Taddeo 464,947 44.4
Independent Rubin Young 2,074 0.2
Total votes 1,047,223 100.00

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Juan Fernandez-Barquin, Clerk of the Court and Comptroller". miamidadeclerk.gov. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  2. ^ "Florida Department of State - Election Results". Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Florida Election Watch - State Representative". Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Juan Alfonso Fernandez-Barquin representative page". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  5. ^ Hanks, Douglas (2023-06-09). "DeSantis names Republican ally to succeed Miami-Dade's longtime Democratic clerk". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  6. ^ Scheckner, Jesse (November 5, 2024). "Miami-Dade voters keep Juan Fernandez-Barquin as Clerk and Comptroller". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  7. ^ "Ballotpedia". ballotpedia.org.