Joe Rasco: Key Biscayne mayor targeting flooding, shoreline, traffic

Joe Rasco is a senior management executive with over 30 years of leadership in local government and large businesses. After moving to Key Biscayne in 1978, he fought alongside other residents to incorporate the town and establish the first village council as well as the village’s independent fire and police departments. In 1998, the community elected Mr. Rasco to his first term as mayor. 

Since then, Mr. Rasco has worked in key strategic roles in Miami-Dade County and smaller municipalities such as Doral and Palmetto Bay. Most recently, he was elected to a second term as Key Biscayne mayor in November 2022. 

For 17 years until his retirement in 2021, Mr. Rasco was director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for Miami-Dade County, which has an annual budget of over $10 billion and 30,000 employees. Mr. Rasco collaborated on objectives with the mayor, county commission and departments like transit, police, fire, public works, parks, libraries, water and sewer, solid waste, airport, and seaport, and secured millions of dollars in state and federal funds for county projects. 

Mr. Rasco also was interim manager for the City of Doral from 2003 to 2004 and for the Village of Palmetto Bay from 2002 to 2003. He maintains strong working relationships with elected officials and community leaders at municipal, county, state and federal levels. 

In his second term as Mayor, Mr. Rasco hopes to address climate concerns, flooding, traffic congestion and growing investments in the village. He aims to achieve these goals by revamping the island’s stormwater system, enhancing shoreline protections as well as working with different jurisdictions to improve traffic flow and promote investment in the area. 

Mr. Rasco received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and has a master’s in business from Florida International University. He is a recipient of the Nancy Hughes Community Commitment Award.

For over 40 years, he and his wife, Ana, have resided in Key Biscayne, where they raised their three children. Outside of his professional life, Mr. Rasco enjoys playing pickleball with his wife at the community center, visiting national parks together and spending quality time with their children and seven grandchildren.

Mr. Rasco spoke with Miami Today reporter Genevieve Bowen. 

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