Ken Russell (politician)
Ken Russell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Miami City Commission from the 2nd district | |
| In office November 25, 2015 – December 29, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Marc Sarnoff |
| Succeeded by | Sabina Covo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ken Joseph Russell June 25, 1973 Coral Gables, Florida, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Juliana Benedini |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BS) |
Ken Joseph Russell (born June 25, 1973) is an American politician and yo-yo champion from the state of Florida. A member of the Democratic Party, he served on the Miami City Commission from 2015 to 2022. He ran for Mayor of Miami in the city's 2025 election, placing third in a crowded field.
As a city commissioner, Russell authored adopted ordinances that allowed co-living spaces to be created in the city, citing such residential accommodations as a means of addressing the city's housing shortage. He also authored an inclusionary zoning ordinance for the Omni district (the Arts & Entertainment District), which was adopted by the city but preempted by a subsequent state law. He also authored an adopted ordinance aimed at reducing fertilizer pollution to waterways in hopes of decreasing the incidents of algae blooms. Since leaving city government, he has worked in environmentalism as an outreach director for Longevity Partners, as well as a spokesperson and lobbyist for Sierra Club. In 2022, he unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives and also abandoned a campaign for U.S. Senate.