City of Orlando, Mayor Buddy Dyer home page (original) (raw)

Biography

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was born in Orlando and raised in nearby Kissimmee. He graduated from Osceola High School, in the top 10 percent of his class, and was the captain of the baseball team, MVP of the football team and vice-president of his class.

He was awarded a scholarship to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. As an undergraduate, Dyer studied civil engineering and was vice-captain of the rugby team.

After graduation, Dyer returned to Florida to work as an environmental engineer. He later enrolled at the University of Florida Law School, where he was named Editor-In-Chief of the University of Florida Law Review. He was honored with membership in the Order of the Coif, an honor reserved for the top 10 percent of the graduating class, and became a member of Phi Delta Phi, a society that promotes high standards of professional ethics. Dyer also earned membership in the prestigious Florida Blue Key for exemplary service and leadership. He graduated with honors in 1987 and received the highest score on the Florida Bar Exam that year.

In 1992, Dyer ran for the Florida State Senate and won; he was re-elected by the people of Central Florida in 1996 and 2000. Dyer's outstanding service was recognized by his colleagues who elected him to serve as the State Senate Democratic Leader for three years.

When Governor Jeb Bush announced his appointment of three-term Mayor Glenda Hood as Florida�s Secretary of State in December 2003, Dyer geared up against seven other candidates for the special mayoral election in February 2003. The field was eventually narrowed to two candidates, with Dyer winning the February 25 run-off. He was sworn in on February 26, 2003.

Mayor Dyer has asked the citizens of Orlando to �Imagine a Great City.� The goals of his administration are:

Mayor Dyer is married to attorney Karen Dyer. They have two sons, Trey (12) and Drew (7). Both are avid little leaguers.