Commissioner Mark A. Douglas
City of Sunrise Commission, Seat A

E-mail: mdouglas@sunrisefl.gov

Mark A. Douglas is a Litigation Attorney since 2006 and the founder of the law firm of Mark A. Douglas, P.A. Commissioner Douglas graduated from Florida International University (FIU) College of Law and is licensed to practice throughout the State of Florida, including in all three federal districts. He focuses on criminal defense and immigration law, and also litigates matters related to unpaid minimum wage and overtime arising under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with honors from the University of Technology, Jamaica, a certificate in Business Studies from the University of the West Indies, and has been a licensed Realtor for over 18 years.

Before entering private practice, Commissioner Douglas worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases. While in law school, he worked as a Certified Legal Intern at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, interned at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office and participated in student government, serving as president of the Black Law Students Association. He was also member of the FIU Law School’s Board of Advocates, representing the school nationally in intramural negotiating competitions while also being named to the Dean’s List of scholars.

Commissioner Douglas has been involved in many community activities through the years, frequently providing pro bono services to indigent clients and providing free legal advice during citizenship drives within Broward County, as well as acting as a mentor to young law students and lawyers. He has served on the board of four homeowners’ associations, and served as president of his community association board for 15 years.

Before being elected to the Sunrise City Commission, Commissioner Douglas was appointed to the Broward County Consumer Protection Board, the City of Sunrise Economic Development Advisory Board, the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board—which  he chaired for two terms—and  the City’s Board of Zoning Adjustment.

Commissioner Douglas was first elected in 2016 and made history in Sunrise by being the first minority to  be elected to or to otherwise serve on the City Commission. In the November 2020 election, he was returned to office unopposed. He served as Deputy Mayor in 2019 and 2023.

Since 2018 he has served as the City’s representative on the board of the Broward League of Cities.  At the statewide level, also since 2018, Commissioner Douglas has served on the Board of Trustees of the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust, a mutual insurance entity sponsored by the Florida League of Cities. The Trust provides a range of insurance coverage for over 550 governmental entities statewide, including the City of Sunrise, insuring over 15 billion dollars in property values and other coverage such as liability, auto, health, workers compensation and cyber insurance. 

Commissioner Douglas has served on several committees of the Florida League of Cities, including the Municipal Administration Committee and the Legislative Action Committee. He currently serves on the Finance, Taxation and Personnel Committee. 

At the national level, Commissioner Douglas has served since 2018 on the National League of Cities’ Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations (FAIR) Federal Advocacy Committee. In November 2020, he was appointed chairman of FAIR, and consequently to serve on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities. As chairman of the FAIR Committee he played an integral role as the League’s point person, liaising with the Federal Treasury and the White House as they developed the legislation which became known as American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)—through which over 65 billion dollars were granted to cities across the United States, and from which the City of Sunrise received 17 million dollars in COVID relief grants.

Within Sunrise, Commissioner Douglas has been a leader among leaders, having been appointed by the City Commission to chair the External Auditor Selection Committee, which is required by state law, and to be lead negotiator for multiple employment contracts with senior employees (charter officers) of the City, among other roles.

He is a member of the Broward County Bar Association, serving on their Mentorship Committee; the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys; the American Bar Association; and the former treasurer of the Jamaican American Bar Association.

Commissioner Douglas and his family have resided in Sunrise since 2001.