James E. McDonald was nominated and confirmed by the Council in April 2026 to fill a vacancy, bringing with him decades of legal, governmental, and community experience. A resident of what is now Pinecrest for more than 50 years, he has deep roots in the community, where he and his family have lived and contributed for generations. He raised four children in Pinecrest and remains an active member of St. Louis Church. Councilmember McDonald previously served on the Village Council after being elected to Seat 3 in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016. During his tenure, he played a key role in advancing transportation and infrastructure initiatives. His leadership extended beyond the Village, including serving as chair of the Miami-Dade League of Cities’ Transportation Committee and past chair of the National League of Cities’ Transportation & Infrastructure Services Committee. He also served as chairperson of the Village’s Transportation Advisory Committee. A native of Connecticut, Councilmember McDonald earned his undergraduate degree from Fairfield University and his law degree from The Catholic University of America. In 2015, he furthered his leadership training by completing the “Leadership for the 21st Century” program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He currently practices law at his own firm and serves as “of counsel” to a Pinecrest-based law firm, focusing on renewable energy and government relations. In addition, he is an adjunct law professor at St. Thomas University in Miami. His distinguished public service career includes roles as an FBI agent, assistant counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Select Committee on Crime, special counsel to Florida Governor Reubin Askew, Assistant United States Attorney, and senior counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Select Committee investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He also served as general counsel to the International Biofuels Commission, co-chaired by former Governor Jeb Bush, and was chairman of the Florida chapter of Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO) for three years. Councilmember McDonald remains actively engaged in regional and civic initiatives. He is currently a long-time member of the South Miami-Dade County Economic Development Council’s advisory board. His community involvement includes participation with organizations such as the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Zoological Society of Florida, Inc., Deering Estate, Bayfront Park Trust, and the St. Thomas University Board of Trustees. With a career defined by public service, legal expertise, and a longstanding commitment to his community, Councilmember McDonald continues to serve the residents of Pinecrest with dedication and experience.