Jacqueline A. Guzman
Assistant Deputy Mayor Jacqueline A. Guzman was first elected to the Sunrise City Commission in November 2020 and re-elected in 2022. She is a dedicated public servant and an influential voice in municipal leadership on both the state and national levels. Since 2022, she has served on the boards of two National League of Cities (NLC) constituency groups—Hispanic Elected Local Officials (HELO) and Women in Municipal Government (WIMG). In 2024, she was appointed to the NLC’s Council on Youth, Education, and Families (YEF), and in 2025, she was selected to serve on the Race, Equity, and Leadership (REAL) Council. Commissioner Guzman holds the distinction of being the first Latina (Puerto Rican) woman elected to the Sunrise City Commission.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Assistant Deputy Mayor Guzman has been a proud resident of Sunrise, where she is raising her family. She attended Piper High School as a freshman and graduated from South Plantation High School. In 2016, she earned an associate’s degree in healthcare from Las Vegas College in Nevada and continued her studies in Substance Abuse and Addictions Counseling.
Guzman is a passionate advocate for health equity and community engagement. A two-time heart attack survivor, she has worked closely with the American Heart Association (AHA) as a volunteer and board member, focusing on Heart Health Awareness. Her dedication to public service has also been recognized with a nomination for Elected Official of the Year by the TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness.
Her service extends across various organizations, including previous board roles with HandsOn Broward and the Community Action Agency of Broward County. She has also served as a Child Advocate with the Guardian ad Litem Program, a voting delegate for both the Broward League of Cities (BLC) and the National League of Cities, and as a member of the BLC Youth Leadership Committee. Locally, she has volunteered as a coach for youth sports in Sunrise and served as PTO President at Westpine Middle School, where she founded Panthers with a Purpose, a student-centered volunteer initiative. In 2024, Guzman championed for the City of Sunrise's TEEN SUMMIT. Her commitment to youth and teen programming remains a cornerstone of her public service.
As the daughter of a small business owner and a minority entrepreneur herself, Assistant Deputy Mayor Guzman is a strong advocate for local economic growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she recognized the urgent needs of the business community and championed efforts to support them. In 2021, she voiced strong support for the creation of the Sunrise Small Business Academy, which received unanimous approval from the City Commission.
Teaching My Kids to Serve
For the past 10 years, Commissioner Jacqueline Guzman and her children have been deeply involved in community service and volunteer work. Their journey began with her oldest son, who received the Youth Impact Award from HandsOn Broward and national recognition from President Barack Obama for his early dedication to civic engagement. Inspired by his example, her two younger children also developed a strong commitment to giving back.
As a former PTO President at Westpine Middle School, Commissioner Guzman founded Panthers with a Purpose, a student-led volunteer group focused on community service. She also launched the Adopt-a-Street program on 50th Street to promote civic pride and responsibility and was instrumental in creating the Teen Summit program in Sunrise, offering youth a platform to lead, engage, and share their ideas.
Seeing the impact of these initiatives on her own family, Commissioner Guzman remains dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders and building a stronger, more compassionate Sunrise community.
A Survivor Who Inspires
At the age of 30, Commissioner Jacqueline Guzman survived two unexpected heart attacks—an experience that profoundly changed her life and inspired a mission to raise awareness about heart disease, especially among women. For the past 13 years, she has been a passionate advocate for heart health, serving as a former local volunteer spokeswoman and board member for the American Heart Association (AHA), and sponsoring multiple Heart Health Proclamations.
Commissioner Guzman has led fundraising efforts for both the AHA and HeartSistas—both recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the City of Sunrise. She proudly supports their missions to spread awareness and save lives through education, outreach, and advocacy.
She also founded the annual Go Red Fashion Show, a unique event that celebrates survivors, promotes heart health education, and uplifts local entrepreneurs. Her lived experience continues to drive her commitment to empowering women and building a healthier, more informed community.
Community Partners
For the past decade, Commissioner Jacqueline Guzman has been deeply committed to building authentic relationships and creating networks that strengthen community support. She believes that strong, genuine connections are the foundation of meaningful civic progress and lasting change.
Her work has focused on uniting people through local initiatives, collaborative partnerships, and community engagement. A key part of her journey has been building relationships within government—fostering mutual understanding and support while navigating the complexities of public service.
Commissioner Guzman’s approach reflects her belief that it’s through these connections that real, lasting impact is achieved for the community.