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, my children and I have been deeply involved in volunteering and serving our community. Our journey began with my oldest son, who was honored with the Youth Impact Award from HandsOn Broward and received national recognition from President Barack Obama for his early commitment to civic engagement. His example inspired my two younger children to follow in his footsteps, each developing a strong passion for helping others and making a difference.
As a former PTO President of Westpine Middle School, I founded Panthers with a Purpose, a student-led volunteer group that empowers youth to give back to the community through group service projects. I also established the Adopt-a-Street program on 50th Street to instill a sense of civic responsibility and pride in our neighborhood. Additionally, I championed the creation of the Teen Summit program in Sunrise, giving local youth a platform to engage, lead, and voice their ideas.
Witnessing how these powerful initiatives have shaped my own children, I’ve made it my mission to inspire and support other young people in Sunrise to lead with purpose and build a stronger, more compassionate community.
A Survivor Who Inspires
At the age of 30, I survived two unexpected heart attacks—an experience that changed my life forever. What could have ended my journey instead became the beginning of a powerful mission. For the past 13 years, I’ve dedicated myself to helping other women recognize the often-overlooked signs of heart disease. As a former local volunteer spokeswoman for the American Heart Association (AHA), a board member of AHA, and a sponsor of several Heart Health Proclamations, I’ve worked tirelessly to raise awareness and advocate for heart health. I’ve also helped fundraise for AHA and Heart Sistas, and through these initiatives, I am honored to have helped save lives.
Through my annual Go Red Fashion Show, I’ve created a platform that not only raises awareness but also celebrates survival, strength, and community. The event brings together health education and local entrepreneurship, highlighting small businesses while empowering women to take charge of their heart health. My commitment to heart health advocacy continues to be a driving force in everything I do.
Community Partners
For the past decade, I’ve been passionate about building authentic relationships and creating networks that foster community support. I believe that strong connections are the foundation of meaningful progress—especially when it comes to civic engagement. My work has focused on bringing people together, whether through local initiatives or collaborative partnerships. Building relationships within government has been a key part of that journey, offering valuable insight and mutual support as we navigate the complexities of politics together. It’s through these connections that real, lasting impact is made.
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