Vicki Lopez

For the Spanish footballer, see Vicky López.

Vicki L. Lopez
Official state representative photo
Member of the Miami-Dade County Commission from District 5
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 19, 2025
Preceded byEileen Higgins
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 113th district
In office
November 8, 2022 – November 18, 2025
Preceded byNick Duran
Succeeded byvacant
Lee County Board of Commissioners
In office
November 1990 – January 1993
Personal details
Born
Tampa, Florida
PartyRepublican[1][2]
ChildrenDonald Fanning Wolfe III
Alma materUniversity of Notre Dame

Vicki L. Lopez is an American politician.[3] A member of the Republican Party, she is a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission District 5 and formerly represented the 113th District in the Florida House of Representatives.

Early life

Lopez was born in Tampa, Florida, and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. She attended the University of Notre Dame. She is a longtime activist who today runs Miami-based VLL Consulting LLC.[4]

Early political and government career

In November 1990, Lopez was elected to the Board of County Commissioners of Lee County, Florida. She resigned in January 1993.[5]

In 1997, Lopez was convicted for honest services mail fraud and sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. Her sentence was commuted by President Bill Clinton in November 2000, after serving more than 15 months. The conviction was vacated by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in February 2011.[6][7][8] Lopez’s experience led to a lifetime of activism in criminal justice reform, assisting others who have faced wrongful convictions and working for better public policy. She has worked on programs to assist inmates in reentering society and managing the negative stigmatism often associated with a criminal conviction, whether warranted or falsely accused.[4]

After her release, Lopez worked as an advocate under Governor Jeb Bush, specializing in criminal justice reform. She was appointed by the Governor as the Chairman of the Governor's Ex-Offender Task Force. She also took up leadership roles with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.[9] She worked under three Governors, specializing in education, criminal and juvenile justice.[4]

Florida House of Representatives (2022–2025)

In August 2022, Lopez returned to elected office, defeating Alberto Perosch in the Republican primary election for the 113th district of the Florida House of Representatives.[10] In November 2022, she defeated Alessandro D'Amico in the general election, winning 51 percent of the votes.[11][12]

As a state representative, Lopez sponsored and passed several bills on behalf of the constituents of District 113. In the aftermath of the Surfside condominium collapse in 2021,[13] residents of Miami-Dade County expressed great concerns over condominium safety. In addition, Lopez introduced and passed House Bill 1029, the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, which went into law on July 1, 2024 and allowed inspections and grants in order to harden condominium buildings.[14] Lopez also introduced a proposal for a state freeze of property of taxes for residences in Miami under the county's median value of $575,000.[15]

Lopez was re-elected in 2024 by 55 percent of the votes. During her second term, Lopez was positioned as a "top lieutenant" to House Speaker Daniel Perez. She served as chairwoman of the State Administration Budget Subcommittee, where she headed its probe into spending by state agencies during the governorship of Ron DeSantis. She also chaired the House Select Committee on Property Taxes.[5]

Miami-Dade County Commission (2025–present)

On November 18, 2025, Lopez was appointed to the District 5 seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission,[16] with the commissioner voting 7–5 to appoint her.[5] She agreed to vacate her seat in the state legislature in order to assume the new office.[5][17]

Personal life

Lopez married Sylvester Lukis in 1994 and divorced him in 2015.

Lopez's son, Donald Wolfe III, was the Senior Advisor to Miami City Manager, Art Noreiga and Chief of Staff for Miami City Mayor Francis Suarez.[18][19]

Lopez owns and runs VLL Consulting LLC, a Florida-based government and public affairs firm.[20]

References

  1. ^ Geggis, Anne (June 22, 2022). "Vicki Lopez's exit from Senate race shakes up HD 113 contest". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Kirkland, Jordan (July 18, 2022). "Vicki Lopez's HD 113 campaign gains support from South Florida Council of Firefighters". The Capitolist. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "Vicki Lopez". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Vicki L. Lopez". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Florida, News Service of (November 19, 2025). "Lee County ex-commissioner Vicki Lopez leaves State House for Miami-Dade County position". WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  6. ^ Alvarado, Francisco. "Former Lee County Commissioner Vicki Lukis Is No Longer A Convicted Felon". Miami New Times. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "Vicki Lopez-Lukis [4] · Clinton Digital Library". clinton.presidentiallibraries.us. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  8. ^ "'Honest Services' Conviction Vacated for Former Lee County Commissioner Vicki Lopez Lukis". www.businesswire.com. February 22, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Scheckner, Jesse (November 9, 2022). "Vicki Lopez returns to elected office for the first time in decades with HD 113 win". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "2022 Florida State House - District 113 Republican Primary Results". USA Today. August 23, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  11. ^ "2022 Florida State House - District 113 Election Results". USA Today. November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  12. ^ "Florida Department of State's Election Reporting System". Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "Surfside condo collapse investigators provide key insights into possible causes of the disaster". CNN. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program". Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Scheckner, Jesse (November 5, 2025). "It's Not Over: Eileen Higgins, Emilio González To Compete In Runoff For Miami Mayor". Florida Politics. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  16. ^ Scheckner, Jesse (November 18, 2025). "Vicki Lopez appointed to vacant Miami-Dade Commission seat after tight vote". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  17. ^ Litz, Steve (November 18, 2025). "Miami-Dade commissioners appoint Vicki Lopez to fill vacant District 5 seat". NBC 6 South Florida. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  18. ^ Rowe, Sean. "When Vicki Met Syl, Part Two". Miami New Times. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  19. ^ "Government Relations". www.miamigov.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  20. ^ wpengine (October 15, 2020). "VLL Consulting LLC". coralgableschamber.org. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
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