Jose "Pepe" Cancio, Sr., the last remaining original Doral Community Council member, stepped down at the most recent non-zoning meeting after serving nearly four years on the community council.

Cancio--whose strong opinions and thoughtful insights were respected by both supporters and opponents alike--will be missed on the council, said Doral Community Council Vice-Chair Carolyn Casserta.

"He was consistent in his service to the community," she said, "and like many of us he worked hard behind the scenes to help get things accomplished. And certainly if he thought something was wrong he was sure to say something about it--he was an excellent councilman."

Morgan Levy, president of the West Dade Federation of Homeowner Associations (WDFHA), similarly praised Cancio's dedication to his community and his advocacy of the issues important to it.

"Pepe Cancio has been a tremendous asset to the Doral community," Levy said, "and I am very sorry to see him go. He has been very active on the council and before that he showed a great deal of interest in the community by attending the West Dade Federation's meetings."

Levy also seemed certain that Cancio's retirement wouldn't spell the end of his involvement in the community.

"Even though he is stepping down from the council," he continued, "I look forward to his continued service to Doral. He has been a strong supporter of our incorporation since the very beginning and I'm sure he will continue to do so."

Cancio, also the president and CEO of Supermix, reiterated how grateful he was to have been elected to serve the community and praised the individuals he served alongside.

"It's been a real pleasure to serve Doral," he said. "It has been such a nice place to live and to raise grandchildren and I was lucky to work alongside some great individuals. The council has been a breeding ground for future politicians like [former Doral Council Chairman and current State Representative] Ralph Arza and community activists like [former council members] Vicky Trucco-Rueda and Barbara Thomas. It was a great learning experience for me"

And despite his departure Cancio plans to keep tabs on the council and he made sure to wish the newly elected members the best of luck.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the work of the new council members," he said, "Frank Bolaņos, Mary Swofford [formerly appointed], and Max Salvador [formerly appointed]."

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