Pinecrest Swears In James E. McDonald to Fill Council Vacancy

Councilmember McDonald was officially sworn in by the Village Clerk on April 20, 2026.

The Village of Pinecrest is pleased to announce the swearing-in of James E. McDonald, who will serve as Councilmember, Seat 3, following his nomination and confirmation by the Village Council in April 2026, for the time remaining in the unexpired term, pursuant to Section 2.5(c)(ii) of the Village Charter. He will fill the vacancy on the Council due to the resignation of Councilmember Shannon del Prado as of April 18, 2026.   McDonald is no stranger to Pinecrest governance. He was elected to Seat 3 in 2012 and re-elected in 2016, bringing firsthand knowledge of the Village’s operations and
priorities back to the Council. 

“His extensive experience, deep community ties, and commitment to public service make him exceptionally well-suited to serve Pinecrest during this interim period,” said Mayor Corradino. 

A 50-year Pinecrest resident, McDonald raised four children in the Village and is a member of St. Louis Catholic Church. He holds a law degree from The Catholic University of America, a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University, and completed the
“Leadership for the 21st Century” program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2015. He currently practices law at his own firm, serves as of counsel to a Pinecrest-based firm focused on renewable energy and government relations, and teaches as an adjunct law professor at St. Thomas University in Miami.  His public service record spans decades and reaches across local, state, and federal levels. McDonald has served as an FBI agent, Assistant United States Attorney, special counsel to Florida Governor Reubin Askew, and senior counsel to the U.S. House
Select Committee investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He has chaired transportation committees for both the Miami-Dade League of Cities and the National League of Cities.