Mitchell Ceasar Attorney and Politician

Over the years, Kingsborough Community College has had many students graduate and go on to pursue their careers at other schools. Mitchell Ceasar graduated from KCC in 1973, and since graduating he has become very successful. Ceasar now owns his own law firm out in

Plantation, Florida, and he is also involved with politics.

But before all of this, in 1971 Ceasar was a young man who lived in the Mill Basin area in Brooklyn. That summer he had just graduated from James Madison High School, and he was ready to pursue further education in college. Ceasar had applied to numerous colleges such as

Queens College and other four-year institutions, but he felt that KCC was a better fit for him at the moment.

“I felt that going to KCC would give me a better basis. I thought educationally, I was a late bloomer, and therefore it would allow me the window to kind of come into my own, and better prepare me for a SUNY university and for law school,” said Ceasar.

Ceasar was history major at KCC and he also minored in political science. His first year here went very smoothly, but it did take him some time to adjust. He did his school work, and school work only during his first semester. When his second semester came along Ceasar became more involved with the schools activities like the school newspaper, Scepter.

“Because it was a new place I found it quiet intimidating to go to college from high school. Once I took the step to getting more involved with the school, everything else came a lot easier. It took me a little while to do so. I was reluctant at the beginning,” said Ceasar. During Ceasar’s second semester here, he joined the Scepter staff and wrote articles for the school newspaper. After a little experience on the staff Ceasar was promoted to the editor-in- chief position. Before Ceasar became editor, Scepter never received any significant awards for its writing.

After he became editor, the newspaper had received Associated Collegiate Press recognitions. Ceasar felt very accomplished, and he feels he gained a lot from his experience being on Scepter.

“Being on Scepter and becoming the editor was a valuable experience for me, because that taught me greater discipline, and provided me a better opportunity to learn how to write, which I thought I knew, but I didn’t. Being the editor proved to be an incredible tool and aid in my success in law and politics. It provided me an entrée to the real world,” he said.

Besides Scepter, Ceasar felt the school itself had much to give, and he wanted to grab every bit of experience he could. Ceasar felt that KCC was a nurturing educational atmosphere that prepared him for everything that was to come. “The professors where very open, very accessible to questions during and after class. I found it to be a very family like nurturing atmosphere which is very different than you would feel in most schools,” said Ceasar.

Ceasar recalls some of his memories at KCC as very fun, and rewarding. Winning journalism awards for Scepter was one of his best memories. He also enjoyed his time delivering the school newspaper around campus. During that time, Ceasar was given a privilege students today can’t and shouldn’t be able to have. Ceasar was allowed to use a golf cart just to deliver the newspaper quickly around campus. Ceasar and an old friend of his would deliver them quickly with time to spare. With the extra twenty to thirty minutes they had left, they would drive around campus having fun, and saying hi to friends in an effort to make them jealous.

Although Ceasar had a lot of fun during his time at KCC he never forgets the things he learned about himself while attending here. Everything he learned helped him get to where he is now.

“I learned to be more self-reliant. I learned to be more of a believer in myself. After I left

KCC, I believed that community college had more value as any four-year institution. If I attended a four-year university, I’m not convinced that I would have had the same experience. I don’t think a four-year university would have given me as much positive value that I ended up getting at KCC,” said Ceasar.

Ceasar also learned critical thinking, leadership abilities, and how to become a better writer form his time with Scepter. Being a history major and being part of Scepter prepared

Ceasar for what was to come. He began dealing with a lot of media, which went easy because of his experience writing for a newspaper in college and being the editor-in-chief. His commentaries went well using historical references, which he gives credit to his background as a history major through 4 years of college.

After graduating from KCC in 1973, Ceasar continued to pursue history when he moved to Florida and attended Florida Atlantic University, where he was a top student. His accomplishments didn’t stop there. At Florida Atlantic, Ceasar continued to get involved with the newspaper. He joined the Atlantic Sun staff, and eventually became the managing editor of the student newspaper. During his time as editor, the newspaper gained All-American and First

Class rankings.

Ceasar graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 1975 with his bachelor’s degree in history. Ceasar didn’t pursue history further more. He decided to get into law and get involved with politics.

“I’ve always loved history. It sort of tided into current events, so having a sense of history helped me as the editor and chief of Scepter and the Atlantic Sun. I originally intention was to be a history professor at the college level. Then after the Florida move came about, my plans evolved, and I decided to go to law school. My success at KCC gave me the confidence to pursue other worlds I might not have considered, like law school. I give KCC full credit for that,” he said.

After receiving his bachelor’s in history, Ceasar went to Nova University Law School and began to pursue law. He graduated from Nova in 1975 and received his Doctorate. Ever since, Ceasar continued to get involved with politics and he went into law professionally. Ceasar put himself through four years of college, and law school. He took two student loans and paid it back seven years after graduating from law school.

Ceasar then interned in a Public Defenders office, and eventually got offers from big law firms but he turned them down, and he doesn’t regret doing so. Ceasar had started on his own, the Law Offices of Mitchell Ceasar, P.A. He started this law firm in Plantation, Florida, but resides in Broward County, which are both close to each other.

Ceasar first big client was Robert “Woody” Johnson who was the owner of a cable company Ceasar helped. Woody Johnson is now the owner of the New York Jets, and part of the Johnson and Johnson family. Ceasar’s law firms’ specialty is lobbying. He’s represented builders, health companies, and cable companies in the ‘80s. He’s also received honors like the

Sheppard Broad Law Center Hall of Fame, and many more.

During his success in law, he was slowly getting into politics as well. Ceasar was the

Vice Chairman of the Democratic Convention in 2000. He is a Rules Committee Member, and

Executive Board Member on the Democratic national Convention. He was also the Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, Broward Democratic Executive Committee, and founder and president of the Tamarac Democratic Club. Not to mention he was one of the final 28 delegates who provided President Barack Obama with his historic democratic nomination.

He has honors and recognitions like, the 2002 Golden Gavel Award for Outstanding

Chair by Florida Democratic Party, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, among others. From a young man living in Brooklyn attending to community college, to a major politician and his own law firm in Florida, Caesar has come a long way.

“Some days it’s real and some days it isn’t. I’ve been through some things I’ve never thought I would have been. The presidential recount of 2000 began on my signature and research. I flew on an Air Force One jet with President Clinton. I was a guest at Adam Sandler’s wedding in Hollywood seven years ago. I’ve been mentioned in books about the 2000 presidential election recount in Florida with Al Gore. I’ve had a lot of interesting life experiences,” said Ceasar.

A lot of this success Ceasar credits to his experience in KCC. There isn’t a thing he would have changed about his time here at KCC. When talking to people one on one in his travels politically around the country he tells people his KCC story, and how influential it was on his life.

Ceasar hasn’t had much time to come back to KCC, because he is very busy and lives out in Florida. But he does wish he can come back to try to give back to the school that gave him so much.

“If the school wanted me to go there, I definitely would to visit, and to lecture to the students about the real value of KCC and the fact that going to a community college doesn’t make you a second class student. It isn’t a negative; it’s what you make out if it. I would be happy to carry that message,” he said.

Ceasar has gained much experience and wisdom through his career and he always dates back to his time in KCC. This is where it all started for him. He hopes that students here at KCC learn from his experience and learn as much as they can from their time here at KCC.

“Don’t let the experience go to quickly, because it will go much faster than you think,” he said. “Don’t be a typical student, go to classes then go home. Get to know professors, get active in something. I promise, it will make your KCC experience much richer.”

Interview completed by Kingsborough Student, Jimmy Rosario