Two newbies challenge incumbent Ricky Arriola in Miami Beach

Miami Beach Commissioner Ricky Arriola finally has not one, but two challengers. After months of flying solo and successfully scaring off one would-be opponent, the only incumbent commissioner seeking re-election has himself a race.

Raquel Pacheco, a retired soldier, PTA mom and small business owner, and Jonathan Welsh, a PR and marketing executive at Care Resource Community Health Centers, each opened bank accounts last month in an attempt to replace Arriola in the November elections.

Each look like serious contenders against an incumbent with increasingly fewer friends at City Hall and beyond.

After all, he only had to loan himself $20,000 four years ago. This time around, Arriola loaned his campaign $100K, which means he has really only raised $43,000 — according to his campaign reports — and that includes $4,000 from his own companies. This is not a good showing for an incumbent. It’s almost as much as he raised this time 2015 as a newcomer. Almost.

And he has baggage. Not only did he suggest Miami Beach be home for a Cuban government consulate office after traveling to the island in 2016 — providing the oppressive regime legitimacy — but he has since championed the redevelopment of North Beach, circumventing the will of voters who rejected increasing FAR, or development limits, on historic Ocean Terrace.

Pacheco, a 15-year resident and homeowner in South Beach, says Arriola is pushing for the redevelopment of North Beach (rendering left) for the developers, not the community.

“He calls himself the North Beach commissioner but what he has done now is support a major development project during the high season, which will kill the area. This area is all small business,” said Pacheco, who has owned her own translating service for 22 years.

She could have run in an open seat, but she says Arriola is not responsive to residents.

“He doesn’t show up to the big events. He doesn’t listen to the people. He’s just not accessible,” said Pacheco, who had tried repeatedly to meet with him when she applied for the position left open by former Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez. “I understand they’re busy, but every other commissioner could meet with me.

“And I think he’s taking the city in the wrong direction.”

Welsh, who filed three days after Pacheco, isn’t necessarily as rough on the incumbent. “Ricky is a smart guy. He’s Harvard educated. He’s a CEO,” said Welsh, pictured here at his kick-off. “I’m not running against him. I’m running for Miami Beach.

“I’m running to win and I like a challenge,” said Welsh, who moved to the Beach in 2012 and, as marketing director of Care Resources for the past six years, has organized many of the community’s events such as the AIDS Walk and the White Party.

His campaign, he says, is based on “three pillars”: One is making South Beach a tech hub, like the Silicon Valley of the East. Two is beautification ala Lady Bird Johnson. And three is “Baylink, Baylink, Baylink,” says Welsh, who supports the county mayor’s proposal for a monorail to South Beach.

His main concern is that high rents are pricing people out of the Beach.

“It’s really hard to live here,” Welsh, 38, said. “The elderly are being displaced. And younger people are going to Edgewater and Little Haiti.”

Pacheco, a single mom, said she, too, wants to protect housing for the elderly and lower income families. “I also want to bring more jobs here so people don’t have to commute,” she told Political Cortadito.

Her campaign, she said, will center on sea level rise, clean beaches and public safety.

“I have ideas to promote fitness events and community beach clean-ups during Spring Break,” Pacheco, 44, said. “I have a five-year-old son and this is the place he calls home and I want him to be safe and happy here.”

Both candidates have a strong calling to public service. Welsh joined the Peace Corps after college. Pacheco was in the Army National Guard for six years, becoming the first woman named state Soldier of the Year, and president of her condominium board for eight. Both are appointed to city committees — Welsh the human rights committee and Pacheco the personnel board — by Commissioner Michael Gongora.

But neither has raised much in campaign funds. Pacheco has $2,320 and Welsh has raised $334 and is counting on in-kind donations — like his website and his logo design — from friends.

These two may not be the only ones to challenge Arriola. The qualification deadline for the Nov. 5 race is Sept. 6.

They also aren’t the first to challenge Arriola. The incumbent had an opponent early on who withdrew within days of filing, some say, after she was intimidated.

“I’m a soldier. I don’t scare easily,” Pacheco said. “Bring it.”

Miami Beach politics, Ricky Arriola

Two newbies challenge incumbent Ricky Arriola in Miami Beach added by Ladra on July 7, 2019
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