Miami-Dade 2022: State reps, mayors, city electeds get in line for county seats

Miami-Dade 2022: State reps, mayors, city electeds get in line for county seats
  • Sumo

Florida Rep. Anthony Rodriguez (R-Kendall) wants to replace the termed-out Miami-Dade Commissioner Javier Souto and filed paperwork earlier this month which shows he intends to run for the open seat in 2022.

So far, it’s a two-way race between him and Libertarian cannabis advocate Martha Bueno, who filed in February.

There could very well be more interest expressed between now and the qualifying deadline next year. Open seats are an opportunity for wannabes, and we have a bunch of those coming up. Both the latter and the former.

Term limits finally kicked in and a bunch of commissioners are out on the street, including Souto, who will have been there for 28 years and is painfully obviously not as lucid as he used to be when he was a state senator.

Read related: Commission term limits don’t really mean new faces

And every seat has drawn early interest except the one in District 12, where Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz steps down and runs for mayor of Sweetwater. The word on the street is that Sweetwater Mayor Orlando Lopez is eyeing his predecessor’s seat, as is Doral Mayor J.C. Bermudez. That would make for an interesting contest.

Of the other open seats, there is only one only one potential candidate (so far) and that is District 4, where Miami Beach Commissioner Micky Steinberg is hoping to succeed Sally Heyman. Ladra does not expect her to coast in unopposed, even though she has already raised $126,700 in two months, according to campaign finance reports. It’s just too tempting for some people.

In District 2, which will be vacated by Jean Monestime, there are four candidates, including former North Miami Mayor Josephat “Joe” Celestin, who has reported raising less money than the other four: social worker and Haitian community activist Marlene Bastien, Assistant Northwestern High principal Wallace Aristide and someone named William Clark.

In District 6, where longtime commissioner Rebeca Sosa reigns now, we have both Bryan Avila, the heir apparent, and business consultant Ibis Valdes.

All of this is in the way future, but if they’re getting ready, dear voters, so should you.

3 Responses to "Miami-Dade 2022: State reps, mayors, city electeds get in line for county seats"

  1. With Democrats like Ibis, we might be better off with a Republican. I hear her father is a politically connected e$tablishment business man

  2. Ibis Valdes is a Coral Gables Democrat and she is going to have a difficult time in Republican leaning Hialeah and Miami Springs . Bryan Avila who lives in the Springs has represented the northern part of County District 6 as a State Representative so he has a home field advantage there .

    Some one should suggest to Ms. Valdes that instead of attempting to replace the term limited Rebeca Sosa in District 6 for her first run at public office she should instead run for FL State House District 114. This is a vulnerable seat held by a rookie Republican Representative Demi Bussatta Cabrera . This district was previously represented by Democrats . Daisy Báez held the seat until she was forced to resign because she did not live in it . Javier Fernández then won a special election to replace Baez. Fernández later himself resigned to run for State Senate . The State District 114 is more multi ethnic and purple than Sosas red Republican Cuban majority county district which would give Ibis a better chance of winning her first political race.
    But it’s to early , an new runners may jump into the race for District 6 .

  3. Will be a pleasure to see a New Face on District # 6 hope it is not another Liberal “or” Bryant Avila WE will Do Better W/O Lie’s

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