West Miami mayoral election pits incumbent against former manager

In the tiny city of West Miami, there is a quiet yet heated election in two weeks. The incumbent, Mayor Eric Diaz-Padron, is facing the city’s longtime former city manager, Yolanda Aguilar, who has the blessing of the city’s godmother, former mayor and Miami-Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa.

Less than a square mile in size, surrounded by Coral Gables and the city of Miami, West Miami doesn’t always have elections because there is rarely a contest. Incumbents are hardly challenged and open seats do not get a lot of applicants. There’s not a huge pool to draw from in a population of roughly 8,500 people.

Two years ago, Diaz-Padron — the son of former mayor Carlos Diaz-Padron — was automatically reelected without any opposition. In 2022, he beat incumbent Rhonda Rodriguez with 64% of the vote. He got 588 votes to her 337. Only 934 people cast ballots citywide.

But that was almost 25% of the eligible voters, of which almost 90% are Hispanic.

This year’s race has not begot a negative campaign, by any of Miami-Dade’s standards. And it really could go either way. Said Aguilar: “Eric is a very decent young man. I have known him all his life.”

But she doesn’t like the way he’s handling the job.

Aguilar jumped in, after retiring in 2023, because she’s “worried about the direction the city is going,” she told Political Cortadito. She says that her replacement, former Palmetto Bay manager Ed Silva — who was forced to resign by those council members who felt he was too pro development — was given a $400,000 compensation package and makes more than the manager of next-door Coral Gables. There was also a shake-up at City Hall.

“Tenured employees who cared deeply about the city were asked to resign only because they were part of my administration,” Aguilar told Ladra.

She also says fees have increased and costs of high-priced projects have been passed on to residents. “We have a generation of people here who are stuck economically.”

While utility fees, garbage fees and permit fees rise, the city has spent some of its reserves on an $11 million new West Miami Multi-Generational Center, which held its grand opening in January 2026. The modern, three-story facility replaces the former community center into a “vibrant hub for all ages,” featuring a fitness center, game room with a pool table and foosball, and a specialized play area smaller children, as well as many rooms for senior programs and after school activities.

Diaz-Padron calls it transformational. Aguilar calls it irresponsible.

“There are too many projects at once. Money out the window. Not enough transparency,” Aguilar said, adding that the current commission is stacked with Seguro Que Yes votes for the mayor. “They want to build. They love to do projects and go to ribbon cutting ceremonies. But you have to maintain it.”

She says there is not enough planning for the future.

“I love this city. It is my home,” said Aguilar, who has lived there since 1971 — “my mother still lives in the same house where she raised me” — and was employed with the city for 34 years before she retired after 29 years as city manager. At her retirement, the current mayor’s father talked about how crucial she was to the city.

“I would hate to see our small city at the center of a financial crisis,” Aguilar told Political Cortadito.

With the property tax reform looming — and the real possibility of lost revenue for municipalities — she is concerned that the city could end up being annexed or absorbed into incorporated Miami-Dade.

Diaz-Padron says that’s not going to happen. He also says Aguilar is exaggerating the numbers and he feels confident about his victory on April 14.

“In 2022, I got 64% of the vote and we got out 120 yard signs,” Diaz-Padron old Political Cortadito. “We’ve gone through over 1,000 yard signs in this election. The support on the ground is pretty robust.”

He also said that Sosa is mad at him because he did not endorse former Coral Gables Commissioner Jorge Fors to the county commission seat that eventually was won by Kevin Marino Cabrera, now the newlywed Ambassador to Panama. Diaz-Padron was friends with both. He decided to stay out of it.

The incumbent also says that fees were raised because they hadn’t been in decades. “We did a small increase to the garbage fee because it hadn’t been touched in years and we were subsidizing it, taking from the general fund,” Diaz-Padron said. The water department had a big problem with “massive underbilling” that he says needed to be fixed.

“She’s got her numbers wrong,” he said, adding that Aguilar was the one who had “burned $4 million in reserves.”

Still, it’s been a very low-key race. “We are not a high drama city,” Diaz-Padron said.

It’s also been a low-budget election. Diaz-Padron has raised $41,450, according to his last campaign report filed Friday. A lot of it is in $1,000 maximum checks and a lot of it is from businesses and real estate interest. He also got $1,000 from attorney Alex Bucelo, a failed Coral Gables Commission candidate, from the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association, the Miami Firefighters political action committee and from the Freedom in Education PAC, which is run by Miami-Dade School Board Member Monica Colucci and has ties to the local Republican Party.

He also lists $100 from Ambassador Cabrera.

Aguilar has raised more, with $67,215, mostly in small contributions with a few exceptions. Fors gave $2,500 personally and through his law firm. The recently retired head of Jackson Memorial Hospital Carlos Migoya gave $1,000. She also got the $1,000 maximum gift from the Fraternal Order of Police and from the PAC run by Sweetwater Mayor and former county commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz.

Sosa gave her $100. But of more value: Her letter to residents

“Yolanda Aguilar dedicated 40 years of service to our city,” Sosa wrote. “Her leadership was instrumental during one of the most challenging periods in our city’s history—when we faced a 52% budget deficit and were under scrutiny by the Governor’s Office. Yolanda helped steer West Miami back to financial stability through strategic planning, tough decisions, and a relentless focus on preserving city services.

“Her legacy is one of fiscal responsibility, transparent governance, and community engagement. Yolanda built strong relationships with residents and city staff, fostering a culture where everyone felt heard and valued. Since her retirement in May 2023, many have expressed concern about the direction the city has taken — concerns that Yolanda shares and is ready to address.

“Yolanda Aguilar is not just a familiar name—she’s a proven leader who understands the complexities of city management and has a clear vision for West Miami’s future.

Aguilar doesn’t need this. She earned her retirement. She gets to spend time with her five grandchildren, shuttling the three who are still children to and from volleyball games and other sporting events. But she feels like it’s important. For her, it’s a one-and-done. She doesn’t want a second term. She just wants to put things “back on the right track.” Then it’s back to retirement. This is not a platform for higher office.

There are no term limits in West Miami, but Diaz Padron also said he was going to be done after this next one. He said it will be ten years, counting his term as a commissioner. “Enough is enough.”

But he definitely has eyes set on something else.

“We’ll see if there are seats. I would like to continue my public service if the seat is there.

This kind of independent, government watchdog reporting is crucial to transparency and democracy. And more so every day. Help shine a light on the darker corners of our community with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.

West Miami mayoral election pits incumbent against former manager added by Ladra on April 8, 2026
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