Hispanics to Elect next Miami Mayor

As we approach November 3rd, the date scheduled for the next City of Miami General Municipal Election, voters will have the opportunity to elect a new Mayor and Commissioners from Districts 3, 4 and 5.

As witnessed in recent months, the Mayoral candidates, both Cuban Americans, Commissioner Joe Sanchez and Commissioner Tomas Regalado have publically battled by exposing their contrasting profiles and policies. Their campaigns offer constituents a choice between “Vision, Energy, Progress” and “The Peoples Champion”. While Sanchez focuses his publicity on being a visionary of progress through development, Regalado promotes 13 years of service to the city of Miami and his life experience.

The candidates also have opposing viewpoints on a range of issues, mainly on policies to stimulate prosperity in an effective manner that will ultimately benefit the taxpayers. Much controversy also arises in the city’s budget which this year was approved at US $754 million. Salaries, pensions, and Union contracts are at the top of agenda regarding the discussions intended to reduce expenditures while securing all public services.

Adding to the situation, Miami residents are struggling with an unstable economy tumbled by the housing crisis, unemployment, decrease in tourism, trade, and consumer spending, among others. Recent statistics demonstrate that Miami residents are increasingly migrating to northern cities, counties and states, in search of better opportunities.

Keeping in mind current economic and social conditions as well as the contrasting campaign proposals, this particular election places Miami at a crossroads that apparently lead to very different paths. And, although the fate of Miamians will not be determined until Election Day, it most certain that should Hispanics indeed take advantage of their civic duty to vote, they will definitely play a decisive role in choosing Miami’s future path. This is for the reason that Hispanics represent approximately 65% of an estimated 180,000 registered voters in the City of Miami.

As historic reference, according to the Miami-Dade County Elections Report of November 15, 2005, in that year Mayor Manny Diaz was re elected with 17,037 votes, representing 11.35% of the total registered voters.

At a geographical glance, we can observe Hispanics situated all over the city. Descendants from Cuba and Nicaragua in Little Havana, from Haiti in Little Haiti, from Puerto Rico in Wynwood and Edgewater, and from other origins such as Honduras, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Mexico, in other neighborhoods like Allapattah, Coconut Grove, Coral Way, Downtown, Flagami, Upper Eastside and West Flagler.

The fate of this and future generations, along with the goal of surpassing the current challenges lies within the Hispanic community and their will to be a part of the electoral process. Hispanics must choose wisely the next municipal leader to restore trust in the administration and stimulate responsible investment, setting a new path for Miamians.

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