Miami voters to pick Reyes replacement. County vacancy still undecided
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Commissioner Manolo Reyes in 2024. Photo: Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
The death of Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes and resignation of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera have left vacancies on both elected boards.
Why it matters: It's up to each local commission to decide how to fill those vacancies — either by holding a special election or appointing a replacement themselves.
Driving the news: The Miami City Commission voted Thursday to hold a special election to fill Reyes' District 4 seat, arguing residents deserve to pick their elected leaders.
- "I believe that the community should decide who their representative should be; it is not for us here to decide what is best for the residents of District 4," Chairwoman Christine King said. "I believe that is what Commissioner Reyes would have wanted."
Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez, meanwhile, is urging the county board to appoint a replacement for Cabrera, who resigned after being confirmed as President Trump's ambassador to Panama.
- Rodriguez announced this week that the county had begun accepting applications for a potential appointment.
- The County Commission is already scheduled to meet May 6 to discuss how to fill Cabrera's District 6 seat, but Rodriguez argued a speedier process is needed to avoid leaving residents "without a voice and advocate" during future votes.
How it works: Both City of Miami and Miami-Dade County rules stipulate that a commission appointee can only serve until the next scheduled general election.
- But in the case of a special election, the winner would serve the remainder of the previous commissioner's term.
- Reyes' term would have ended in 2027, Cabrera's in 2026.
King argued at this week's meeting that appointing a replacement would give that person an unfair advantage in the subsequent general election, which will be in November for city of Miami voters.
- "We are not kingmakers."
Yes, but: Holding a special election will cost the city an estimated $380,000.
What's next: The qualifying period for the Miami special election is April 21-25.