City of Miami mayor candidates talk affordability, transit and more
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Ahead of the Dec. 9 runoff election for the Miami mayor's race, candidates Eileen Higgins and Emilio Gonzalez responded to questions about how they'd address some of the city's urgent needs.
Why it matters: Their responses offer insight into both candidates' platforms after a crowded general election.
The big picture: None of the 13 candidates earned more than 50% of the vote last month to succeed outgoing Republican Mayor Francis Suarez. (The race is technically nonpartisan.)
- Higgins, a Miami-Dade County commissioner who resigned her position to run, and Gonzalez, the former Miami city manager, earned the highest percentages, with about 36% and nearly 20%, respectively.
Driving the news: Their answers came during a community forum last week hosted by the League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade, WLRN reported.
Here's what each candidate said on the issues, per WLRN.
Affordability
Both candidates agreed the city's permitting system needs to be overhauled, or even eliminated.
- Higgins argued the city's process — compared to the county's — takes too long, which keeps residents out of housing.
- Gonzalez echoed calls from Tallahassee to do away with property taxes in some form.
Immigration
Gonzalez, who headed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the George W. Bush administration, said he will "always defend my immigrant community," but added he "will never ever defend rapists, thugs, murderers and child molesters."
- He said Miami police and ICE officers should treat anyone they interact with respectfully.
Higgins pushed back, arguing officials aren't just going after criminals, "They're going after everybody."
- She pointed to a Miami Herald investigation that showed hundreds of detainees at Alligator Alcatraz had no criminal record.
Transportation
Both candidates agreed that the city needs to improve transportation options.
- Higgins said she supports extending the Metromover rail system from downtown to South Beach. (Miami Beach commissioners in 2024 urged the county to reject the project after residents from affluent neighborhoods complained, though approval from the city isn't needed.)
- Gonzalez said city street trolleys and their routes should be updated to better reflect residents' desired destinations.