It wasn’t a secret. Everyone expected Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez, who is termed out this year, to run for mayor to replace Carlos Gimenez, who is also termed out, causing an open seat dash.
And some of the other wannabes reacted to the announcement better than others.
Former Commissioner Juan Zapata, who was the first to file for the seat, 
was the first to react with a statement that pulled no punches.
“Team Zapata welcomes Commissioner Suarez to the race, another political insider who has made his political career advocating for Downtown interests,” read his statement.
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“We look forward to debating him and all other candidates on the future of our county and how County Hall can improve the lives of long-neglected residents of Miami-Dade County, especially those in unincorporated areas.”
Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava said she, too, was “looking forward to 
a robust conversation.
“That’s Democracy,” she told Ladra Friday. “I expected this to be a very competitive race. There are several others I know who are still in the wings.”
Suarez brings to four the number of people who have officially filed paperwork for the contest next year. He joins Zap, Levine Cava and newcomer Monique Nicole Barley, who won’t stand a chance in the big-name free-for-all.
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Several others, including Commissioners Esteban Bovo and Jean 
Monestime, have said they will also jump into the contest. So has former county Mayor Alex Penelas, who has been campaigning raised more than $1 million for his political action committee, but hasn’t made it official yet.
In his statement, Zapata urged “those shadow candidates to step up to the plate and officially join the discussion. These political games and ploys of the past do nothing to serve the interests of the people of Miami-Dade.”
Bovo did not return calls and texts to his cellphone Friday and Saturday, but las malas lenguas say he may opt not to run for mayor after all (more on that later). Ladra was unable to reach Monestime or former Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who has also been named as a possible candidate.
Penelas said he would likely file his campaign paperwork soon.
“I’m going to file, I’m just not ready,” Penelas told Ladra Friday. “I’m at a 
disadvantage in that I don’t have a taxpayer supported infrastructure. I’m getting organized.”
The primary would be a sort of rematch between Penelas and Suarez. X came in fourth in an 11-way primary in 1996, after former Commissioner Art Teele, former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre and Penelas, who eventually won.
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“Since then, we’ve had a good relationship. I have the utmost respect for him,” Penelas said, adding that he doesn’t know what Suarez meant in his announcement speech when he says Penelas “invented business as usual.”
“You have to ask him,” Penelas said, returning to polite appreciation.
“He’s been on the right side of the transit issue and I give him a lot of credit,” he said. “This campaign will be delineated between those who have been on the right side of the issue and those who are on the wrong side.”
Other hopefuls react, welcome Xavier Suarez to mayoral run added by Ladra on
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