Homestead Mayor Steve Losner hung on to his seat, winning re-election Tuesday by a small margin against former Councilman Elvis Maldonado, who had bounced back from a lost county commission race. Final score: 51 to 49%.
The difference was a scant 69 votes.
Turnout was abysmal. Just under 10 percent of the 35,408 registered voters participated in the election. But that’s more than the primary, which only got 8%. More than 500 additional votes were cast in the general than in the Oct. 5 primary, when former Mayor Jeff Porter came in a distant third.
Read related: Steve Losner and Elvis Maldonado head into Homestead mayoral runoff
Maldonado, who lost in the 2020 runoff to Commissioner Kionne McGhee, did better in absentee or vote-by-mail ballots than Losner. Just counting those early on, Elvis looked good at 52 to 48%.
But it wasn’t enough to hold on to the lead on early voting and Election Day.
It’s not bad, however, considering that Losner reported raising more than twice as much in campaign contributions as Maldonado — $101,265 to $49,876, as of the last financial reports filed tracking transactions through Oct. 28.
“My family and I are touched by the support and well wishes we have received over the course of this mayoral campaign,” Maldonado, 48, said in a video message posted on Facebook and YouTube.
If Ladra had to guess, the rest is code for “I’ll be back.”
“Although we narrowly missed the mark, I am proud of the momentum we have built and the solid relationship we have formed. Walking door to door has empowered me and inspired me to continue walking for my purpose, a purpose built on serving Homestead and working toward a more perfect union where this government is at work for not just some, but for all.
“Later today, we will witness Homestead swear in the newly-elected leadership. But know that what we have built during this campaign will continue to strengthen and my commitment to this community will not waver.
“Homestead is my hoe and I am here to stay.”
“Thank you to Homestead for the vote of confidence and I look forward to the continued work ahead.”
Sounds like a man with some kind of plan.
He will only have to wait two years, but this is the last two-year term because voters also approved a charter change that would double the mayoral term beginning in 2023. They also limited electeds to 12 years total, rather than 12 years for council members and 8 years for mayors. That rule is retroactive, so you know they had someone in mind when they wrote it.
Homestead voters on Tuesday also re-elected Councilwoman Jennifer Bailey and made Julio Guzman the vice mayor. Erika Avila — who was appointed to Maldonado’s seat and was the de facto incumbent — won her council seat in the primary by getting 57% of the vote against two other candidates.
Voters also voted yes to require a special election to finish any vacant seats where one year or more is left of the term. Appointments can only be made now if there is less than a year left. And the mayor still has 60 days to make those appointments. Voters rejected extending that to 90 days.
They also made changes in the charter review committee so it’s made up of seven members, one appointed by each council member, rather than five members who are all appointed by the mayor, with the council’s approval.
Homestead Mayor Steve Losner slimly wins re-election vs Elvis Maldonado added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →