We already missed one candidate forum in the Nov. 7 Miami elections. Who knew? But there are at least three more scheduled for voters to get to know the people running for office in Districts 1, 2 and 4.
One Grove, the group of Coconut Grove residents and stakeholders who organized during the city’s flawed redistricting process, will have a candidate forum Tuesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove. Former New Times Editor Chuck Strouse, now assistant director at the Lee Caplin School of Journalism at Florida International University, will moderate a panel that includes The Miami Herald’s Nancy Ancrum, former Miami Herald reporter Don Finefrock representing the Coconut Grove Spotlight and someone from the League of Women Voters.
Seating at the Woman’s Club, 2985 South Bayshore Dr., is limited so learn more about attending via Zoom and submitting questions here.
The next one is a forum a week later, from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at the First Miami Presbyterian Church, 609 Brickell Ave., sponsored by the Brickell Homeowners Association. Learn more and RSVP here.
The Coconut Grove Village West Homeowners and Tenants Association (HOATA) will host a forum during the week of Oct. 16. The Spotlight will announce the exact date and location soon.
Commissioner Manolo Reyes is pretty much sitting pretty. He has one last-minute challenge from Andres Vallina, but nobody expects Reyes — who is popular inside and out of his district — to lose. He’d have to mess up big time, which, of course, is not out of the question. This is Miami.
Read related: Miami Commissioner Sabina Covo disappoints, faces seven challengers
The District 1 race will be interesting since arrested and suspended former Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, faces charges of money laundering and bribery as he runs to get his seat back for five minutes before the governor suspends him again. Running against him are Miguel Gabela, who forced ADLP into a runoff in 2019, “Mr. Miami Marvin” Tapia, Mercedes “Merci” Labrada Rodriguez and former police officer turned PI Frank Pichel.
In District 2, Commissioner Sabina Covo is fending off seven would-be usurpers led by Downtown Neighbors Alliance James Torres and community activist Damian Pardo. The others in the race are Eddy Leal, former general counsel for Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Christi Reeves Tasker, a jewelry and home decor designer, shop owner Alicia Kossick, unknown entity Gabriela Ariana Chirinos and Michael Castro, who got almost 30% of the 2016 vote against former Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez.
Miami voters have at least three candidate forums for races in three seats added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
