Eileen Higgins takes the chair seat on Miami commission from Christine King

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There’s a new sheriff holding the gavel at City Hall

If anyone still wondered who was running Miami City Hall, wonder no more. Mayor Eileen Higgins has officially taken the Commission chair away from Commissioner Christine King and handed it to… herself.

In a memo sent Monday to commissioners and City Manager James Reyes, Higgins announced that, effective immediately, she will serve as chairwoman of the Miami City Commission, citing the authority granted to her under the City Charter. And she shared it with residents in an email blast Monday morning.

En otras palabras: The mayor is done sharing the spotlight.

Now, before anyone starts clutching their pearls, Higgins isn’t pulling off some political coup. The City Charter gives the mayor the authority to preside over Commission meetings. In fact, La Alcaldesa 2 had already exercised that authority during several high-profile meetings over the last few months.

But if you’ve been paying attention, you also noticed something else: King wasn’t exactly thrilled each time Higgins reclaimed the gavel. There were moments of visible tension between the two strong-willed elected officials — two Alpha personalities accustomed to being in charge.

Recently, the Miami Herald reported that Higgins had applied for a grant that competed with an application that King had made for Overtown. Higgins got the funding and King did not. That had to hurt.

Earlier this month, that quiet escalation between them exploded a bit at a public meeting.

“Colleagues, colleagues, colleagues,” Higgins said, showing a glimpse as to how she will operate as chair and chief babysitter. “We have three people talking at once, and this is a professional meeting.”

King was not amused. “We answered professionally. I’m not sure what you’re…” she said before the mayor interrupted.

“Commissioner King,” Higgins said, talking with her hands and, at one point, pointing her finger somewhere.

“Listen, one, don’t point your finger at me, ‘cause I’m not your child,” King clapped back.

So, no, Monday’s announcement from the mayor was not a surprise.

Read related: Miami power shift as Eileen Higgins takes gavel from Christine King

While there are some drawbacks to being the chair. Not just having to facilitate meetings, not dominate them, or playing babysitter to a bunch of clowns — King had become comfortable running the meetings after former Mayor Francis Suarez largely left that responsibility to chase the national TV spotlight and secure his next job as a news commentator.

Apparently, Higgins — who was never chair or vice chair at the county commission — has a different management style. And in Monday’s memo, she seems to say, in the most diplomatic government language possible: “Too effing bad” if King’s feelings are hurt.

To be fair, Higgins wrapped the announcement in plenty of graciousness. She thanked King for her leadership, praised her service to the city and said she looked forward to continuing to work with her “on the issues that matter most.

“Her dedication to the residents of Miami and her commitment to public service have left a lasting mark on this city,” Higgins said in a statement.

Politics often sounds nicest right before somebody loses a title.

Higgins then laid out her vision for the remainder of 2026, saying she’ll use the chair to guide the city’s first budget under her administration, push permitting reforms, advance infrastructure projects and make commission meetings more efficient while preserving public comment and thoughtful debate.

Those are some lofty goals.

Said Higgins: “As we move into this next chapter, my focus remains squarely on the people of Miami. Every decision made from this chair will be guided by a simple question: does it make life better, easier, and fairer for the residents we serve?”

Read related: Miami commission to discuss 287(g) ICE agreements–sans Mayor Eileen Higgins

Las malas lenguas have been talking about Higgins taking this move for weeks and, according to multiple city sources, King won’t be surprised. Others might be, however. On the campaign trail, Higgins said she would better serve the citizens in other roles. But then she tried it twice and found she really likes it.

Let’s be clear: Miami is not a strong mayor form of government. And the same city charter that allows the mayor to step in as chair also gives the commission body the right to appeal her decisions, then sustain or overturn any ruling. Let’s imagine one scenario. Higgins rules a motion out of order. Commissioner Damian Pardo (not to say King) says, “I appeal the ruling of the chair.” The Commission votes. If a majority disagrees with Higgins, her ruling is overturned.

It’s like a reverse veto. And it’s also a standard parliamentary safeguard.

But let’s also not pretend this move is just about parliamentary procedure. Holding the gavel means controlling the pace of meetings, recognizing speakers, managing debate, ruling on procedural questions and, perhaps most importantly, projecting authority.

This is why Ladra doesn’t think Higgins’ move is about grabbing more legal power. She didn’t suddenly acquire powers she didn’t already have.

What she acquired is procedural influence and political visibility.

She’ll decide:

• who gets recognized first,
• how quickly meetings move,
• how strictly the rules are enforced,
• when debate has run its course (subject to appeal),
• and she’ll be the public face of every contentious meeting.

But if three commissioners want something badly enough, they still control the legislative outcome because they have the votes. The mayor’s gavel doesn’t eliminate the Commission’s majority rule.

In other words: The chair might control the meeting. But the majority controls the commission. And, therefore, the outcome.

This is just one more reminder that Miami now has a full-time mayor who intends to act like one. Whether commissioners like it or not.

For years, Miami developed a rhythm where the commission chair often became the public face of meetings while the mayor occupied a more executive role. Higgins appears to be returning City Hall to something much closer to the charter’s original design: one elected mayor leading both the administration and the public meetings.

That doesn’t mean everyone on the dais will applaud. Commissioners tend to guard their turf with the same intensity that stray neighborhood cats guard theirs.

And taking away someone’s gavel — even if the Charter says you can — isn’t exactly the fastest way to make new friends. It’s interesting that what many expected to be one of Higgins’ closest allies has turned into something of a nemesis.

Expect this change to add another layer to what was already shaping up to be a spirited budget season.

Budgets are stressful enough. Now imagine arguing over hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars while your colleague just took your chair.

This kind of independent, government watchdog reporting is crucial to transparency and democracy. And more so every day. Help shine a light on the darker corners of our community with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.