Miami Mayor-elect Tomás Regalado has promised a breather from eight years of rapid development, saying he plans to focus on the city's small neighborhoods.

But don't expect a breather in the inner workings of City Hall. A shake-up is coming -- from the dais to police headquarters -- after Regalado's ascension to the city's top political post.

As he was securing more than seven of every 10 votes Tuesday, Regalado repeated what he had been saying for months: He wants Police Chief John Timoney gone because of ``low morale'' in the department.

By Wednesday morning Regalado already had spoken to City Manager Pete Hernandez about the police chief. ``He says he will be talking to the chief in the next few days,'' Regalado said.

And if the chief doesn't agree to resign?

``My move is to keep saying to the manager, `I'm very uncomfortable with the chief.' I will say that every day. People get messages.''

Timoney, who declined interviews Wednesday, said earlier that he had no intention of leaving his job commanding the force in South Florida's most populous city. As an avid biker and rower, the longtime Northeasterner has fallen in love with the city.

``I'm very happy with the job I have right now, so let's see what happens,'' Timoney said in an interview with The Miami Herald a week before the election.

Under the city charter, it is the city manager, not the mayor, who has the authority to fire the police chief.

Regalado had won support of the city's main unions, including a police union that has been at odds with the chief. Does Timoney think that pact could now help seal his fate? ``I'll leave that up to you,'' Timoney said.

The police leadership won't be the only likely visible change. The other will be on the city commission dais, where Regalado ally Marc Sarnoff is in line to become chairman. With two new commissioners arriving, and Regalado rising to mayor, Miami's entire political dynamic will change.

On many issues Regalado and, occasionally, Sarnoff have been on the losing end of key votes. Now they could essentially have the keys to the city.

The commission's new faces will be Frank Carollo, representing Little Havana; and either Francis Suarez or Manolo Reyes -- who face a Nov. 17 runoff for Regalado's old Flagami seat. Carollo separated from a crowded field for mayoral candidate Joe Sanchez's seat and won the slot outright Tuesday.

Two-term commissioner Sarnoff is likely to benefit the most for his backing of the new mayor.

Sarnoff, who represents the Biscayne Boulevard corridor from Coconut Grove through Brickell, downtown, and on to the Upper East Side, said Regalado already has made clear he will become commission chair.

It's a powerful post, with the chair choosing which items go on the city's agenda. Sarnoff could also become the new director of the Downtown Development Authority. Though that post is chosen by commissioners, he has Regalado's backing. The DDA is a semi-independent agency with its own budget that is responsible for drawing business and upkeeping the downtown business district.

``What I look forward tois helping the mayor with a lot of the business-oriented community,'' Sarnoff said Wednesday.

Regalado said others in top-tier positions at City Hall will get a hard look. That list includes Risk Management, Capital Improvements, Finance and Code Enforcement.

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