Meet the candidates in Miami’s Nov. 7 election
There may not be many voters who show up to the polls Tuesday in what is likely to be a low-turnout election, but those who do will have a lot to decide. Fourteen candidates are running for mayor and two city commission seats representing Little Havana, Shenandoah and The Roads (District 3) and Flagami and Coral Way (District 4). A $400 million general obligation bond, new lease for Monty’s Raw Bar and marina and charter amendments ensuring a more independent auditor’s office are also on the ballot.
MAYOR
Williams Armbrister
Age: 65
Occupation: Retired FPL employee
Education: Refused to provide or discuss
Issues: Affordable housing, ethics
Christian Canache
Age: 41
Occupation: Business consultant with aviation firm Andros Consulting International
Education: Took courses at University of Miami; says he studied at Colegio los Arcos and Universidad Santa Maria in Venezuela*
Issues: Transportation, public safety, healthcare, education
Cynthia Jaquith
Age: 70
Occupation: Retail sales associate
Education: B.A. from Barnard College**
Issues: Amnesty for all immigrants, prosecute corrupt police, uphold the working class
Francis Suarez
Age: 40
Occupation: Transactional attorney, of counsel at Carlton Fields
Education: J.D. from the University of Florida
Issues: Transportation, affordability, public safety
DISTRICT 3
Zoraida Barreiro
Age: 49
Occupation: Vice president of Fatima Home Care
Education: B.A. in Business Administration from Florida International University
Issues: Public safety, affordability, senior services
Joe Carollo
Age: 62
Occupation: Political consultant, former county police officer
Education: B.A. International Relations from Florida International University
Issues: Affordability, ending red light cameras, fiscal management
Alex Dominguez
Age: 48
Occupation: Senior sales specialist with Teva Pharmaceuticals
Education: M.B.A. Public Administration from Barry University
Issues: Living wage, police reform, strong mayor
Alfonso “Alfie” Leon
Age: 32
Occupation: Attorney
Education: J.D. Florida International University
Issues: Cost of living, traffic, expand parks
Tomas N. “Tommy” Regalado
Age: 44
Occupation: Journalist with TV and Radio Marti
Education: Diploma from Coral Gables High Adult Education Center; certificates of proficiency in TV journalism and script writing for radio and TV from University of Miami School of Continuing Studies Koubek Memorial Center.
Issues: Preserving East Little Havana, no tax increases, affordable housing
Miguel Soliman
Age: 55
Occupation: Owner of Soliman Structures Inc. and certified general contractor
Education: Associates from Garces Commercial College***
Issues: Flagler Street reconstruction, crime, small business incentives
José Suárez
Age: 42
Occupation: Communications director for SEIU 1199 United Healthcare Workers East
Education: B.A. from St. Thomas University
Issues: Affordable housing, expanding parks, clean streets
DISTRICT 4
Denise Galvez Turros
Age: 42
Occupation: President of Go To Marketing Inc.
Education: B.A. in mass communications from FIU****
Issues: Technological upgrades for the city, crime, affordable housing
Manuel “Manolo” Reyes
Age: 73
Occupation: Teacher at Westland Hialeah Senior High
Education: M.S. University of Florida
Issues: Public safety, sanitation, streets and sidewalks
Ralph Rosado
Age: 45
Occupation: President of Rosado & Associates, an urban planning consulting firm
Education: PhD in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania
Issues: Crime, traffic, jobs, transparency
*Attempts to confirm Canache’s higher education in Venezuela were unsuccessful
**Barnard College does not confirm diplomas. Attempts to confirm the degree with the National Student Clearinghouse have not yet been successful.
***Garces Commercial College no longer exists
****Florida International University confirmed Galvez Turros’ attendance but has no record of her degree. Galvez Turros says this is due to an outstanding and disputed debt, which the school would neither confirm nor deny.
This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 8:38 PM with the headline "Meet the candidates in Miami’s Nov. 7 election."