Frank Carollo files to run for Miami commission and succeed his brother in District 3
Former Miami City Commissioner Frank Carollo has filed to run for Miami’s District 3, making him the second major candidate to formally throw their hat in the ring for the city’s November 2025 election.
Carollo filed candidate paperwork with the city clerk around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. He confirmed his candidacy in a text message to the Miami Herald but did not immediately provide a comment on his decision to run.
Frank Carollo is the younger brother of current District 3 Commissioner Joe Carollo. He previously served two terms as the District 3 commissioner, from 2009 to 2013 and again from 2013 to 2017. After that, Joe Carollo was elected to the seat and reelected again in 2021.
If Frank Carollo wins the District 3 seat and serves the full four-year term, a Carollo brother will have occupied the seat for 20 years.
Frank Carollo is the second prominent candidate to formally file to run in the 2025 election. On Tuesday, former City Commissioner Ken Russell filed paperwork to run for mayor.
Frank Carollo is an experienced Miami politician who has the benefit of name recognition. But a new proposal could threaten his ability to serve as a city commissioner again.
Last week, Commissioner Damian Pardo announced a proposal to set stricter term limits for elected officials, limiting them to two terms on the commission and two terms as mayor for their lifetime. In its current form, the legislation would bar Frank Carollo from a City Commission seat.
The City Commission is slated to take a preliminary vote on the proposal Thursday. If passed, the question could go to voters as soon as November.
Frank Carollo did not immediately respond to a question asking whether he was concerned about the proposed term limits. Currently in Miami, elected officials cannot serve more than two consecutive full terms in the same seat, but they can run for office again at a later date. That means that if the charter change is approved by voters, it could invalidate the victory of a candidate on the very same ballot if said candidate has already served the maximum number of terms.
Three other candidates so far have filed to run for District 3: Oscar Elio Alejandro, Brenda Maribel Betancourt and Rolando Escalona.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM.
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