Change to Miami’s term limits proposal could let legacy politicians run again
A proposal to create lifetime term limits for elected officials was supposed to topple Miami’s political dynasties, blocking establishment candidates from returning to elected office in City Hall.
But recent changes to the proposal ahead of a key vote next week have created a loophole that could allow Commissioner Joe Carollo or former Mayor Xavier Suarez to return as mayor as early as November 2026.
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The initial proposal sought to limit elected officials to two terms as commissioner and two terms as mayor during their lifetime — a change that the item’s sponsor, Commissioner Damian Pardo, has described as “transformational policy.” Part of what made the proposal so transformational was that it did not define the length of time that constitutes a term, meaning that even one day in office could count as a term.
But the proposal now states that elected officials in Miami would be limited to two four-year terms as mayor and commissioner, excluding “any time served as a result of having been elected to fill a vacancy” — meaning that candidates who won special elections could still serve two additional four-year terms.
Next week, the City Commission is scheduled to take a second, final vote on the proposal. If commissioners vote in favor of the item on July 10, the term limits language will be sent to voters on a ballot this November in a special election.
As it stands now, an elected official in Miami is limited to two consecutive full terms, which are four years each. But the rules don’t stop a person from running again after sitting out a term.
Under the initial term limits proposal, even one day in office would have counted as a term, according to Pardo, effectively blocking political powerhouses like Carollo and Suarez from running for mayor again. Both politicos have long been teasing a run for mayor in the November 2025 election, which has since been pushed to 2026 after a controversial City Commission vote.
But the recent changes to Pardo’s term limits legislation could open the door for Carollo and Suarez to mount another run for mayor.
Pardo told the Miami Herald that the changes were made to be fair to those who win a special election to fill a vacancy on the commission, such as newly elected Commissioner Ralph Rosado, who won a special election last month to serve out the remainder of the late Commissioner Manolo Reyes’ term.
Pardo disagreed with the notion that the change watered down his legislation. He said that if a commissioner or mayor vacates their seat early, it would still count as a full four-year term.
Pardo added that the changes are intended to “make the reform as legally defensible as possible,” considering it could well be the subject of a legal challenge by candidates. Former Commissioner Frank Carollo, for example, has filed to run for the District 3 seat currently occupied by his brother Joe. But Pardo’s term limits proposal would block Frank Carollo from running for Miami City Commission again, since he has already served two four-year terms.
Xavier Suarez told the Herald on Thursday that he was still “considering” a run for mayor, and Carollo said “time will tell” when asked about his plans.
While Joe Carollo and Suarez both served more than one term as mayor, neither candidate has technically served two full four-year terms.
Suarez was first elected mayor in 1985 and reelected to another term in 1987, back when terms were only two years. Then from 1989 to 1993, Suarez served out a four-year term.
Meanwhile, Carollo was first elected mayor in 1996 during a special election. The next year — 1997 — he ran against Suarez.
Suarez won, but the 1997 election was overturned because of ballot fraud, and Carollo was declared the winner the following year. Carollo then served as mayor from 1998 to 2001.
Pardo said his proposal has never been targeted at a particular candidate. “I don’t know how it impacts Joe Carollo or anyone,” he said.
But Carollo disagreed, saying Pardo has made the push to block him from running again. Now, however, it looks like only one of the two Carollo brothers would be affected in the upcoming election.
“He would rather take half the cake than none at all,” Carollo said.
This story was originally published July 3, 2025 at 5:33 PM.
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