Aventura Commissioner Bob Shelley steps back from mayor’s race, endorses opponent
.jpg "Aventura Commissioner Robert “Bob” Shelley and former Commissioner Howard Weinberg.")
Nearly a year before Aventura’s next election, the candidate field for mayor has whittled down to one.
In a joint statement, opponents Aventura Commissioner Robert “Bob” Shelley and former Commissioner Howard Weinberg wrote that since they are “in alignment on a vision” for the northern Miami-Dade County suburb, they have decided they don’t see a need to compete in the November 2022 mayoral election to succeed Mayor Enid Weisman.
Shelley withdrew his candidacy Thursday afternoon, according to city records. He wrote in the statement that after “numerous conversations with Howard,” he is “comfortable stepping away from my campaign.”
In his withdrawal letter to the city, Shelley, who was first elected in 2014, wrote that he hopes to spend more time with his family, both locally and in New York.
“After seeing what is happening with Jonathan, I want to live every day to its fullest,” he wrote, referring to recent health issues Commissioner Jonathan Evans is facing, according to a city spokesman.
“You still have another year with me, and what a great year it will be,” Shelley wrote.
Weinberg, a telecommunications executive and former commissioner who was elected in 2012, currently represents Aventura on the Miami-Dade County League of Cities Board of Directors.
According to his social media, Weinberg has been endorsed by Weisman as well as Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Bal Harbour Mayor Gabriel Groisman.
Weinberg has raised more than $100,000 since he launched his campaign in 2020.
Voters in 2022 will also choose commissioners, though candidates in all three races are currently unopposed. Former commissioner Michael Stern is running to represent Seat 2, Mo’s Bagels Deli owner Paul Kruss is running for Seat 4 and Amit Bloom, a local magazine editor and Stern’s business partner, is running for Seat 6.
The cutoff to qualify for the 2022 ballot is Aug. 19, 2022.