Doral’s vice mayor sues the city, claims retaliation for opposing the mayor
The annual rotation of the vice mayoral position, a role on the Doral City Council that holds political significance only in the mayor’s absence, has sparked a lawsuit from Councilmember Maureen Porras, who is currently serving as vice mayor.
The lawsuit follows a resolution approved Wednesday morning 3-2, with Porras and Councilwoman Digna Cabral opposed. The wording of the ordinance says it was designed to “streamline” the vice mayor’s role “to reduce confusion and promote fiscal responsibility.”
The resolution mandates that all council members be identified as “Councilmember” in public communications and official documents. The rotating vice mayor position will now be referred to as “Councilmember/Vice Mayor,” rather than solely by the vice mayor title as it was previously.
Council member Nicole Reinoso said at the meeting that her intention was not to eliminate the vice mayor position but to reduce costs associated with it, which she believes could be better allocated to programs benefiting residents, rather than spending on apparel, stationery and other materials used by the vice mayor.
Porras’ lawsuit argues that the resolution aims to undermine the traditional vice mayoral role and punish her for exercising her First Amendment rights. Porras initially ran on Mayor Christi Fraga’s slate in 2022 but later opposed many of Fraga’s policies, aligning with Cabral and former Vice Mayor Oscar Puig-Corve. The new resolution was proposed by newly elected Nicole Reinoso, a member of Fraga’s new slate.
The election of Reinoso was as crucial for Fraga as her own reelection, as well as the reelection of her ally, Councilman Rafael Pineyro. Reinoso’s victory enabled Fraga to regain majority control of the council, which she had lost when Porras became a vocal opponent.
Political revenge?
Porras criticized the resolution in an interview with the Miami Herald, arguing it was politically motivated. “It is not a secret that I do not agree and I have not voted in conjunction or aligned with the mayor on several issues because I have my own criteria. I do not let my vote be controlled,” she said.
When Reinoso was asked by Cabral about the cost of the vice mayor’s stationery, Reinoso said that during her campaign a resident had raised concerns about a letter sent by Porras’ office, indicating she would become vice mayor. Reinoso said based on her own campaign expenses, the total costs for various materials could range from $5,000 to $10,000.
“It doesn’t have to be hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s just about being fiscally responsible,” Reinoso said. “The funds could be better used to benefit our residents.”
Cabral also said she considers resolution politically motivated. “Why are you going after her?” Cabral asked Reinoso. “All of us have the opportunity to be vice mayor. This is a rotating position. Coming into office attacking our vice mayor is really just a political trend to do damage to the vice mayor.”
During the meeting, Porras asked City Manager Rey Valdes — who is resigning effective Dec. 31 — whether he had reviewed the resolution or evaluated its financial impact. Valdes said he had not.
According to the City Clerk and Public Affairs offices, approximately $3,100 has already been spent on business cards, note cards, envelopes, and letterhead bearing Porras’ new title. The city was in the process of finalizing logo orders, but because the resolution mandates the use of the councilmember/vice mayor title, all materials must be reordered, leading to additional costs.
Porras argued that the resolution contradicts its stated goal of fiscal responsibility. “The real intention was never fiscal responsibility,” she said. “Now, the city will spend more to reorder materials. This resolution was unnecessary and politically motivated. It’s about silencing me and preventing me from acknowledging that I’m the vice mayor.”
Reinoso defended her proposal, saying the vice mayor has a title based on a role that may not even be carried out during the year. “The expenditures, whether from our budget as council members, need to be adjusted for anyone who may serve as vice mayor, as these are changes that can have a broader impact.”
Fraga told the Herald that the resolution “is much more than just about expenses; it’s about protocol.” She said that under the new law, she plans to propose “necessary changes for efficiency and less bureaucracy” in Doral’s charter, including eliminating the vice mayoral rotation in favor of an elected vice mayor position, which would require voter approval.
“I’m not saying the vice mayor position shouldn’t exist, I’m saying it should be an elected position,” Fraga said. She added that it was “appropriate” for the resolution to take effect now, emphasizing that “you cannot cause more confusion for the public. Everyone should be treated equally.”
Legal base
Porras’ attorney, Michael Pizzi, told the Herald that the resolution was neither transparent nor fair. “They are modifying the charter to specifically target the vice mayor position, aimed at Porras, in a way no vice mayor has been treated in the past 20 years.”
On Thursday morning the city hadn’t been served with the lawsuit. But City Attorney Raul Gastesi, from the city’s legal firm Gastesi, Lopez and Mestre, told the Herald that he believes there is no legal basis for the suit and his firm will defend the council’s decision.
Gastesi said he will file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
Jose Smith, a former municipal attorney for the cities of Miami Beach and North Miami Beach, told the Herald the lawsuit is a waste of taxpayer dollars.
“Oftentimes, council members in a strong manager/weak mayor form of government misrepresent their authority, leading residents to believe that they have more power than they really do,” he said. “This lawsuit will be dismissed.”
This story was originally published December 19, 2024 at 1:21 PM.
