Hialeah will have its first female mayor when Mayor Bovo steps down. Who is she?
Hialeah Mayor Esteban “Steve” Bovo’s plans to step down and take a job with a lobbying firm in Washington D.C. will trigger a significant political transition in the city, the second-largest in Miami-Dade County. Jacqueline Garcia-Roves, the current city council president, is poised to step in as interim mayor, making her the first female mayor in Hialeah’s nearly 100-year history.
Garcia-Roves, who was first elected in 2019, is a relatively low-profile figure on the council.
Bovo’s office has not responded to the Miami Herald’s requests for comment, but several sources familiar with the first-term mayor’s private conversations say he has decided to accept an offer from The Southern Group lobbying firm. The offer includes a compensation package surpassing his current mayoral salary of $150,000, along with a $40,000 expense account for work-related costs.
According to the Hialeah charter, when the mayor’s office becomes permanently vacant, it is to be filled by the council president, who serves for the remainder of the former mayor’s term until the next scheduled municipal election. Garcia-Roves will hold the position until November, when the mayor’s seat will be up for election.
Garcia-Roves, 42, was endorsed by former Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez in 2019, ran on his slate and defeated Milly Herrera, a prominent advocate for Hialeah Park. She is known for her quiet presence at meetings and has rarely spoken out against items up for a vote. One of the most significant moments in her political career came in 2022, when she led a public campaign to raise awareness about mental health following a personal loss in her family due to suicide.
In 2024, Garcia-Roves gained attention when Hialeah opposed Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s proposal to hold a referendum for a $2.5 billion debt plan. As council vice president at the time, Garcia-Roves made an unusual statement on behalf of Bovo’s administration, announcing the introduction of a resolution opposing any county bond referendum.
Garcia-Roves was reelected unopposed to the city council in 2023. When Bovo steps down in March, she will assume the responsibility of leading Hialeah, with a population of 221,000 residents and an annual budget of $485 million. Hialeah is the second-largest city in the county after Miami and the sixth-largest in Florida.
Garcia-Roves is a key member of a powerful trio on the seven-member city council, along with Monica Perez and Jesus Tundidor. The three frequently stand united in their outspoken opposition to controversial issues, such as when they collectively opposed the expansion of a charter school in a public park.
Hialeah has a strong-mayor form of government, giving the mayor a substantial executive power.
It remains uncertain whether Garcia-Roves will seek election as mayor, leaving the door open for several political figures to vie for the role.
Other local politicians are believed to be interested in running for mayor.
▪ Rene Garcia, Miami-Dade county commissioner for District 13, which includes Hialeah and Miami Lakes, has yet to confirm his intentions. He told the Herald, “Until I hear from Steve Bovo directly on what he is or isn’t doing, there’s no point in me discussing what I may or may not be doing.”
▪ Jesus Tundidor, a current member of the Hialeah City Council who was first elected in 2019 and reelected in 2023 without opposition, has also weighed in. Having previously served as council president, Tundidor said, “Hialeah has always been in good hands with Mayor Bovo and Senator Garcia. I’ll follow their lead.”
▪ Luis Rodriguez, current Hialeah City Council vice president, elected in 2019, is expected to seek reelection in November. “We definitely need to wait until the mayor makes any decision or announcement,” he said. “Then I will see how I can help my city in the long term.”
▪ Bryan Calvo, a former Hialeah City Council member elected in 2021, who resigned in 2024 to run for Miami-Dade tax collector but lost in the Republican primary, said, “I’m keeping my options open.”
Miami Herald staff writer Douglas Hanks contributed to this story.
This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM.
