Hialeah runoff puts mayor-elect Bryan Calvo’s leadership to the test
Hialeah’s runoff election on Tuesday is a test of leadership and strength for mayor-elect Bryan Calvo, who is expected to be sworn in on Jan. 12.
To gain meaningful leverage on the council, a Calvo supporter must secure at least one of the two available seats. He will need a minimum of four votes to approve budgeting decisions and appoint a new council member—a seat that will become vacant after his swearing-in, when Councilman Jesus Tundidor’s resignation takes effect.
During a two-month transition that has paused the city’s political dynamics while awaiting Calvo’s swearing-in, he has endorsed two candidates to strengthen his influence over the council.
Since May, during interim Mayor Jacqueline García-Roves’ short tenure, the council has been deadlocked on key decisions, including appointments, the budget and financial relief for residents, showing that even in Hialeah’s strong-mayor system—a rarity in Miami-Dade—an unfriendly council can significantly hinder an administration.
Calvo is acutely aware of that. He has thrown his support behind the two best-known candidates in the runoff: Gelien Perez and William “Willy” Marrero — the same two who ran on the mayoral slate opposing him last November.
The decision may raise concerns among some of Calvo’s supporters, who viewed him as an anti-establishment candidate running against García-Roves and Tundidor. But the election will test not only Calvo’s political strength — he funded ads and deployed volunteers to knock on doors on behalf of Perez and Marrero — but also the strategy behind his choice.
Former HR director vs social worker
Perez, a former Hialeah Human Resources director, is running for Seat 3, which was previously held by García-Roves. The seat became vacant when García-Roves assumed the role of interim mayor but lacked council support to appoint a replacement.
Endorsing Perez, Calvo called her “the most qualified person” for the seat. She is by far the best-funded candidate in the race, having raised $224,370, mostly before the general election.
Perez served as Hialeah’s HR director under former Mayor Carlos Hernández and resigned shortly after Esteban “Steve” Bovo won the mayoral election in 2021. Since then, she has worked in medical centers in HR leadership roles. She applied for every council vacancy in Hialeah that opened from 2024 onward, but the council did not support her. This year, she joined Tundidor’s slate, but he finished second in the mayoral race. Now, she has secured Calvo’s endorsement and is campaigning for a “strong and united Hialeah.”
Perez was investigated during her HR tenure from 2018-20 following complaints that she had abused her position to benefit her private real estate business. She has not publicly denied the allegations. At her endorsement press conference, she told the Herald she would answer questions after the election.
Perez is competing against Jessica Castillo, 38, a social worker and nonpartisan candidate in a city where displaying Republican credentials is almost considered mandatory. Castillo has defied political expectations. She finished second in a three-candidate race for the seat despite having no political slate, no prior experience in elected office, and a campaign budget of only $1,176. Her strong showing demonstrates her ability to connect directly with voters and run a grassroots campaign in an environment dominated by well funded, politically connected candidates.
In the general election, Perez led with 40.5% of the vote to Castillo’s 36% — a margin of just 697 votes out of 15,582 total cast, despite the vast fundraising gap between the two candidates. Castillo advanced to the runoff after defeating García-Roves’ preferred candidate, Kassandra Montandon.
Castillo has campaigned on a platform of transparency, accountability and giving residents a stronger voice at City Hall. After advancing to the runoff, a photo of her participating in the October anti-Trump “No Kings” protest went viral within Hialeah’s political circles. Perez’s campaign has circulated mailers labeling her as “liberal”. Calvo faced a similar tactic from opponents in the November election, which ultimately did not prevent him from winning.
Speaking to the Herald, Castillo emphasized her support for immigrant communities. “This country is built for and by immigrants. I’m against what is happening to our immigrant communities,” she said. “How can I support what is happening with ICE?”
Hialeah has a population that is 76.2% foreign-born. Castillo has described herself as anti-MAGA, explaining that she wants to be vocal at City Hall, inform residents and encourage greater community involvement.
Former council aide vs. land-use specialist
William “Willy” Marrero, 22, is a former aide to Hialeah Councilman Luis Rodriguez. His age became a significant point of discussion when he applied in May to serve for an interim seat on the council, with several council members arguing he was too young to be appointed to the vacant seat.
Despite his youth, Marrero has built an extensive political résumé. At 15, he began working alongside former state Sen. René García. He later was volunteered to work on Tundidor’s 2019 council campaign and Rodriguez’s 2021 campaign. Marrero is currently pursuing a public administration degree at Florida International University.
For Calvo, the youngest mayor ever elected in Hialeah at 27, age is not a disqualifying factor. He sees Marrero’s experience as a council aide as a valuable asset, saying it will help him navigate city government effectively if elected. “He understands how city bureaucracy functions and aims to take a strong role in delivering robust constituent services to residents,” Calvo said.
In the general election for Seat 4, Marrero narrowly finished first among five candidates with 24.9% of the vote. Javier Morejon came in a close second with 23.4%, a margin of just 233 votes out of 15,288 ballots cast. The funds raised among the two candidates are very close too. Marrero raised $21,950, while Morejon raised $29,800. Marrero was the only candidate on Garcia-Roves’s slate who passed to the runoff election.
Morejon’s campaign focuses on improving city services, infrastructure and transparency. His priorities include lowering the cost of services like water and garbage through independent audits, modernizing the aging water and sewer systems, repairing streets and drainage in flood-prone areas, and coordinating infrastructure projects to minimize disruptions.
Morejon holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from FIU and works as a land-use specialist—a role that involves establishing political relationships with municipal and county governments in South Florida.
Marrero and Morejon are competing for the seat originally held by Angelica Pacheco, who was removed from office last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis after she was indicted on federal healthcare fraud charges, a case that has yet to go to trial. There is also lingering uncertainty about whether she might seek to return to her post if acquitted. The seat has remained vacant since November, when the interim council member occupying it, Melinda De La Vega, won the election for Seat 5.
Perez, Marrero, and Morejon have all previously applied for appointments to interim council seats but received no council support in 2024 or this year, an election cycle when nearly every seat was up for grabs. Castillo, by contrast, has never sought a political position before.
Whoever wins the election could remain in office until 2027, when both seats will be back on the ballot for the general elections.
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 8:37 PM.
