Meet the candidates for Miami Beach mayor, commission. Here’s what they told us
Miami Beach residents will elect a mayor and three city commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 4. We asked the 13 candidates where they stood on key issues facing the city. Here’s how they responded:
Miami Beach mayor
Why are you running for office?
Steven Meiner: Did not respond.
Kristen Rosen Gonzalez: For two terms, I’ve worked to keep Miami Beach safe and vibrant. But now, resort taxes are down while national hotel revenues rise, and violent crime is up as Miami sees declines. As mayor, I’ll restore safety, protect Art Deco, stop overdevelopment, expand housing and modernize transit to secure our future.
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
Steven Meiner: Did not respond.
Kristen Rosen Gonzalez: Since 2015, I’ve stood up to special interests and fought for residents — helping save Monty’s, the Byron Carlyle, the South Shore Community Center, North Shore library site, Allison Park and Lincoln Road lots. As mayor, I’ll lead with courage, integrity and unity — always putting Miami Beach residents first.
What is the most pressing issue facing the community you wish to represent?
Steven Meiner: Did not respond.
Kristen Rosen Gonzalez: As mayor, I’ll lead Miami Beach’s economic revitalization. Too many storefronts sit vacant. I’ll build a strong development team, cut red tape and streamline small business openings. After telling people not to come to Miami Beach, it’s time to market smartly and bring life back to our city center and historic districts.
Miami Beach Commissioner Group I
Why are you running for office?
Daniel Ciraldo: I am running to put residents first, protect our neighborhoods from overdevelopment, and ensure Miami Beach remains a livable, resilient and vibrant community where decisions are made with transparency, fairness and accountability.
Brian Ehrlich: I’m running to build a MB of the future, one with vision, discipline and results. With 20+ years on city boards shaping cultural and capital plans, and a career leading hotels and startups, I know how to demand accountability. I see Washington Ave, Lincoln Rd, 41st St, Harding & 71st, and Ocean Dr revitalized with energy and innovation.
Ava Frankel: I’m running because Miami Beach raised me, and I don’t want to see it lose its sparkle. With all our recent growth, we’ve somehow drifted from the soul that made us special. As an engineer, I know we need a serious infrastructure facelift ... and I’m ready to bring both the shine and the solutions back to our city.
Matthew Gultanoff: I’ve seen too many promises and not enough solutions, especially for transit. Our elections bring little progress; expert advice is ignored and traffic worsens. I will work with county and state partners to address housing affordability and transit. With effective, available solutions for traffic and mobility, Miami Beach’s best days will lie ahead.
Omar Jimenez: I’m running for Miami Beach City Commission to ensure our city works for residents, not special interests. As owner of Bella Cuba for 20 years and founder of the Park View Island Sustainable Association, I’ve realized $10M+ in infrastructure upgrades, $8M for clean water. I’ll fight for residents, small businesses and our environment.
Monica Matteo-Salinas: Miami Beach is a unique, vibrant community, and we must protect its character while addressing real challenges like overdevelopment, crime, flooding and traffic. With my background in public policy, years of community service and experience as a PTSA president, I know how to listen, build consensus and deliver results.
Monique Pardo Pope: I’m running to advocate for residents and ensure every voice is heard. Raised by a Cuban mother, I learned resilience, faith and determination. As an attorney, guardian ad litem and community leader, I’ve stood with families, seniors and children, and I’ll keep Miami Beach safer, smarter and stronger.
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
Daniel Ciraldo: With over a decade of civic leadership, I have delivered results by building coalitions, preserving our character and standing up to powerful interests. I listen to residents, value transparency, and will serve as a strong, fair and effective voice on the commission.
Brian Ehrlich: I pair private-sector discipline with civic leadership. I’ve built companies, managed multimillion-dollar budgets and held teams accountable. On the ground, I’ve knocked 8,000 doors, listening block by block. That fresh energy and experience is how I’ll cut red tape, ease gridlock and make Miami Beach government deliver for residents.
Ava Frankel: I’m a creative thinker with real solutions, not just fancy slogans. From fixing flooding to supporting small businesses to bringing back community spirit, I have clear, actionable ideas. The best way to see why I’m different is by checking out my website at www.avalovesmiamibeach.com. ✨
Matthew Gultanoff: I served on the Planning Board, chaired the Transportation Advisory Committee, and worked with experts to deliver real solutions that reduce traffic, increase mobility and boost our economy. My background in software taught me to use data to guide decisions, and my record as a consensus builder shows I can work well with others to get results.
Omar Jimenez: Action. Integrity. Results. Putting it simply, the residents and my community are my only special interest. I work for the people, not lobby groups, special interests or developers. My campaign is not about promises; I’ve already proven over the past 5 years that my grassroots community work and advocacy bring real results.
Monica Matteo-Salinas: I am the most qualified candidate for this seat. For the past 16 years, I’ve built deep roots in Miami Beach through living here, volunteering and serving our community. I know how to navigate challenges, bring people together and deliver real results for residents.
Monique Pardo Pope: The best leaders act, not just talk. I’ve stood with the most vulnerable in their hardest moments. With experience in law, finance and legislative advocacy, plus service as WCA and PTA president, I listen, fight and deliver as an independent, accountable commissioner who always puts residents first.
What is the most pressing issue facing the community you wish to represent?
Daniel Ciraldo: Overdevelopment is the most pressing issue, threatening our quality of life, traffic and environment. I will ensure responsible growth, preserve neighborhood character and put residents — not special interests — at the center of city decisions.
Brian Ehrlich: Every deal in MB must deliver real community benefit. At Harvard I learned how to analyze projects so the city doesn’t get its lunch eaten. I fought the Standard Hotel upzoning when payouts replaced public value. With financial and real estate expertise, I’ll ensure growth funds shaded sidewalks, stronger infrastructure and walkable neighborhoods.
Ava Frankel: The biggest issues are flooding, drainage, and our failing sewage systems ... problems we can’t afford to ignore. Just as urgent is supporting small businesses. Since Florida has no state income tax, we rely on these businesses and the revenue we get from their sales taxes. If they fail, our property taxes soar ... and no one wants that.
Matthew Gultanoff: Traffic and mobility are our most urgent challenges, affecting residents and the workforce that supports our city. In peak season, people feel stuck at home, businesses struggle to hire and keep workers, and visitors go elsewhere. Living or visiting here shouldn’t be a hassle. Miami Beach is walkable and bikeable, and people should feel the benefit.
Omar Jimenez: Overdevelopment, tourism and clean waterways go hand in hand. Without clean, safe beaches our world-renowned tourism economy suffers. If we fail to upgrade broken sewer and stormwater systems, we’ll be unprepared when new high-rises under construction add more pressure to already antiquated infrastructure, putting residents and our future at risk.
Monica Matteo-Salinas: Hard to pick just one. I would like to start with affordability. Low- and middle-income people are struggling, and there have to be ways that we can all collectively help our neighbors.
Monique Pardo Pope: Miami Beach faces overlapping challenges — flooding, traffic, overdevelopment, overtourism, short-term rentals, crime and rising costs — that threaten our quality of life. I will make our city safer, smarter and stronger: secure neighborhoods, balanced growth, resilient infrastructure, thriving businesses, and protections for seniors and vulnerable.
Miami Beach Commissioner Group II
Why are you running for office?
Laura Dominguez: I entered public service to honor my late partner, Comm. Mark Samuelian, who put residents first. I’ve worked to build a safer, stronger, more resilient Miami Beach, and I’m running for reelection to continue protecting neighborhoods, ensuring responsible growth and balancing residents’ quality of life with our role as a world-class destination.
Fred Karlton: As a lifelong Miami Beach resident, I want to give back by ensuring future generations enjoy the same quality of life. With 33+ years of business experience — without a blemish, foreclosure or default — I bring proven skills in contracts, negotiations and accountability to make City Hall more accessible, efficient and responsive.
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
Laura Dominguez: In my first term, I delivered real results: ended spring break chaos, secured police funding, improved school and street safety, and advanced climate resiliency with flood prevention and sea-level-rise protections. With experience, results and a resident-first approach, I’m ready to keep leading Miami Beach forward.
Fred Karlton: My 33+ yrs of unblemished business experience, coming up with creative solutions to tackle complex problems and the ability to get things done in a cost-efficient and timely fashion.
What is the most pressing issue facing the community you wish to represent?
Laura Dominguez: Miami Beach must be safe for residents and sustainable for the future. I’ve advanced resiliency planning, blue-green infrastructure and ensured residents have a voice in shaping solutions. By pushing G.O. Bond projects forward on time and on budget, I’ll continue delivering a safe, resilient and resident-focused Miami Beach.
Fred Karlton: Over development. Over-taxed infrastructure. Traffic. Crime. Education and after-school programs. Fiscal responsibility.
Miami Beach Commissioner Group III
Why are you running for office?
Alex Fernandez: The public has encouraged me to run for reelection to continue preserving our city’s character, protecting quality of life and advancing long-delayed resiliency projects. I’ve delivered condo-owner and tenant protections, rolled back alcohol hours in neighborhoods, cut resident tows by 90% with Text Before Tow and defended our Art Deco heritage.
Luidgi Mary: Did not respond.
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
Alex Fernandez: I bring a proven record of standing firm to stop irresponsible overdevelopment, securing protections for our Art Deco Historic District, passing first-in-Florida tenant and condo safeguards, curbing spring break chaos, advancing Operation Clean Water, delivering Bayshore Park, and moving forward West Avenue and First Street resiliency projects.
Luidgi Mary: Did not respond.
What is the most pressing issue facing the community you wish to represent?
Alex Fernandez: Overdevelopment, traffic, affordability and revitalization top voters’ minds. Declining increases in property values while maintaining high reserves and strong bond rating, water quality, and flood-prevention infrastructure are pressing issues our government must address. My focus is safe, affordable neighborhoods with resilient infrastructure.
Luidgi Mary: Did not respond.