So much is still up in the air
Arecord number of Miami-Dade County residents, especially Democrats, mailed in, earlyvoted or punched a ballot in a voting booth in Tuesday’s primary election.
A total of 415,226 ballots were cast out of 1.4 million registered voters. All this could be a sign of things to come in Miami-Dade in November. The best news of the night was a high turnout, an estimated 27.69 percent of people voted during a summertime primary in the middle of a pandemic. Not bad. As for Tuesday’s results:
MIAMI-DADE MAYOR
In the crowded Miami-Dade mayor’s race, it appears that Miami-Dade
commissioners from both ends of the political spectrum will battle it out in a November runoff since no one captured 50 percent of the votes plus one. Daniella Levine Cava, known for her progressive stands and Esteban “Steve” Bovo Jr., known for his conservative views, stood toe-to-toe most of the night. Bovo ended with a tight lead over Cava Levine. Former mayor Alex Penelas missed out of the runoff, coming in third in his quest for a political second act. He was a convincing, knowledgeable and likeable candidate. Coming in fourth was Commissioner Xavier Suarez, who gave up his seat to run for mayor. We’ll miss Suarez on the dais.
COUNTY COMMISSION
Of the two incumbents challenged, Elaine Higgins and Joe A. Martinez, only Martinez regained his seat outright..
But four other seats, including Suarez’s, are going to brand-new commissioners.
In District 1, Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert and Sybrina Fulton, the mother of murdered teen Trayvon Martin and a Black Lives Matter activist, were in a dead heat at 11 p.m. for the seat being vacated by Commissioner
Barbara Jordan, who is termlimited.
In District 3, Miami Commissioner Keon Hardemon appeared to be headed for runoff with community leader, Gepsie Metellus to replace Audrey Edmonson, who is term-limited, too.
In District 5, challenger Reiner Diaz the la Portilla had pushed Higgins into a runoff.
In District 7, in the fight for Suarez’s seat, former Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner and former School Board member Raquel Regalado appeared headed for a runoff.
In District 9, Homestead councilman Elvis Maldonado had a strong showing and is headed for runoff against state legislator Kionne McGhee.
In District 11, incumbent Commissioner Martinez eventually captured enough votes to avoid a runoff with former state legislator Robert Asencio in November.
In District 13, former state legislator Rene Garcia easily defeated political newcomer Adrian Jesus Jimenez and will replace Bovo on the commission.
STATE ATTORNEY
It looked as if it were possible that there would be a new “sheriff” in town. But Miami-Dade
State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle bested her strongest challenger yet, Melba Pearson, whose campaign was bolstered by calls for criminal-justice reform in the wake of the George Floyd killing.
Because of her lackluster record in going after police officers who use excessive force, who have racked up brutality complaints or shot a suspect to death while on duty, Fernandez Rundle faced calls to resign from the local Democratic
Party, Black Lives Matter advocates and others.
After 27 years in office, Fernandez Rundle has disappointed some constituents and infuriated others. Pearson, who once was an assistant state attorney under Fernandez Rundle, was a worthy opponent. Tuesday, however, the depth of the support and goodwill the incumbent has accrued was undeniable. Fernandez Rundle was re-elected with more than 61 percent of the vote.
The Miami Herald recommended her in this race, with caveats. Now that voters have decided that she has earned another chance, we urge her to put criminal-justice reform front and center.
SCHOOL BOARD
Much remains to be seen in the races for the Miami-Dade School Board. Three of the four have ended in runoffs.
Only incumbent Lubby Navarro, who represents District 7, won her three-way race with at least 54 percent of the vote. But without the heft of an incumbent outweighing that of newcomers, Districts 3, 5 and 9 are up for grabs.
For those candidates, it’s on to November.