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When six candidates vying to be Miami’s next mayor gathered at the Hyatt Regency Tuesday evening, ho-hum political conversation turned into a political boxing match – complete with heckling, finger-pointing and plenty of theatrics.
Candidate Alex Díaz de la Portilla attacked opponent Ken Russell for having a “hissy fit” before quitting the city commission to stage a losing bid for Congress, to which Russell responded with “But I didn’t leave in handcuffs like you.”
The jab referenced de la Portilla’s 2023 suspension after facing 14 felony charges — including bribery and money laundering — which were later dropped.
That was just the most cringeworthy moment in dramatic and sometimes laughable 90-minute debate that set the stage for the landmark November election.
Six candidates took the stage for the debate hosted by the Downtown Neighbors Alliance and CBS News Miami. This included two former mayors, Joe Carollo and Xavier Suarez. Former city manager and retired U.S. Army Col. Emilio Gonzalez, County Commissioner Elieen Higgins, Russell and Diaz de la Portilla rounded out the group. Overall, there are 13 candidates vying to take the reins at City Hall, but several didn’t poll high enough to qualify.
CBS News anchor and debate moderator Eliott Rodriguez questioned candidates on hot-button issues like affordable housing, traffic, homelessness and corruption.
But for many Miami residents, the debate was about finding a steady hand to lead a city that has become defined by scandal and controversy.
“Miami really should be a world-class city, and unfortunately, we’re failing,” said Morningside resident, 59, Sally Moise. “Part of the reason we’re failing is due to the ongoing corruption…and so I think that there’s a lot of hope for Miami,.. if we can elect a good mayor.”
Corruption was a hot-button issue that drew fiery reactions from every candidate. Perhaps the most controversial candidate is present Commissioner Joe Carollo, who lost a $63.5 million verdict after two Little Havana bar owners sued him for harassment, Former city manager Emilio Gonzalez took direct aim at Carollo.
“You have a PAC with millions of dollars and I guarantee you people aren’t giving you money because they agree with your Judeo-Christian values,” Gonzalez said. “You’ve been shaking people down for 40 years.”
When Carollo tried to respond, the audience booed. Carollo responded by shouting: “Wait a minute. This is a democracy. You let me speak. These are the people that want to support this guy. Is this how he’s going to run City Hall?”
Things got more tense when candidates were asked how they’d handle the chaos inside City Hall. Anchor Rodriguez mentioned a near-physical clash between Commissioner Damian Pardo Gabela and Carollo at a commission meeting.
Carollo accused Gabela of being the aggressor and blamed the media for covering it up.
Russell pledged to restore order.
“What we need is an adult in the room, and we haven’t had that, because no mayor has sat as the chairman of this commission in decades,” said Russell.
Housing affordability was also one of the night’s hot topics.
Higgins slammed the city’s permitting system, blaming red tape for stalling development.
”The city’s broken permitting system slows down construction of affordable housing,” she said. ““It can take over two years. That is bad management. That has to change.”
Higgins has faced criticism for her decision to run, since it means giving up her District 5 commission seat, which covers Little Havana, Brickell and South Beach.
González tied the housing crunch to high property taxes.
“I think that the issue of affordable housing is directly tied to the issue of real estate taxes and the issue of death taxes,” said Gonzalez. “Try and have somebody at FIU with an education degree stay here and teach at our public schools. Where are they going to live?”
The debate came just weeks after the city abandoned efforts to postpone the election without voter approval — a move that drew public outrage and legal action.
Gonzalez, who sued to block the delay, opened the debate with a pointed reminder, “If it weren’t for me we wouldn’t be in this room,” he said before many cheered.
But many residents weren’t impressed by the candidates’ display on stage.
“I think this nonsense that was on display tonight is a major disappointment for our city and for its reputation,” said Moise. “Miami really should be a world-class city, and unfortunately, we’re failing.”
The election will lead to a runoff between the top two contenders if a candidate doesn’t receive more than 50% of the total votes cast. Gonzalez has been endorsed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The others who took part Tuesday have all won elections in the city.
Other candidates include Laura Anderson, Christian E. Cevallos, Alyssa Crocker, James DeSantis, Ijamyn Grey, June Savage and Michael Hepburn.
One Liberty City resident, Mary Washington, expressed concerns about the seven other missing candidates. “There’s some other candidates that I have heard their views at different forums, and they were not on the stage tonight. So I don’t think we actually got a full picture.”
This story is part of a collaboration between Miami’s Community Newspapers and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.
