MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. (WSVN) – For South Floridians who are voting on Election Day, the presidential race is not the only contest on their ballot. For the first time in six decades, voters in Miami-Dade County will select a sheriff.
Whoever wins the election for sheriff will inherit one of the largest policing agencies in the U.S., with more than 32,000 sworn officers, more than 5,000 total employees and a $1 billion budget.
Democratic sheriff candidate James Reyes currently serves as the county’s Chief of Public Safety, which includes police, fire and corrections. Until his appointment in his current role, he spent the majority of his law enforcement career in Broward County, spanning 22 years.
“I independently was able to manage over 5,600 employees and that $1.2 billion budget, which is some of the new responsibilities that we could expect when we transition to an independent constitutional office,” said Reyes.
7News caught up with Reyes as he hit last-minute campaign stops and polling sites in the county to make his final push for sheriff.
“I feel very confident. I feel that our message has resonated with the community,” he said.
That message to voters is his experience in roles of leadership makes him the candidate that will be ready on day one of leading the new sheriff’s office.
“The only candidate that has executive leadership experience in the sheriff’s office, that will make me the candidate that is ready to transition on day one
He’s been endorsed by fellow Democrat Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and former Police Director of MDPD Freddy Ramirez, but he promises voters to be an independent voice.
Reyes said his priority if elected, is the safety of the community, enhancing mental health services for deputies on the streets and creating a public corruption unit to investigate illegal behavior by elected officials.
“I am committed to bringing in that transparency and communication to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
Reyes will be hosting his watch party at Bay 13 Brewery in Coral Gables.
Meanwhile, his Republican opponent, Rosie Cordero-Stutz, is a current Miami-Dade Police officer who has served in top posts in several divisions in her 28-year career, having worked her way up from street cop to assistant director.
Like Reyes, Cordero-Stutz was seen making last-minute campaign stops in Doral and Sweetwater.
“Here we are, I’ve been visiting a lot of the polling places,” said Cordero-Stutz. “The energy is still good. We got a lot of people to come out and vote.”
She hopes to be the elected sheriff when the Miami-Dade Police Department transitions into a sheriff’s office.
Cordero-Stutz currently oversees investigative services for the Miami-Dade Police Department and she’s been endorsed by former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“I am the only police officer running for sheriff in Miami-Dade County. I am the only person that served as a police officer for 28 years, right here in this county. That’s important,” said Cordero-Stutz.
She said her 28 years career in MDPD is the key reason she should become sheriff over Reyes.
“I’ll serve this community like I have done so in the last 28 years. In a way that is for all of Miami-Dade County,” said Cordero-Stutz.
She told 7News her simple and important message for voters who have yet to vote in Miami-Dade.
“Come on out. It’s such an important time in our community at the national level, but also here at the county level,” said Cordero-Stutz.
If elected, she plans to focus on the safety of the community and she wants to address how the department handles mental distress calls.
Florida voters will also be choosing who will represent the state in the U.S. Senate as incumbent Republican Sen. Rick Scott faces off against former Democratic U.S. Rep.Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
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