Part of a series of profiles about the Miami mayoral candidates
No, he’s not close to “Uncle Ron,” as he calls him — and Kenneth James DeSantis makes sure to clear that up right away.
The young attorney, relative to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — who is not affiliated with either the Republican or the Democratic parties — is one of 13 candidates running for Miami mayor on Nov. 4. And while the name might turn heads — he admits his grandmother gets preferential treatment at the hospital — his pitch is more about integrity than notoriety.
“I’m running for mayor because Miami is at a turning point,” DeSantis, a distant cousin of the governor’s, wrote the Miami Herald, in an answer to candidate questions that city commissioner Joe Carollo and former City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla did not respond to.
“We deserve leadership free of corruption and bold enough to build a fairer, safer and more resilient city.”
Sounds nice. Lofty, even. Especially in a city where corruption, favoritism and backroom deals are practically part of the municipal DNA. But DeSantis, who lives on the west side of the city near Coral Gables, says he wants to bring “fresh leadership and a lifelong commitment to justice” to Miami — which is a polite way of saying City Hall could use a good scrubbing.
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“Miami deserves a City Hall that is free from corruption and it hasn’t had that for generations,” he
“I got into the race once I learned all the shenanigans that were going on in City Hall and I realized that just coming I there and being transparent and open and honest would be a better situation than we have right now,” he told WPLG Channel 10 in a short interview this week. He criticized Mayor Francis Suarez for not disclosing his client list and said he “would never.” He also said that he would work to put all the city’s contract and spending online for everyone to see.
“I tried to audit some things I’m supposed to be talking about right now and couldn’t find certain things,” he said. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
He’s not great at affordable housing, which seems to be the issue everybody wants to talk about. He says the problem cannot be handled at the city level alone, except when keeping taxes low and protecting existing affordable housing. He also says developers need to be pressed more to create housing for every income level. But the first thing he’d tackle — as someone who just redid his bathroom and did not have fun doing it — is a reform of the permitting process.
DeSantis was also incredibly human-like when it comes to the issue of homelessness and said they need empathy. “We are all just one car accident away from being in that position,” he said. “That could be you.”
It’s a stark contrast to his cousin’s stance. Gov. DeSantis signed a bill last year that prohibits camping or sleeping on public property, which cleared the way for many police departments to start arresting homeless people for just being homeless.
KJ DeSantis is a relative newcomer to politics — and Miami. He still has an upper New York area code, but said he’s fallen in love with the city. He’s also relatively new to the law.
Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2022, he works as an associate at the Cole, Scott & Kissane law firm in Dadeland, mostly representing insurance companies and big corporate clients. He’s also a member of the Florida Bar’s Aviation Law Committee through 2030, which shows a certain commitment to bureaucracy if nothing else.
The University of Richmond School of Law grad also has degrees from Vanderbilt University and the University of Cambridge — so he’s got the credentials. Or he just likes academia.
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What he doesn’t seem to have yet is a campaign machine. There’s no sign of a website, social media presence or even yard signs. He may be running on principle alone. Oh, and that name. Some political observers speculate that he’s a plantidate, there to strip away GOP votes from someone, maybe former City Manager Emilio González, who actually has the governor’s endorsement.
But DeSantis says he’s focused on the issues Miamians actually live with every day: safety, traffic, flooding and the cost of living. His website is pretty thorough and hints at a future run, with “building a movement” language. Ladra loves his logo — with a flamingo riding (or pooping out) a lightning bolt. And you can even buy a “DeSantis For Miami” tote bag for $50.
If that’s how he’s going to handle business at the city, it doesn’t look good.
“The most pressing issue is creating safer neighborhoods, reducing traffic through better transit options, and fostering real economic growth that lifts Miamians’ incomes and prosperity,” he told The Herald. “Addressing these together will strengthen quality of life and opportunity across our community.”
That’s a tall order — and maybe a little idealistic and refreshing to hear someone talking about systems, fairness and transparency instead of photo ops and power plays. Whether that message breaks through all the ugly noise in crowded field and is another question. Ladra will bet it does not.
He joins a clown car of 13 candidates vying to replace term-limited Mayor Francis Suarez — a lineup that includes Gonzalez and other big names like City Commissioner Joe Carollo, former Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, former Commissioner Ken Russell, Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins and former Miami-Dade Commissioner Mayor Sir Xavier Suarez, who held the seat in 1995 and wants to succeed his son in what he calls an “inverse dynasty.”
DeSantis got to see them interact at the Downtown Neighbors Alliance debate last month — he didn’t poll over 5%, so he wasn’t invited — as he sat in the audience. He was unimpressed. And it is apparent that he is getting a quick education in Miami politics.
“What struck me most was how much of a circus it became rom beginning to end,” he told Ladra after the debate. “From a group of of supposedly seasoned candidates, I expected more statesmanship and sharper debate skills. Some couldn’t even deliver a coherent closing statement.
“There was a clear lack of decorum and seriousness,” he said, like a man who has never been to a city commission meeting.
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