In two weeks, Miami-Dade residents will vote for a host of candidates running for the U.S. Senate, county mayor, Miami-Dade County School Board and county and circuit court judicial seats in the August 30 primary election.
Miami Lakes residents will chose candidates running for the U.S. Senate which includes incumbent Marco Rubio, homebuilder Carlos Beruff, business entrepreneur Ernie Rivera and Detention Deputy for Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Dwight Mark Anthony Young for the Republican nomination.
The winner will face the victor in the Democratic race which includes Congressmen Patrick Murphy and Alan Grayson, attorney and former naval officer Pam Keith, businessman and political activist Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente and civil attorney and Reginald Luster, who also owns a real estate investment and management corporation, in the general election November 8.
In the Miami-Dade County’s mayoral race, incumbent Carlos Gimenez’s reelection bid drew eight challengers, including his chief rival, Miami-Dade School Board member Raquel Regalado, who is the daughter of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.
Other candidates for mayor include former congressional staff member Alfred Santamarias, printer Frederick Bryant, former county Democratic Party chairman B.J. Chizsar, Miguel Eizmendiz and former gubernatorial candidate Farid Khavari.
For Circuit Court judge, incumbent Jason Edward Bloch faces former assistant state attorney Marcia Del Rey, and attorneys Mark Blumstein, a former Surfside commissioner, longtime public defender Rene Gordon, private practice lawyer Denise Martinez-Scanziani and prosecutor Luis Perez-Medina are also vying for an open seat left by the retirement of Judge Gill Freeman.
Also running for Circuit Court judge is bankruptcy and real estate attorney Rosy A. Aponte, former deputy and assistant statewide prosecutor Carol “Jodie” Breece, and Oscar Rodiguez-Fonts, former assistant attorney for the City of Miami and public defender.
Incumbent Robert Joshua Luck is facing attorney and former State Representative Yolly Roberson, and long-time attorney Elena Otega Tauler is challenging George “Jorge” A. Sarduy for his seat on the Circuit Court.
For County Court judge, incumbent Fred Seraphin is facing off against attorney Milena Abreu, who is a hearing officer for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, County Court, Traffic Division.
Abreu also works for the death penalty unit at the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Third Region of Florida.
Also running for County Court judge is incumbent Ed Newman, a former Miami Dolphins player, who is being challenged by defense attorney Lizzet Martinez; and patent attorney Ruben Y. Alcoba and family law attorney Linda Luce are seeking to replace Judge Judy Rubenstein, who is retiring after 16 years on the bench.
Incumbent judge Wendell Graham is facing criminal defense attorney Antonio “Tony” Jimenez.
For the state Senate, Senator Rene Garcia, whose district includes Miami Lakes and Hialeah, won reelection without any opposition, and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr., also ran unopposed and won another four-year term.
Bovo’s district also includes Miami Lakes and Hialeah.
Early voting for the primary election is underway and closes on Saturday, August 28, at the Miami Collins Community Center, 15151 Montrose Road (N.W. 82nd Avenue).