During the November 5 highly contested Florida Gubernatorial race between incumbent Republican Rick Scott and former Governor Charlie Crist, now a Democrat, Miami Lakes residents will also vote for candidates running for a Town Council Seat and three charter amendments, two State Representative positions and Miami-Dade Property Appraisal.
Political neophyte Xiomara Pazos is challenging incumbent Ceasar Mestre for Seat 6 on the Miami Lakes Town Council.
Mestre, 52, was first elected to the Town Council in 2010, and unanimously elected as vice mayor in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
He also served as the town’s interim mayor following the arrest of Michael Pizzi on corruption charges.
Mestre, an attorney, is a native of New York and a graduate of St. Thomas University. He earned his law degree from University of Miami’s School of Law. Before attending law school, Mestre was a South Florida police officer and police special investigations detective.
He’s a member of the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Miami Lakes Economic Development Committee, Miami Lakes Public Safety Committee, Sevilla Estates Park Committee and past president of the Royal Palm Estates Homeowners Association.
He has been living in Miami Lakes for 22 years, where he and his wife have raised three daughters.
Pazos is CEO and president of Professional Medical Transportation Corporation in Hialeah and has long roots in the community.
Born on August 1, 1957, Pazos migrated to the United States in 1969 and was raised in Miami. She graduated from Hialeah Miami Lakes in 1976 and Miami Dade College, where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration.
In 1992, she began working at Vitas Hospice and was commended for excellence in Patient Care. She remained working at Vitas Hospice even after she started her own company in 1996.
She is the founder and CEO of Professional Medical Transportation Corp., a non-emergency medical transportation company. The firm has been in business since 1996 and is currently serving clients in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. As a business owner and parent, her commitment to her community led to public service.
Pazos is also a past vice president of Serenity Pointe Homeowners Association in Miami Lakes.
Mestre has raised $43,150 for his campaign, while Pazos is counted at $3,166.
Councilmembers Tim Daubert (Seat 2) and Frank Mingo (Seat 4) were reelected unopposed and won another four-year term.
Residents will also vote on three charter amendments during the general election.
The proposed changes include “Should any annexation proposal be approved by Miami Lakes residents,” Should Miami Lakes continue to pursue its own independent town-wide zip code,” and Should councilmembers be allowed to appoint residents to the town’s various committees instead of the mayor.”
Also on the November 5 ballot, incumbent State Representative Manny Diaz Jr. is facing Benjamin F. De Yurre for District 103; incumbent State Representative Jose Oliva is being challenged by Nelson Millian for District 110; and former State Representative Eddy Gonzalez and Pedro J. Garcia are running for the vacant Miami-Dade Property Appraiser in a run-off.
Garcia is the former county property appraiser.