Nelson Rodriguez, a Coral Gables firefighter, has drawn two challengers for his Seat One on the Miami Lakes Town Council.
On November 8, Rodriguez is seeking another four-term in political office but his opponents, Xiomara Pazos and neophyte Alex Dehghani, are Town Council hopefuls vying to unseat the incumbent in the general election.
If neither candidate musters 51 percent of the votes, the two top vote-getters will face off in a run-off election two weeks later.
Rodriguez, Pazos and Dehghani responded to a candidate questionnaire for the town’s general election, outlining their experience and discussing the issues residents want them to resolve if elected.
Rodriguez was first elected to the Town Council in 2012, when he defeated Dr. David Bennett for the seat then-Council member Nick Perdomo gave up to pursue his business endeavors.
Rodriguez, 47, is married to Lisa Rodriguez, and they have three children, Brian, Marc and Megan.
Rodriguez has been a resident for 24 years, and has been part of numerous community and civic groups, including past president for Miami Lakes K-8 Center PTSA, former president of the Windmill Gate Homeowners Association, Boy Scout’s of America’s Explorer Post advisor, Miami-Dade Schools Community and Family Involvement Committee, and Miami-Dade County Council of PTA/PTSA executive committee.
He currently serves as a town representative for the Miami-Dade League of Cities, a member of the Miami-Dade League of Cities Traffic and Transportation Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors for the South Florida Firefighters Calendar.
Rodriguez, who has raised $5,625, said he moved to Miami Lakes in 1992 because the community is a wonderful area to raise a family.
“An area where people care about the beautiful tree-lined streets, having cows on Main Street and a family friendly quality of life,” he said.
Rodriguez said Miami Lakes is a great area to raise “my family.”
“A small town feel with all the amenities of a big city,” he said. “We have top rated schools, large parks, tree-lined streets and wonderful neighborhoods where one can raise a family.”
Rodriguez said he decided to run for office again because he wants to continue working on the initiatives “I have started, such as improving traffic flow throughout the town, keeping our taxes low and protecting property values as well as our quality of life. I am committed to public service and have been a firefighter paramedic for 28 years,” he said.
Rodriguez said some of the issues he wants to address if reelected, are traffic, getting an additional emergency rescue unit at the new Miami Lakes fire station, supporting the town’s efforts in landing its own independent zip code, public safety, maintaining fiscal responsibility and keeping the tax rate low.
“I believe that as a Town Council, we have to work cohesively, respectfully, and productively with each other to reach our common goals for the residents of Miami Lakes,” Rodriguez said.
On the campaign trial, Rodriguez has been knocking on doors meeting residents and using social media to present his political platform.
He said residents are happy with the town keeping the tax rate low; addressing traffic problems and public safety are their top concerns.
“Followed by continued improvement of our town’s parks, maintaining our beautification and tree canopy, as well as continued support for our town events, such as Movies in the Park, Easter Egg hung and the Halloween Trick or treating in the park,” he said.
Rodriguez said he plans to keep his open door policy, which includes meeting with residents face-to-face and attending many homeowners association meetings and town events to address residents’ needs.
“I have made it my policy to go to the homes of the residents rather then the residents coming to Town Hall,” he said. “I’m a former HOA president, town committee chair, PTA president and I have had an open door policy for years. Residents vote you into office and they deserve a quick and proper response when they contact their elected officials.”
Rodriguez said residents should vote for him because he will continue to watch over the town’s budget, services, public safety and protect “our property values.”
“I am an independent voice on the Town Council and have supported all issues that are good for our residents,” he said. “I have a proven track record of leadership and accomplishing goals. I love this town, I am raising my children here and the residents can be assured I will protect our town and its values for their families and mine.”
Pazos unsuccessfully ran against Councilmember Ceasar Mestre in 2014, and she’s seeking to bounce back this year with hopes of winning a seat on the Town Council.
She initially filed papers to run for Seat 3 but changed her mind and is seeking Rodriguez’s chair in Seat 1.
The 59-year-old resident is CEO and president of a non-emergency medical transportation company.
She has a 34 year-old namesake daughter, and she has been living in Miami Lakes for nearly a decade.
Pazos said she is vice president of the Serenity Point Homeowners Association and a longtime community activist.
She also volunteers for senior citizens in the town.
Pazos said she moved to Miami Lakes because it seems like an utopia.
“I moved here because I want to live in a small community that also has the best of everything,” she said. “I moved here because I love the schools and churches and a family friendly community.”
Pazos said Miami Lakes means kids, seniors, family, respect love, comfort and security.
“Miami Lakes is about the world’s best schools, houses of worship, churches and wonderful street neighborhoods where you can raise a family,” she said.
Pazos, who has raised $5,100 for her campaign, said she decided to run for political office a second time because members of the Town Council seemed to be at odds most of the time.
She also said the Town Council is dominated by men.
“Our current Town Council has no diversity of thought or of any diversity of any kind,” she said. “It has no females and is an all male club. They all vote the same way and are not objective and do not keep an open mind. We need public officials who have an open mind and listen to the people and who have a vision.”
Pazos said she’s informing voters about her political platform by knocking on doors and listening to their concerns.
She said residents told her they do not know the council members.
“They believe the current council is too influenced by special interests and big developers and the current council votes with big money interests and not the people,” she said.
If elected, Pazos said she will always keep an open door policy.
“My door will always be open,” she said.
Pazos said residents should vote for her because her experience outside the political arena gives her the best chance to resolve issues for residents.
“The council needs a female voice, diversity of thought and someone with business experience,” she said. “I am that person.”
Dehghani, 36, is an attorney who has lived in Miami Lakes for 30 years.
He is married to Ingrid Dehghani, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child. They have a son named Sean.
Dehghani served as Guardian ad Litem to the Circuit Courts of Miami-Dade County, and has assisted hundreds of undocumented immigrants attain asylum and legal status in the Federal Immigration Court. He also assisted hundreds of children with pro bono legal services.
He said Miami Lakes is special and has always been home.
“My family and I are life-long Miami Lakers, and we all have chosen to raise our own children – where we were raised,” he said. “Miami Lakes is part of who we are, and its community means a lot to me and my family.”
Dehghani said he decided to run for political office because he has a vested interest in the town’s future, including raising his children here.
“The Town Council needs an independent voice who will represent the view of the often silent majority who simply want low taxes, quality of services and an end to wasteful spending,” he said. “I want to put an end to overdevelopment, and to actually do something about traffic gridlock and neighborhood crime. “Given that I was raised here, I’ve seen the changes in Miami Lakes over the years. I believe things can be better and should be. I know I can be an asset toward that future and I’m excited to prove it.”
If elected, Dehghani said he would like to address various issues.
“Unreasonable expenditures, the growing traffic at previously unheard of times, taking affirmative steps to address the Zika epidemic, and work with the police and the Town Council to propose legislation to ensure the installation of security cameras in homes to address the spike in home robberies in recent years,” he said.
On the campaign trail, Dehghani said voters are informing him about their views.
“I value them greatly,” he said. “Their views make up my platform and I’m excited for the opportunity to take on those issues on their behalf,” he said.
Dehghani said residents are tired of the mind numbing traffic jams at unheard of hours of the day.
He said residents are also frustrated with the amount of money that has been spent on the mayor’s lawsuits regarding his legal bills from his reinstatement and criminal cases.
But the Zika virus is their biggest concern.
“There are pregnant women and families who live near our lakes and canals that are genuinely frightened of being bitten by a mosquito carrying the Zika virus. Our residents are speaking loud and clear – and we have to listen to them.”
If elected, Dehghani said he plans to have an open door policy.
“If a resident bothered to take the time out of their day to come see me about an issue, the least I could do is hear them out,” he said.
Dehghani said residents should vote for him because he’s the best candidate to be their voice on the dais.
“As a lawyer licensed to practice law in three states, not only can I comprehend laws and legal jargon, I also know when another lawyer is overcharging,” he said. “I’m also painfully aware that multimillion dollar developers in the area can do much more to free up the paralyzing traffic which they have every intention of leaving us to solve.
“My intentions are sincere and grounded in the good of my community, not by the whims of special interests who are raising their children elsewhere. If elected, I intend on introducing my unborn son to an ever-improving Miami Lakes that he can clearly distinguish from the more congested parts of Miami-Dade County.
“In sum, I will vote for smart growth, low taxes and an efficient government that listens and works for the people and not special interests. I will be an independent voice for the people.”
(Editor’s Note: Seat 3 candidate profiles will appear on September 16, Seat 5 candidate profiles will appear on October 7, and Mayoral candidate profiles will appear on October 21, with a final wrap-up of the Miami Lakes General Election on November 4.)