2nd forum for town council candidates set for Oct. 25

Government By Linda Trischitta, Editor Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Miami Lakes voters will get to hear candidates for town council discuss issues during a second forum to be held Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Alex Penelas, the former mayor of Miami-Dade County and an attorney who lives in town, will serve as moderator once more. But this time, he will pose questions to them that are submitted by the audience.

The event, sponsored by BNI Miami Lakes and the Miami Lakes Bar Association and the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce, will begin at 7:30 p.m. and last about 90 minutes. It will be held at Trattoria Pampered Chef Restaurant, 7347 Miami Lakes Drive in the Cypress Village Shopping Center.

"It should be fun," said Lorenzo Cobiella, a co-organizer of the forum. For this event, Cobiella said he is not acting as the town's deputy attorney when it comes to the forum but rather as past president of the bar association and as its current secretary, and as a member of BNI Miami Lakes.

"We'll address issues of interest to everyone, not just attorneys," Cobiella said. "There will be businessmen and women, contractors, tradesmen and other professions from across Miami Lakes."

The forum was announced Tuesday night and by Wednesday morning, Cobiella said most of the candidates had confirmed they would attend.

Seven candidates are seeking three seats on the Miami Lakes town council. Miguel Comesana III, 29, a case manager at a personal injury law firm, is challenging incumbent Councilman Josh Dieguez, 33, an attorney, for Seat 4, while Seat 6 Councilman Carlos O. Alvarez, 45, a municipal charter high school principal, is running against Angelo Garcia Cuadra, 61, a safety technician. 

Competitors for Seat 2 are Ian Anthony Medina, 28, an attorney; Ray Garcia, 50, a health insurance licensed agent and William Perez, 57, a lawyer and retired U.S. Marine colonel. They hope to replace Vice Mayor Jeff Rodriguez, who is not seeking reelection in November.