When it comes to public service as a member of the Miami Lakes town council, the emphasis is on service, because council members don’t receive a salary (though the mayor does).
Council members have some financial benefits: Each elected official receives a $500 monthly car allowance; medical, dental, vision and life insurance; an $803 monthly allowance that could perhaps pay for expenses to attend events or donate to non-profit organizations, and an iPad, cell phone and data plan.
The town provides an administrative assistant for the council and pays town memberships in the state and county League of Cities organizations and Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce, worth $10,683.
Once elected, the biggest cost with this part-time job is upon an official’s time. Councilwoman Marilyn Ruano was appointed in 2017 to fulfill former Vice Mayor Tony Lama’s term and won a second term.
After serving two consecutive terms, she is term-limited. After one election cycle, she could run again for the council if she wanted to.
Ruano described a steep learning curve for new officials on the dais.
“Seven years is not enough,” Ruano said. “It takes a good couple of years to learn to navigate the system. … The first term, you’re really ineffective. In the second term you can effect some change and then in a blink, it’s over.”
She shared the highs and lows of the job.
“It is very, very demanding,” Ruano said. “Not because you’re required to go anywhere, but to keep up with everything happening. You’re expected to attend committees and boards and planning and zoning meetings and you should be attending HOA meetings as well,” she said. “That’s where you understand what’s happening in those neighborhoods.”
To stay current, she said she watches videos of committee and board meetings.
“In order to do it right, it would need to be a full-time job,” she said.
The rewards of council work?
“Getting to know your neighbors,” she said. “Getting to help them and to have the ability to be the liaison between the public and government and to make a difference. ... I feel like that’s our intended purpose. We legislate, but we work to bring the government closer to the people.”
But sometimes people can get a little too close.
“The sunshine is a good thing,” she said. “When you run for office, you don’t realize that you become a public person and that doesn’t turn off at any time. I was on a Mediterranean cruise and there was a family from Miami Lakes. On one of the excursions, we had a conversation about the drainage in Miami Lakes. Forget Santorini! What about how my house floods when it rains?
“As far as dancing like nobody is watching?” Ruano said. “That goes away. Because someone is always watching.”