Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has hired former Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid -- who was a challenger during her reelection in 2024 -- to be an advisor.
Cid began his new job on Jan. 6 as Senior Advisor for Economic Opportunity in the county’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development.
Cid is a county employee who will be paid a salary of $200,000 and will report to Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer Francesca de Quesada Covey, the county said.
Neither Levine Cava nor Cid responded to requests for comment, both referring to a press release sent by her office.
During the mayoral race, the candidates’ campaigns criticized each other.
The People’s Voice political committee chaired by Cid sent texts that called her “Disastrous Daniella,” said county employees were overpaid and that she had an “incompetent administration.”
It is not known if he was directly involved in the crafting of those statements. After he faulted her and the county when a mob rushed into Hard Rock Stadium during the Copa America soccer match in July, her campaign accused him of “political opportunism,” attacking cops and said Miami Lakes voters rejected his “reckless leadership.”
The county press release that announced Cid’s hiring had a different tone.
“I’ve always respected Mayor Daniella Levine Cava for her dedication to public service, and we share a lifelong commitment to moving Miami-Dade forward,” he said in the release. “Strengthening small businesses and creating opportunities for Miami-Dade families are issues I’ve worked on throughout my 19-year journey in public service, and I’m grateful the mayor has entrusted me to deliver on these priorities for our residents.”
Levine Cava said when announcing the hire, “I got to know Manny during the campaign, and he impressed me with his great ideas and deep commitment to our community.
“As we continue working to support small businesses and strengthen our workforce, Manny’s experience and new ideas will help us continue to deliver for Miami-Dade,” she said. “I’m proud to be the collaborator-in-chief and to bring together people of diverse perspectives to improve quality of life for our residents.”
Her spokeswoman said Cid’s responsibilities will include: “promoting sustainable economic growth and opportunity” across the county, along with “supporting the growth and resilience of small businesses; enhancing access to equitable job opportunities and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to foster economic growth and resilience.”