Miami Lakes Mayor Josh Dieguez chose Alejandro Sanchez as his nominee to fill vacant Council Seat 4.
Sanchez, 40, is an associate at a commercial property group and serves on the Planning and Zoning Board.
“I am head and shoulders beyond the moon,” Sanchez said Friday. “I have served my nation since I was 19 years old, since I enlisted in the Navy in 2003, and it’s been a lifelong commitment for me to continue serving.”
Seat 4 was formerly held by Dieguez and it became vacant when he won election to town mayor on Nov. 26.
Sanchez, a decorated U.S. Navy veteran, was one of eight residents who sought the seat on the dais.
Dieguez discussed the candidates with the rest of the council during a meeting at town hall on Dec. 23. Per charter rules, if a majority votes for Sanchez during the Jan. 21 council meeting, the town will avoid a delay in filling the seat and the costs of a special election.
The other candidates were Esther Colon; Nayib Hassan; William Garciga; Mario Pinera; Pedro “Michael” Proenza; John Rogger and Enrique Suarez.
In a Dec. 27 memo to the council posted that afternoon on the town’s website, Dieguez said a factor that led to his choice included someone who would put “the interests of the town above political considerations.”
Dieguez praised those who put themselves forward. He wrote that he was concerned about nominating someone who had previously run for office but had not won, though he said the council agreed it was “commendable that they threw their hat in the ring and demonstrated ‘tough skin’…
He also wanted a person with a history of service to the town who would work well with staff. In addition to his service on the PNZ, Sanchez has volunteered as chair of the town’s Veterans Committee; Neighborhood Improvement Committee and the Town Manager Selection Committee, Dieguez said.
“Of all the applications we received … his application notably included the most letters of recommendation from everyday town residents,” Dieguez said.
Sanchez included 16 letters in his application written by friends and neighbors, and did have some heavy hitters in the package: Former Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Board Member Roberto Alonso; former town Mayor Ceasar Mestre; former vice mayors Luis Collazo and Nelson Rodriguez and current Planning and Zoning Board Vice Chair Fred Senra, who are all residents.
He also complimented Sanchez’s candid presentation of his background, which included a brush with law enforcement.
Fourteen years ago, Sanchez reported that was arrested on suspicion of committing felony battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence and a misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Sanchez blamed the incident that happened at a comedy club on “seizure medication” and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He reported that he was “never convicted.” The misdemeanor charge was not prosecuted; the felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor offense, which was also not prosecuted, court records show.
“Now to have this honor bestowed upon me and hopefully be made official with the votes on the 21st of January, it means the world to me,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez was the 2016 Volunteer of the Year, awarded by the mayor, and the 2014 Grand Marshal of the Veterans Parade. He is pursuing a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami and expects to graduate in 2025.