Five candidates have filed with the town clerk in the Town of Miami Lakes to compete for three council seats in the Nov. 8 election. Two seats are currently held by incumbents who are seeking reelection: Carlos O. Alvarez and Josh Dieguez. The third seat is held by Vice Mayor Jeffrey Rodriguez who is not seeking another term. The qualifying period for the race is July 25 - Aug. 23. Carlos O. Alvarez’s photo was taken by Alexandra Herrera and Josh Dieguez’s was taken by Andrea Cruz; the other candidates provided their photographs. These candidates and others who may join the race will be interviewed again prior to the Nov. 8 election.
Carlos O. Alvarez, 45. Incumbent Councilmember Seat 6, seeking a second term.
Occupation: Principal, City of Hialeah Educational Academy
Q: Are you serving on any volunteer committees?
A: None at this time.
Q: Why are you running?
A: I want to continue pushing our public safety initiatives, I want to continue working with education here with our schools in Miami Lakes and I want to improve and see through the Miami Lakes Optimist project.
Q: Do you have a political action committee?
A: Yes, Dark Horse Strategies.
Q: What have you raised so far?
A: None, I just filed.
Josh Dieguez, 33. Incumbent Councilmember Seat 4, seeking a second term.
Occupation: Attorney
Q: Are you serving on any volunteer committees?
A: Leadership Miami; vice president, Miami Lakes Bar Association and League of Cities. Previously served on the Elderly Affairs Committee and chaired the Neighborhood Improvement Committee.
Q: Why are you running?
A: I was born here, I was raised here, I want to continue to see it grow in the right direction.
Q: Do you have a political action committee?
A: Yes, Basic Principles.
Q: What have you raised so far?
A: $21,275.
Angelo Cuadra Garcia, 60. Occupation: Highway safety technician, seeking Council Seat 6
Q: Are you serving on any volunteer committees
A: Blasting Advisory Board.
Q: Why are you running?
A: I’m running because I want to see a change.
Q: Do you have a political action committee?
A: No.
Q: Amount you have raised so far?
A: $13,565.
Ray Garcia, 49 Occupation: Health insurance manager, seeking Council Seat 2
Q: Are you serving on any volunteer committees
A: Blasting Advisory Board.
Q: Why are you running?
A: I love this town and I want to leave it better than I found it.
Q: Do you have a political action committee?
A: No.
Q: Amount you have raised so far?
A: $3,800.
William Perez, 57. Attorney, retired colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, seeking Council Seat 2
Q: Are you serving on any volunteer committees
A: Neighborhood Improvement Committee, Veterans Committee and American Legion Post 144
Q: Why are you running?
A: To improve the lives of the most vulnerable: Our children, our elderly and our disabled.
Q: Do you have a political action committee?
A: No.
Q: Amount you have raised so far?
A: $1,500.