Miami Lakes Councilman Josh Dieguez said Tuesday night that he expects to face Vice Mayor Tony Fernandez yet again in a runoff election on Nov. 26, after unofficial numbers released by county officials showed that neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote needed to become the next mayor of the town.
With seven out of seven precincts accounted for, the county showed Dieguez with 46.6% of the vote and Fernandez with 42%.
There was about a 729-vote difference between the two candidates.
“I’m feeling confident,” Dieguez said about his chances in another election. “We’re substantially ahead. I think at the end of the day, Miami Lakers are looking for that home grown leadership … someone who is going to put the community first, not play politics with the budget and that is the key.”
Reached Wednesday, Fernandez said, "“I’m feeling great. I took on the entire northwest Dade establishment of career politicians and I took on the entire group of them and made it into a runoff."
About his prospects in the runoff election, Fernandez said, "I’m very, very confident that I will prevail on the 26th . A lot of the people that voted for Ms. [Yuniett] Gonzalez [the third candidate in the race] are people that respond positively to my message and my vision for the town. I’m very confident that I will be able to convince them that I’m the best choice for them.”
Fernandez said, "The fight continues and I will always keep fighting for them and fighting for the right things and making the right decisions for Miami Lakers going forward.”
Political newcomer Yuniett Gonzalez, 56, owner of financial firm Yugo Company, was eliminated from the runoff election. She won 11.43% or 1,787 votes.
“This is something I came to do, to represent the community,” Gonzalez said. “Thousands of residents believed in me and I feel very happy about that, no matter the outcome.”
She thanked Dieguez and Fernandez “for being leaders in the community.”
As for whether she’ll run for public office again, Gonzalez said, “I’ll always be willing to serve in Miami Lakes, in any way I can. If my voters and community want me to run again, I am here for them.”
Angelo Cuadra Garcia, 63, a supervisor for a road and bridge construction company, defeated Mario O. Pinera, Jr., 45, chief operating officer, MOP Auto Parts to win Seat 1. Garcia won 54%, or 7,794 votes.
“I want to thank them all for supporting me,” Cuadra Garcia said. “They have been very receptive to me and they’ve supported me. I told them clearly if they gave me 3% trust, I was going to earn the other 97,” Cuadra Garcia said. “I’m super, super excited. I’m motivated. I will come in with a positive attitude.”
He will join incumbent council members Ray Garcia, 52, a businessman, and attorney Bryan Morera, 34, who has his own firm.
In August 20 Primary Election, two council seats were decided when no one opposed candidates Juan Carlos (J.C.) Fernandez, 53, a Realtor and part franchise owner of Keller Williams Realty, who won Seat 3, and lawyer Steven Herzberg, 35, a partner at Vazquez & Associates, who won Seat 5.
Dieguez, 35, an attorney with Dieguez & Associates was in the middle of his second term when he decided to run for mayor.
Once the mayoral contest is decided, Dieguez’s replacement will be appointed to fulfill the remaining two years of his term.
The newcomers will be sworn in on Dec. 10 at Miami Lakes Town Hall. The new council will hold their first meeting on Jan. 21, 2025.
Of keen interest to Miami Lakers was who the new Miami-Dade County Sheriff would be, since the town contracts with that agency for police protection.
Rosie Cordero-Stutz, a Republican who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, defeated James Reyes, who is Miami-Dade County chief of public safety.
In other county races, Juan Fernandez-Barquin, who was appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, will retain that seat; Tomas Regalado won Property Appraiser; Dariel Fernandez will be Tax Collector and Alina Garcia is Supervisor of Elections. All of those candidates are Republicans.
In state races, incumbents Fla. Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs and Fla. Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes will return to Tallahassee.