Election Information
The Town Council shall consist of the Mayor and Six At-Large Councilmembers, who are elected to four-year terms on a non-partisan basis. Councilmembers shall serve in seats numbered 1-6 collectively “Seats” and councilmembers shall be elected at-large. The Town of Miami Lakes holds municipal elections every four years, in even numbered years. General Elections are held in each even-numbered year on the day on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, provided that it is the intent of the Town Charter that the Town election always be scheduled to coincide with a Countywide election.
A candidate receiving a number of votes greater than 50% of the ballots cast, such candidate shall be duly elected to the Town Council and no runoff election shall be required. If necessary, the ballot for Runoff Election shall contain the names of the two candidates that received the most votes in the general election. A Runoff Election, if necessary, shall be held 21 calendar days after the general election. The candidate receiving the most votes in the Runoff Election shall be duly elected.
Only electors of the town who have resided continuously on the town for at least two (2) years preceding their qualifying dates shall be eligible to hold the Office of Mayor or Councilmember. Candidates shall qualify for the municipal election in the office of the Town Clerk, 6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, Florida, 33014. The Town Clerk is the local supervisor of elections for all municipal elections.
Candidates may only file their qualifying papers with the Town Clerk during said period. Please be advised that you need to arrive at the Office of the Town Clerk with the necessary completed qualifying papers and fees in a sufficient period of time before the 12:00 pm expiration of the qualifying period, so that your qualifying papers may be timely filed with the Town Clerk – prior to the end of the qualifying period.
The Miami Lakes Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
The candidate qualifying period for the November 2024 Election has concluded. The candidate qualifying period for the 2024 General Election ran from Monday, July 29, 2024 at 12 p.m. through Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 12 p.m.
Vote-By-Mail
IMPORTANT: Even voters who have requested a Vote-by-Mail ballot in the past MUST request a new one for the 2024 Election.
- The deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot is Thursday, October 24 at 5 p.m.
- The deadline for a vote-by-mail ballot to be returned and received by the Miami-Dade County by the Elections Department is no later than 7 p.m. (local time) on Election Day. You cannot return your vote-by-mail ballot at your precinct on Election Day.
- Voters can return their Vote-by-Mail ballot either by mail using the pre-paid postage provided or by dropping them off on election day at their respective polling place.
Early Voting
- Early, in-person voting will be available from Monday, October 21, 2024 to Sunday, November 3, 2024 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
- The early voting location in Miami Lakes is the Mary Collins Community Center (15151 NW 82nd Avenue)
- Please note: Voters can vote at any early voting location in Miami-Dade County during early voting periods.
Voting on Election Day
- On Election Day, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.
- Election Day Voters must vote at their assigned precinct.
Qualified Local Election Candidates
The candidate qualifying period for the November 2024 Election has concluded. The candidate qualifying period for the 2024 General Election ran from Monday, July 29, 2024 at 12 p.m. through Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 12 p.m. Please see below list of qualified candidates:
Opposed Candidates
- Josh Dieguez (Mayor)
- Tony Fernandez (Mayor)
- Yuniett Gonzalez (Mayor)
- Angelo Cuadra Garcia (Seat 1)
- Mario O. Pinera Jr. (Seat 1)
Unopposed Candidates
- Juan Carlos Fernandez (Seat 3)
- Steven Herzberg (Seat 5)
To become a candidate, the following documents must be filed with the Town of Miami Lakes Town Clerk PRIOR to opening a campaign account, receiving contributions, or making any expenditures:
Form DS-DE 9 must be filed with the Town Clerk, prior to opening the campaign account. The original form must be hand-delivered to the Office of the Town Clerk.
A candidate may be his/her own campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer but anyone designated to be a campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer must also be a registered voter of the State of Florida. Only the campaign treasurer or the deputy campaign treasurer may sign campaign expenditure checks.
Open a campaign account at a bank authorized to do business in the State of Florida. This account must be separate from any personal or business accounts. The bank should provide you with deposit slips and checks indicating it is a campaign account.
Form DS-DE 84 should be filed with the Town Clerk within ten (10) days of filing Form DS-DE 9.
Only AFTER filing the above forms with the Town Clerk, the candidate may then open a campaign account and begin to accept contributions and make expenditures.
Blank Forms for Candidates
State Laws and Handbooks
Qualifying Forms
Required Forms
Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository | |
Statement of Candidate | |
Oath of Candidate | |
Statement of Financial Interest Form / Form 1 If you are a Candidate who does not currently hold an office or other position requiring disclosure, you will complete your disclosure in EFDMS via the “I am a candidate Link” and print it for filing with your Qualifying Officer. If you have an annual filing requirement and are running for office, you will complete your disclosure in EFDMS and submit your verification/receipt of e-filing your form or print a copy of your disclosure to file with your Qualifying Officer. Click here for instructions for completing and filing this form. On Monday, June 10, 2024, a Federal Court granted a preliminary injunction that changes the form filing requirement from a 2023 Form 6 back to a 2023 Form 1 for Mayors and City/Village/Town Governing Board Members. Click here for more information. | |
Written Notice of Candidacy | |
Qualifying Fee and Election Assessment Fee | |
Electronic Filing Requirement | |
Access to Handbook and Election Laws of Florida | |
Optional Form | |
Declaration and First Amendment Waiver |
Campaign Finance Reporting
Reporting Dates and Information | |
Electronic Filing “How to File Financial Reports Online” | |
Guidelines to a Successful Campaign Report | |
Absentee Ballot Campaign Report In accordance with Section 12-14.1 of the Code of Miami Dade County, Florida, candidates must now file this report to disclose the names of the paid campaign workers engaged in absentee ballot activities with the Town Clerk. |
Election History
2024 Special Election
2020 Elections
2016 Elections
2016 Special Elections
2014 Elections
2013 Special Elections
Special Election 2013 Results Summary
Special Election 2013 Results by Precinct
2013 Election Candidates/Campaign Reports
Mayor | |
David Bennett | |
Luis Espinosa | |
Nelson Hernandez | |
Edwin Romero | |
Wayne Slaton |
Councilmember – Seat 4 | |
Lorenzo Cobiella | |
Frank Mingo | |
Star Rodriguez |
Political Action Committees | |
Citizens for Ethical and Effective Leadership | |
Tell the Public the Facts Inc. |
2012 Elections
Miami Lakes 2012 Official Election Results
2012 Election Candidates/Campaign Reports
Mayor | |
Michael Pizzi | |
Wayne Slaton |
Residential Councilmember – Seat 1 | |
David Bennett | |
Nelson Rodriguez |
Residential Councilmember – Seat 3 | |
Richard Pulido | |
Tony Lama |
Residential Councilmember – Seat 5 | |
Manny Cid | |
Mary Collins |