County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez might not win the personality of the year award, but he's got a good shot at winning an election for mayor of Miami-Dade County.
The low key Gimenez tossed his hat in the ring after filing election department paperwork last week. Along the way, he picked up political guru and well known pollster Dario Moreno to help guide his campaign.
"I think the two things that have seriously frustrated people have been the Marlins Stadium and the raising of taxes," Mreno said Monday.
The tax issue and the Marlins stadium financing got county taxpayers so fired up, a campaign to recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez was quickly successful in finding citizens to sign the petitions necessary to put the recall into motion.
If Alvarez is recalled and the county commission calls for an election to fill the seat, Gimenez will run. If there is a interim appointment, Gimenez will run in the regular election in 2012.
"Miami-Dade County is on the wrong track, but we have the ability to fix it. People have to have confidence in local government and that's what I want to bring," he said. "The culture of the county needs to change. It is almost like as if 'you work for us' instead of the other way around.'"
Gimenez is a former firefighter, fire chief and was the city manager of the City of Miami before he became a county commissioner.
Two weeks ago, Hialeah mayor Julio Robaina spread the word that he was running for mayor. J.C. Bermudez, the Mayor of Doral, filed election papers on Monday. He too wants to be the county mayor but says he will run in the regular 2012 election.
Gimenez and Robaina have set themselves up to run for mayor in a special election if Alvarez gets the boot.
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Politics in Miami-Dade County is now on the front burner.
