For complete Election Day 2017 results, click here.
Residents in the City of Miami and Miami Beach voted to elect new mayors Tuesday as they also made important decisions on everything from approving a $400 million project to address flooding and affordable housing issues to whether to stop alcohol sales on Ocean Drive three hours earlier.
City of Miami
RESULT: Francis X. Suarez is mayor-elect, leading with 85 percent of the vote with majority of precincts reporting.
Voters APPROVE authorizing $400 million general obligation bonds with "for bonds" victory of 56 percent.
In the City of Miami, District 4 Commissioner Suarez was the front-runner in a four-candidate race that included Williams Armbrister, Christian Canache, and Cynthia Mason Jaquith. The position has been held by Tomas Regalado for the past eight years. Suarez is an attorney and son of former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez.
Three candidates are running to replace Suarez in the District 4 commission seat: Manolo Reyes, Ralph Rosado and Denise Galvez Turros.
Reyes won the seat with 56 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting.
The race to replace District 3 Commissioner Frank Carollo is a bit more crowded, with seven candidates. Among them is Joe Carollo, Frank's brother; Regalado's son, also named Tomas; and Zoraida Barreiro, wife of Miami-Dade Commissioner Bruno Barreiro. The four other candidates are Alex Dominguez, Alfonso Leon, Miguel Soliman and Jose Suarez.
There will be a runoff between Carollo and Leon.
The biggest issue facing Miami voters was whether to authorize the $400 million general obligation bonds, which would use a city property tax to pay for a number of projects including reducing the city's flooding risk and improving the stormwater infrastructure; improving affordable housing, economic development, parks, cultural facilities, streets and infrastructure; and enhancing public safety.
Miami Beach
RESULT: Dan Gelber is mayor-elect, winning with 82 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting.
"NO" won with 64 percent to reject changing alcoholic beverage sales times on Ocean Drive with all precincts reporting.
Mark Samuelian defeated Rafael A. Velasquez with a 67 percent vote to 32 percent vote, respectively, for Group 2 commissioner.
Michael Gongora defeated Adrian Gonzalez with a 64 percent vote to 35 percent vote, respectively, for Group 3 commissioner.
“Miami Beach is the only home I've ever known. So I'm honored that my hometown has trusted me with this office. I intend to work every day to earn that trust and keep our City a special place," Gelber said in a statement. "To all those who helped in this journey - who knocked on close to 20,000 doors and made 19,000 phone calls -- I am grateful. I congratulate my fellow candidates, Mark Samuelian and Michael Gongora on their victories tonight and look forward to getting to work with the entire Commission next week."
On Miami Beach, four candidates were running to replace Mayor Philip Levine who announced that he's running for Florida governor next year. Gelber, a former State Representative and State Senator, was the favorite in the race which included Kenneth Bereski, Daniel Kahn and June Savage.
Local
The Group 2 commission race pit Samuelian against the embattled Velasquez, who has been surrounded by controversy after he was accused of exposing himself to a Miami Beach commissioner.
The major proposal that was on the ballot for Miami Beach residents was whether to end alcohol sales on a 10-block stretch of Ocean Drive at 2 a.m. instead of 5 a.m. The measure wouldn't have applied to establishments that are completely indoors and located in hotels.
Hialeah
RESULT: Carlos Hernandez is mayor-elect, winning with 78 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting.
Hernandez ran for re-election against Tania Garcia and Juan Santana.
Carl Zogby won Hialeah's councilmember Group 5 seat and Katharine Cue Fuente won Hialeah's councilmember Group 7 seat.
Homestead
RESULT: Stephen Shelley is vice-mayor elect with 59 percent of the votes with all precincts reporting.
Jenifer Bailey won councilmember seat 4 with 58 percent of the vote and Elvis Maldonado won councilmember seat 5 with 60 percent of the vote.
