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Joe Sanchez and Tomas Regalado sprint to the finish in City of Miami mayoral contest
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At first glance, the choice of either Commissioner Tomas Regalado or Commissoner Joe Sanchez to succeed Manny Diaz as Mayor of Miami might appear to be a case of ‘second verse the same as the first’, as the song goes. Two hispanic City Commissioners with years of public service vie to take Miami into its’ next incarnation, without breaking the bank. As the mayor’s race barges into the home stretch, the Miami Herald recently reported that Mr. Regalado is leading Mr. Sanchez comfortably, in both of their districts, and with just two weeks to go.
The poll sampling is based on two of five Miami commission districts. If the 2001 presidential election between George Bush and Al Gore proved anything, it showed that electoral polling can be way off the mark. Who can forget when major television news networks declared victory for Gore at bedtime on election night, only to have to retract and correct the next morning and announce Bush had won after all?
So, two sitting city commissioners with a generation between them compete to succeed Mayor Manny Diaz during one of the most severe economic downturns since the Great Depression. Mr. Regalado’s supporters accuse Mr. Sanchez of being a “Money Diaz” clone who will continue on Diaz’ pro-growth and development trail; and Mr. Sanchez’s camp seeks traction in the race by portraying Mr. Regalado as part of the problem, and generationally out of touch. With the economic challenges before them, both men might want to consider seeing a shrink for wanting the job in the first place.
So, what’s a voter to do?
For the record, Mayor Diaz’ tenure has been one of stability and productivity without the glare of embarrassing novellas: Miami is no longer a laughing-stock; the ‘Bananna Republic’ that late-night television hosts had a blast with before Mr. Diaz’ stewardship. Prior to 2007---before banking and housing crashed---no one complained about the evident growth as cranes dotted the city skyline like Transformers inhabiting a distant planet. Manny Diaz didn’t make the construction and mortgage loans; he just had the misfortune of being in office when the financial tsunami hit.
Ironically, Mr. Regalado was one of Mayor Diaz’ first supporters and broke with him in the past couple years due to differences over the Marlins stadium financing issue. That brouhaha provided Mr. Regalado a platform to denounce spending millions to gain thousands of jobs; but more pointedly, also gave him an issue that places him squarely opposite of Mr. Sanchez’ support for the project. After all, how can two sitting commissioners run for the office of mayor, and still be on the same side, with no defining or dividing issues? James Carville and Alex Castellanos on CNN couldn’t have scripted it any better.
Mr. Regalado’s web site (www.tomasregalado.com), offers ample biographical highlights, but few specific initiatives he would champion other than the broad “keeping costs down”; “keeping the streets clean and the city safe”; and ensuring that the “great residents” of the city have a “better quality of life”. Mr. Regalado comes across as favoring a quieter, simpler time in Miami’s past, serving the constituents he’s sipped cafecitos with for decades while trying to protect them from the “uncompromising dream of a bustling metropolis”. As far as he is concerned, the city is trapped between the vise-like grip of developers and politicos, and is in danger of losing its’ soul.
Other than that, very little is known about what Mr. Regalado wants to accomplish as Mayor, other than protecting Miami Marine Stadium as a valued landmark, and rejecting the $53,000 mayoral salary increase because it can’t be justified in these tough times. Oh, and he voted against the stadium. (Did we mention he voted against the stadium?!) A journalist throughout his career, Mr. Regalado stays connected with the Viejas and viejos around town through his presence on local radio, and boasts a passionate and loyal following. Daily media exposure for his issues is a forum that Mr. Sanchez clearly lacks.
For his part, Mr. Sanchez makes a pledge to voters on his web site (www.joesanchez.com) that contains specifics, and not a hodge-podge of trite campaign generalizations. He promises fiscal responsibility; lean and mean expense control of city finances; the renegotiation of city and union contracts to bring salary and benefits more in line with these difficult times; continuing to help seniors and keep the city clean; and most importantly, “ensuring that creation of sustainable jobs and opportunities for all Miami residents remains a priority”.
Unquestionably, Mr. Regalado and Mr.Sanchez are good and decent men. They have served the community well, and despite the recent friction between Mr. Regalado and outgoing mayor Manny Diaz, no one has displayed conduct unbecoming the Magic City.
The ‘defining issue’ between the two men is their different votes on the Marlins stadium issue. Clearly Mr. Regalado felt the city was spending money it does not have or that could be better utilized for other things; and, Mr. Sanchez supported the stadium despite the cost, because it offers the quickest infusion of thousands of jobs in a city desperately in need of the revenue.
In the days ahead, the voting public will need to understand each candidate’s true platform, essentially looking past demonizing one or the other because of the stadium vote, and make a decision between the steady-as-she-goes-more-of-the-same-everything-old-is-new-again perspective of Mr. Regalado’s vision for the city, or, decide whether Mr. Sanchez’ energetic and specific plan of growth and action will be the impetus to keep the ‘magic’ in the Magic City.
Both men stand on the precipice of an astoundingly difficult economy; yet both are experienced public servants with the same dream: that Miami can continue to be a beacon of freedom and commerce for Latin America while maturing---finally---into one of America’s truly great cities.
May the best man win.
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