COMMISSIONER - GROUP 1

Name: Ava Frankel

Campaign Website: https://www.avalovesmiamibeach.com

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@ava.loves.miami.beach

Tell us about yourself and why you are running for office. 

The honest answer? My motives are completely selfish. I love Miami Beach, and I’m tired of seeing it treated like an afterthought. I’m tired of flooding every time it rains because our drainage systems don’t work. I’m tired of sewage bursting into our ocean and bay. I’m tired of empty storefronts while Miami Beach piles on bad rules that make it harder for small businesses to thrive. 

So yes, I’m running because I want a functional city with soul. But here’s the secret: what’s selfish for me is also what’s best for others who call Miami Beach home.

Tell us what Biscayne Bay means to you and to the City of Miami Beach. 

Biscayne Bay is everything. It’s where I’ve watched manatees, interacted with dolphins, and learned to wakeboard. It’s our playground, our pride, and honestly, a big part of our identity.

But here’s the reality: the last time I was wakesurfing, there was literal fecal matter floating right next to me. And I had no idea. Because not only does our city allow pollution to keep pouring into our waters, it doesn’t even bother to adequately notify residents when it’s unsafe to swim.

That’s unacceptable. Biscayne Bay should be the jewel of Miami Beach, not a dumping ground.

There are many issues that impact the health of Biscayne Bay. What do you think are the biggest ones, and how do you plan to address them?

Pollution is the biggest threat, hands down. Right now, I wouldn’t exactly want to scuba dive in Biscayne Bay...I’d be scared of what I’d find. Between sewage spills, stormwater runoff, and weak infrastructure, we’re letting our greatest natural treasure turn toxic. My plan is to push real investment into drainage and sewer upgrades, hold polluters accountable, and make sure residents are actually notified when it isn’t safe to swim.

Because let’s be honest, nobody moves to Miami Beach hoping Biscayne Bay will turn into the Hudson River.

Florida is booming, with thousands moving here every month. How do we balance growth and associated development while protecting our natural resources in both the near term and long term?

Most people hear “growth” and immediately think: build more, build bigger. But if we’re being realistic, supply already exists. The problem isn’t lack of space, it’s lack of vision.

Instead of tearing everything down or starting from scratch, we need to focus on enhancing what we already have (& rebuilding what's actually broken...our drainage system). Miami Beach has incredible bones. There’s so much potential in revitalizing existing buildings, improving infrastructure, and making our city more resilient and efficient.

In my eyes, growth means smarter use of what we’ve got, so that we accommodate new residents without straining our resources. Miami Beach doesn’t need to be bigger, it needs to be better.

Stormwater is a major carrier of pollutants from our streets into Biscayne Bay, including plastics and nutrients from organic material such as leaves and grass clippings. What actions will you champion to ensure that the water flowing from our streets is clean enough to enter the Bay?

Stormwater drainage is the system that motivates me most to run for office. I actually received a $96,000 scholarship to study systems engineering. And what is drainage, if not a system? Right now, ours is broken.

My plan is to modernize Miami Beach’s stormwater system so it actually works: upgrading outdated drains, creating specialized overflow tanks, installing better filtration, and implementing smarter maintenance schedules to stop pollutants before they ever reach the bay.

To me, this isn’t just policy, it’s personal. I see it as our city’s most urgent system to fix. Because if our drainage fails, everything else we love about Miami Beach, our businesses, our health, our quality of life, fails with it.

How do we keep plastics out of Biscayne Bay?

Honestly, it starts with culture. Right now, the city sets the tone, and too often, that tone says, “We’re okay with pollution.” If our leadership looks the other way, why would residents or visitors act any differently?

If we treated Miami Beach like the pristine, world-class city it’s supposed to be (clean streets, clean stormwater systems, real enforcement) that example would trickle down. People would rise to meet the standard.

It’s not just about banning straws. It’s about setting a culture where pollution isn’t normal, it’s unacceptable.

When we talk about environmental stewardship, we are really talking about making our residents feel like this is their neighborhood and community. How do we engage the public and make them part of the solution?

For me, engagement isn’t theoretical, it’s what I’ve been doing every single day since I started running. I post daily on TikTok, I reply to every comment, I join the Facebook group conversations, and I spend as much time as I can talking directly to people on the street.

That’s the standard I want to set: that everyone has a voice, and those voices deserve to be heard. Miami Beach doesn’t need leadership that talks at residents. It needs leadership that talks with them. And that’s exactly how I’ll continue to approach environmental stewardship: by making sure residents aren’t just part of the conversation, but part of the solution.

Name: Brian Ehrlich

Campaign Website: https://www.brianehrlichformiamibeach.com/issues-important-to-brian-erlich 

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMWOXlgywjs/

Tell us about yourself and why you are running for office. 

I've been a proud resident of Miami Beach for over 20 years. I’ve built a life and business here, and I’m running for City Commission to make sure Miami Beach works for the people of this city, not developers or special interest groups with deep pockets. I’m committed to fostering a city that’s affordable, culturally vibrant, and where growth benefits the community, instead of straining our infrastructure or harming our natural landscapes.

I’ve spent the last two decades transforming complex ideas into real results through my leadership on multiple city boards and career in real estate and finance. I’ve led large-scale projects in South Florida, growing relationships with philanthropic investors and major institutions. I understand how developers think and operate. I know the tricks of the trade, and I’ll use that knowledge to protect both our community and the natural environment we all depend on.

Tell us what Biscayne Bay means to you and to the City of Miami Beach. 

Biscayne Bay is the heart of Miami Beach. It’s where I’ve kayaked with friends, gone boating with family, and found peace when life gets busy. It’s not just a personal sanctuary, but a vital lifeline that sustains our city through its freshwater aquifer and supports thousands of visitors each year.

If we lose Biscayne Bay, we lose a piece of who we are. As an economic driver and cultural staple of Miami Beach, it deserves to be fiercely protected. As commissioner, I commit to supporting policies that enhance Biscayne Bay’s resilience and ensure its health for future generations. Miami Beach residents deserve a healthy and thriving Biscayne Bay that continues to serve as our city’s heart and one of its most precious natural assets.

There are many issues that impact the health of Biscayne Bay. What do you think are the biggest ones, and how do you plan to address them?

In my view, the greatest threats to Biscayne Bay’s health are water quality degradation and habitat loss, driven by polluted stormwater runoff and antiquated infrastructure. Decades of development have overwhelmed our stormwater systems, creating an unhealthy mixture of fertilizers, waste, and pollutants that have triggered massive algae blooms disruptive to marine life. Our aging septic systems compound this crisis by leaking waste into groundwater that feeds into the Bay.

My approach centers on three coordinated strategies:

First, I will champion comprehensive infrastructure modernization by updating our stormwater systems with bioswales, and permeable surfaces, upgrading our septic systems and requiring new developments to meet environmental standards.

Second, since Biscayne Bay’s watershed spans multiple jurisdictions, I will strengthen partnerships with the county and state agencies to coordinate restoration efforts, strengthen regulatory enforcement and create economic incentives for private property owners to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

Third, I will launch widespread community engagement initiatives, including public education campaigns, volunteer monitoring programs, and education campaigns to show residents how individual actions directly impact Bay health.

Florida is booming, with thousands moving here every month. How do we balance growth and associated development while protecting our natural resources in both the near term and long term?

Miami Beach will always attract new people. That’s part of what makes it special. But growth can’t come at Biscayne Bay’s expense. I’ve worked in the real estate industry for most of my career and know exactly how developers cut corners. As commissioner, I’ll make sure development is done right. That means holding projects to high environmental standards from day one, tying approvals to real impact studies, and requiring mitigation measures like green space and habitat restoration. It also means updating developer impact fees so they help fund the resiliency projects our city desperately needs.

We should also incentivize developers to adopt environmental best practice and standards by fast-tracking projects that exceed the standard. During the initial proposal review, environment impact assessments should be a tool for approval with the assessment of social and environmental effects on par with economic effects.

In the long run, these practices reduce long-term costs and create more resilient infrastructure that can withstand a changing climate. When we make sustainability part of the bottom line, everyone wins: the Bay stays healthy, our infrastructure lasts longer, and Miami Beach remains a world-class destination.

Stormwater is a major carrier of pollutants from our streets into Biscayne Bay, including plastics and nutrients from organic material such as leaves and grass clippings. What actions will you champion to ensure that the water flowing from our streets is clean enough to enter the Bay?

Clean water starts on our streets. Too much of our Bay pollution comes from things like grass clippings, fertilizer, and plastics. I’ll push for better education and enforcement, especially in industries like landscaping and events where these problems start. We already have strong bans on fertilizers and plastics. Now we need real compliance.

I’ll champion projects that modernize our aging stormwater systems with the latest technology, like filtration, monitoring, and smarter drainage, to keep pollution out of Biscayne Bay. That means working hand in hand with the county and local universities to identify problem areas, align our efforts, and secure the funding needed to get it done. Cleaner stormwater means a healthier Biscayne Bay.

How do we keep plastics out of Biscayne Bay?

We have to cut off plastics before they reach Biscayne Bay. That means continuing to enforce our ban on single-use plastic straws and stirrers, rewarding local businesses that go plastic-free, and making sure every city vendor uses compostable alternatives. As we’ve seen with many environmental issues, collective participation from residents and visitors is vital. It all starts with widespread public education that informs and empowers people to act with intention to protect the Bay. I also want to expand debris filters, increase street cleaning in high-traffic areas, and highlight local businesses leading by example. The more we make sustainability part of Miami Beach’s culture, the less plastic ends up in our Bay.

When we talk about environmental stewardship, we are really talking about making our residents feel like this is their neighborhood and community. How do we engage the public and make them part of the solution?

Biscayne Bay belongs to all of us, and protecting it has to feel like part of daily life in Miami Beach. People are more likely to change their behavior when they understand what’s at stake and feel ownership of the solution.

That starts with education and outreach. Partnering with trusted organizations, schools, and community groups to launch multilingual, multimedia campaigns will ensure every resident and visitor knows how their actions impact Biscayne Bay. I’d like to see something modeled after “Leave No Trace,” where simple, clear principles become second nature to everyone. We should also use Miami Beach’s hundreds of events as platforms for stewardship. Whether it’s a festival, a race, or an art show, every event should reinforce pollution and waste reduction.

Change happens when small, consistent actions become culture, and my job as commissioner will be to make that culture of stewardship part of who we are as a city.

Name:  Omar Jimenez

Campaign Website:  www.omarjimenezmb.vote

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/omarjimenezmb

Tell us about yourself and why you are running for office. 

My name is Omar Jimenez, a longtime Miami Beach resident, small-business owner at Bella Cuba Restaurant, and founder of the Park View Island Sustainable Association. I’m running for Miami Beach City Commission, Group 1 because the health of Biscayne Bay is inseparable from our quality of life, our local economy, and our city’s future—and I’ve spent years proving that grassroots leadership can deliver real results.

Through Operation Clean Water and hands-on neighborhood organizing, I partnered with the City and Commissioners office to bring University of Miami studies, to pinpoint and publicize major bacteria hotspots—most notably near Biscayne Beach Elementary—helping prompt sewer relining and infrastructure fixes. Our Park View work has earned extensive media coverage, including the article “Miami Beach’s Dirty Little Secret: The Park View Island Canal,” produced with a team of FIU journalism students (one of whom later won the prestigious Hearst Investigative Journalism Award), and a dedicated segment on Channel 10’s “Don’t Trash Our Treasure.” To date, my efforts through the Association have secured over $8 million in direct community benefits to improve water quality in the Park View Canal and, by extension, Biscayne Bay.

In 2024, I was invited to present at the Biscayne Bay Marine Health Summit, delivering “Grassroots Advocacy: How a Neighborhood Association Is Paving a More Sustainable Future for Its Community.” Beyond policy and advocacy, I lead with action: for four consecutive years I’ve hosted Miami-Dade International Coastal Cleanup Day for North Beach. Since 2020, our volunteers have removed over 12,000 pounds of trash through 100+ cleanups I organized (and many more I joined citywide), while providing local students 2,500+ hours of certified community service. In 2024, we received The Ocean Conservancy’s “Most Engaged” award for our ICC contribution.

I’m running to bring this same mix of urgency, accountability, and science-based solutions to City Hall—so Miami Beach can protect Biscayne Bay, strengthen our economy, and become a model for coastal resilience

My four main platform priorities as a candidate are

1) Environmental Action - sewer and storm water upgrades

2) economic development - bring back small business, and attract new industries to sustain and expand our city’s economy beyond tourism/hospitality and property taxes, make miami beach a creative hub, innovative Green and Blue infrastructure niche HQ.

3) Responsible Development

4) Transit, Mobility and Micromobility

Tell us what Biscayne Bay means to you and to the City of Miami Beach. 

For me, Biscayne Bay is the heart and soul of Miami Beach. It is more than just a body of water — it is the reason our city exists, the foundation of our economy, and the natural treasure that connects our daily lives to the environment around us. Without Pristine Beaches and clean recreational waterways that have made our city a world famous brand, Miami Beach might as-well be Miami Shores!

On a personal level, the Bay represents my inspiration and calling to public service. Standing on the shores of the Park View Canal, I witnessed firsthand how pollution, neglect, and infrastructure failures can harm not just water quality but also our community’s health, property values, and future generations. This is what moved me to launch Operation Clean Water and dedicate myself to protecting and restoring Biscayne Bay.

For the City of Miami Beach, Biscayne Bay is our economic engine and our lifeline. From tourism and recreation to property values and storm resilience, every part of our prosperity depends on a healthy Bay. When the Bay thrives, our city thrives. But when the Bay struggles — as we have seen with fish kills, seagrass die-offs, and high bacteria levels — it puts our residents, businesses, and reputation at risk.

Biscayne Bay also carries deep cultural and generational meaning. It’s where families fish, children learn to kayak, and communities gather for events like coastal cleanups and educational programs. It embodies both our history and our responsibility.

To me, protecting Biscayne Bay means protecting the very identity of Miami Beach. It is our duty to treat it not as a backdrop, but as a living ecosystem that demands care, investment, and urgent action.

There are many issues that impact the health of Biscayne Bay. What do you think are the biggest ones, and how do you plan to address them?

The greatest threats to Biscayne Bay are failing infrastructure, unchecked pollution, and a lack of coordinated accountability.

1. Aging and failing infrastructure.

Sewer line breaks, leaking laterals, and stormwater systems that cannot handle heavy rainfall are directly introducing bacteria and nutrients into our waterways. Through my work with the Park View Island Sustainable Association, I’ve already demonstrated how identifying hotspots and demanding action leads to results — including the sewer relining now underway near Biscayne Beach Elementary. As Commissioner, I will push for a comprehensive citywide infrastructure audit, prioritized investments in water-quality projects, and stronger coordination with Miami-Dade County, our neighbors in NBV and important organizations like BBMHC to accelerate overdue upgrades.

2. Pollution from stormwater runoff and fertilizers.

Every storm washes litter, oils, chemicals, and excess nutrients into the Bay. This fuels algae blooms, kills seagrass, and disrupts the food chain. I will champion green infrastructure solutions by working with my partners. I will also work to strengthen fertilizer restrictions and increase enforcement, especially during rainy season months when runoff is most damaging.

3. Lack of accountability and transparency.

Too often, data on pollution is siloed or ignored until crises emerge. I believe residents have a right to know what’s in their water. I will advocate for real-time water quality monitoring and public dashboards, so residents, businesses, and policymakers can see problems as they develop and respond quickly.

4. Trash and plastic pollution.

Over the past four years as host of the International Coastal Cleanup in North Beach, I’ve helped organize over 100 cleanups that removed 12,000+ pounds of trash from our community. But cleanup alone is not enough. I will advance policies that reduce single-use plastics, incentivize businesses to transition to sustainable alternatives, and expand city support for community cleanup programs that engage students and volunteers.

At its core, my plan is about combining science-based policy with grassroots action. Biscayne Bay’s health impacts everything — our property values, our economy, our resilience, and our quality of life. By tackling infrastructure, runoff, transparency, and waste head-on, we can give the Bay the urgent care it needs to recover and thrive.

Florida is booming, with thousands moving here every month. How do we balance growth and associated development while protecting our natural resources in both the near term and long term?

Balancing growth with environmental protection is one of the most urgent challenges facing Florida and Miami Beach. We cannot stop growth, but we can shape it so that it strengthens, rather than undermines, our natural resources.

Near-Term Strategies:

In the immediate future, we must enforce smarter development standards that reflect the realities of living on a barrier island. That means holding new projects to stricter requirements for stormwater management, energy efficiency, and coastal resilience. Miami Beach can lead by example — adopting green building codes, requiring permeable surfaces, and ensuring all large developments include on-site water retention systems that reduce runoff into Biscayne Bay. I will also advocate for no net loss of seagrass and mangroves, ensuring developers offset any impact with measurable restoration efforts.

Long-Term Strategies:

Over the long term, Miami Beach must position itself as a leader in the green + blue economy. That means fostering industries and jobs rooted in sustainability, restoration, and resilience — from clean energy and water technology to oyster reef habitats, marine science partnerships, and eco-tourism. By expanding into this economy, we not only diversify our tax base but also align our growth with the restoration of Biscayne Bay and the protection of our coast. It also means investing in climate-ready infrastructure — from elevated roadways and pump stations to sewer upgrades that can handle a growing population without polluting our waters.

Balancing Principles:

The guiding principle is simple: development should pay its fair share to protect the resources it depends on. If we allow growth to overwhelm our Bay, we risk losing the very qualities that make Miami Beach desirable in the first place. Protecting Biscayne Bay is not just an environmental priority — it is an economic development strategy that ensures property values, tourism, and quality of life remain strong for decades to come.

As Commissioner, I will work to ensure every new investment in Miami Beach moves us toward a future where growth and environmental protection are not in conflict, but in partnership.

Stormwater is a major carrier of pollutants from our streets into Biscayne Bay, including plastics and nutrients from organic material such as leaves and grass clippings. What actions will you champion to ensure that the water flowing from our streets is clean enough to enter the Bay?

Stormwater is one of the greatest and most visible pathways of pollution into Biscayne Bay. Every time it rains, litter, plastics, oils, fertilizers, and organic material are washed directly from our streets into storm drains that discharge into our canals and the Bay. Addressing this issue requires a combination of infrastructure upgrades, innovative technology, and community engagement.

1. Modernizing Stormwater Infrastructure

I will champion the expansion of green infrastructure across Miami Beach — including permeable pavement, bioswales, rain gardens, and living shorelines — to naturally filter stormwater before it enters our waterways. Beyond that, we must embrace innovative technology: smart stormwater systems that monitor water quality in real time, floating treatment wetlands that absorb nutrients, and emerging tools like oyster reef habitats that use natural filtration to improve water clarity. Miami Beach should be a testing ground for the best new technologies in stormwater management.

2. Reducing Nutrient Pollution

Grass clippings, leaves, and fertilizer runoff are fueling algae blooms that kill seagrass and suffocate marine life. I will push for stricter enforcement of fertilizer restrictions during rainy season and expand citywide education campaigns so landscapers, residents, and HOAs understand how small actions — like bagging clippings instead of blowing them into drains — directly protect Biscayne Bay.

3. Transparency and Monitoring

To ensure progress, I will advocate for real-time monitoring stations on major outfalls, with data made publicly available through a community dashboard. Residents should be able to see exactly what is entering the Bay and hold the city accountable for improvements.

4. Community Cleanups and Education

For the past four years, I’ve led International Coastal Cleanup Day in North Beach, organizing over 100 cleanups and participated in many others, removing more thousands of pounds of trash. This kind of direct action must be scaled up and supported by the city. I will propose a program that partners with schools, businesses, and civic groups to adopt storm drains and canals — creating shared ownership of clean water.

By combining infrastructure investment, innovative technology, stronger regulations, and citizen engagement, we can finally make sure that water flowing from our streets into Biscayne Bay is not part of the problem, but part of the solution.

How do we keep plastics out of Biscayne Bay?

Keeping plastics out of Biscayne Bay requires both prevention and removal. We must stop plastics from entering our waterways in the first place while also cleaning up what is already there.

1. Prevention Through Policy and Business Practices

I will champion stronger citywide restrictions on single-use plastics, including plastic bags, straws, and Styrofoam containers — items that consistently show up in every cleanup. At the same time, we must work with local businesses to transition to sustainable alternatives, providing incentives and technical support so compliance is realistic and fair.

2. Innovative Technology and Infrastructure

We can no longer rely on cleanup efforts alone. Miami Beach should invest in innovative technologies such as floating trash barriers in canals, AI-assisted pump systems that separate debris from stormwater, and natural solutions like oyster reef habitats that help filter microplastics. Piloting these technologies in high-pollution zones, such as the Park View Canal, will create models we can scale citywide.

3. Community Action and Education

I have been deeply involved in mobilizing residents and students for coastal cleanups and environmental education. These efforts not only remove plastics from our beaches, parks, and canals but also build long-term awareness about the consequences of plastic pollution. As Commissioner, I will expand this work by creating a “Plastic-Free Schools & Neighborhoods” program that empowers young people and local associations to lead the fight against plastic waste.

4. Accountability and Transparency

Finally, we must hold polluters accountable. I will push for real-time monitoring of storm drains and canals so we know where plastics are entering the Bay and can enforce against repeat offenders. Public dashboards and annual “State of the Bay” reports will ensure transparency and community oversight.

By combining policy, innovation, education, and accountability, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution. Biscayne Bay should never be a dumping ground — it should be a clean, thriving ecosystem that reflects the pride we have in our community.

When we talk about environmental stewardship, we are really talking about making our residents feel like this is their neighborhood and community. How do we engage the public and make them part of the solution?

Environmental stewardship is not just about policies; it’s about people feeling ownership of their community and its natural resources. The best way to protect Biscayne Bay is to make every resident feel that they are part of the solution.

Hands-On Engagement

When people see and touch the problem, they become invested in fixing it. That’s why I’ve spent the past several years organizing coastal cleanups, oyster habitat projects, and educational events. By giving residents, families, and students a chance to take part directly — whether it’s pulling plastics out of a canal, planting mangroves, or monitoring water quality — they leave with a sense of pride and responsibility.

Education and Youth Involvement

Our young people are the most powerful force for cultural change. I have already provided students with thousands of hours of certified community service through environmental cleanups, and I’ve seen how those experiences build lifelong environmental values. As Commissioner, I will create a “Bay Stewardship Corps” program, partnering with schools and universities to give students leadership roles in cleanups, citizen science projects, and advocacy campaigns.

Transparency and Communication

Residents need to see the connection between their actions and the health of Biscayne Bay. I will champion real-time water quality dashboards, neighborhood-level reporting, and community forums so people can track progress and understand how their participation makes a measurable difference.

Partnerships and Recognition

People stay engaged when their efforts are recognized and supported. I will expand partnerships with neighborhood associations, faith communities, businesses, and nonprofits, while also creating a system of recognition awards for groups and individuals making exceptional contributions to Bay stewardship.

In my experience, when residents feel ownership — when they see their cleanup bag filled, their street drain adopted, their children earning service hours — stewardship becomes contagious. My vision is a Miami Beach where environmental protection isn’t something government does to the community, but something we do together, as a community.

COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES - GROUP 3

Name: Luidgi Mary

Campaign Website:www.Vote4Luidgi.com

Tell us about yourself and why you are running for office. 

I am a longtime resident of Miami Beach who has served on local Committees and worked closely with neighbors to make our community stronger. I am running for office because I believe Miami Beach needs leadership that is transparent, accountable, and focused on protecting our quality of life. My campaign slogan and platform is #CommunityUnity. My campaign is about giving residents a stronger voice, standing up to special interests, and ensuring that the city makes decisions that serve the public first.

Tell us what Biscayne Bay means to you and to the City of Miami Beach. 

Biscayne Bay is the natural heart of our community. It is part of what makes living here so special. The Bay gives us beauty, recreation, and a direct link to Florida’s environment and economy. But it is also fragile, and must be protected. The health of Biscayne Bay directly reflects the choices we make about development, infrastructure, and sustainability. Protecting the Bay means protecting our future.

There are many issues that impact the health of Biscayne Bay. What do you think are the biggest ones, and how do you plan to address them?

The Bay suffers from stormwater runoff, nutrient pollution, failing infrastructure, and unchecked development pressures. These problems are human-made, which means they are solvable. I support stronger stormwater management, enforcement against illegal dumping, and upgrading infrastructure to stop leaks and overflows. I will also advocate for policies that require new projects to pay their fair share for environmental protections rather than leaving residents to cover the cost.

Florida is booming, with thousands moving here every month. How do we balance growth and associated development while protecting our natural resources in both the near term and long term?

Growth must pay for growth. That means requiring impact fees, strengthening environmental review, and making sure developers address the real costs of their projects, including infrastructure upgrades and resiliency measures. We cannot afford to subsidize development that puts pressure on our natural resources and leaves taxpayers to clean up the mess. In the long term, we need to prioritize policies that reward sustainable building practices and protect sensitive areas like the Bay.

Stormwater is a major carrier of pollutants from our streets into Biscayne Bay, including plastics and nutrients from organic material such as leaves and grass clippings. What actions will you champion to ensure that the water flowing from our streets is clean enough to enter the Bay?

We need better filtration systems, more green infrastructure such as bioswales and permeable surfaces, and stricter rules on what enters our storm drains. I will also push for consistent maintenance of our stormwater systems and accountability for contractors who fail to meet environmental standards. By combining engineering solutions with enforcement, we can make sure that water leaving our streets is much cleaner before it reaches the Bay.

How do we keep plastics out of Biscayne Bay?

Education and enforcement go hand in hand. Residents and businesses need to know the impact of single-use plastics, and the city must create incentives and rules to reduce them. I support exploring local ordinances that cut down on plastic use at city facilities and events, as well as partnerships with local organizations for cleanups and education campaigns. Stronger litter enforcement will also help reduce the flow of plastics into the Bay.

When we talk about environmental stewardship, we are really talking about making our residents feel like this is their neighborhood and community. How do we engage the public and make them part of the solution?

People protect what they feel connected to. I would like to see more volunteer cleanups, citizen science programs, and youth education around the Bay. I also believe in creating transparent channels for residents to track water quality and city actions in real time. When residents feel informed and empowered, they will not only hold leadership accountable but also take pride in being part of the solution.

Name: Alex Fernandez

Campaign Website:  http://alexformiamibeach.com/

Tell us about yourself and why you are running for office. 

The public has encouraged me to run for reelection and I am deeply grateful for the trust they have placed in me. Over the past four years, I have worked to preserve Miami Beach’s character, enhance safety, and protect quality of life by always leading with integrity, accessibility, and respect for the public. I am proud to have served free of scandal or ethics complaints, to have earned a 95% rating on the 2024 Miami Beach United Commissioner Scorecard, and to have been named a 2025 Home Rule Hero by the Florida League of Cities for defending our community against harmful state preemptions.

Residents are most concerned about affordability, overdevelopment, traffic, and resiliency. I’ve led on tenant protections, relocation assistance, and first-in-Florida condo bulk-buyer reforms to stop predatory displacement. I’ve fought irresponsible overdevelopment and sponsored a charter amendment to protect public.

On resiliency, I authored the “Stop the Pause” ordinance to prevent costly political delays in flood-prevention projects. I also passed legislation banning smoking on our beaches and prohibiting plastic and metallized decorations at our public marinas, marine facilities, parks, and beaches. These measures reflect my belief that clean waterways and a healthy Biscayne Bay are essential to our city’s future.

That’s why I launched Operation Clean Water, an initiative focused on restoring water quality in the Park View Canal—the most polluted waterway in Miami Beach, where contamination levels far exceeded safe standards. Our efforts combine above-ground action, such as alleyway cleanups, pressure washing, enhanced code enforcement, and homeless outreach, with underground infrastructure improvements. I secured funding to reline sewer pipes throughout North Beach and personally worked with Miami-Dade Public Schools to clean and reline thousands of linear feet of pipes at Biscayne Beach Elementary, even though the property falls outside city jurisdiction.

The City Commission has since approved my Operation Clean Water proposals to advance:

• An independent, third-party review of Pump Station 23 and the connected force main to determine whether a leak is contributing to contamination.

• Weekly water-quality testing instead of monthly.

• Nanobubble technology, a first for Miami-Dade County, to oxygenate our canals and combat bacteria, algae, and low water clarity.

I’m running for reelection to see through critical resiliency and infrastructure projects already underway — including West Avenue Phase II, which features the city’s largest stormwater pump station and major water and sewer upgrades, the First Street neighborhood improvement project in South of Fifth, now at 90% design, and North Shore D, which is entering design. The full renovation of Sanitary Sewer Pump Station 28, the lifeline for North Beach and surrounding communities, is another critical project which breaks ground soon.

As Chair of the City’s Land Use and Sustainability Committee, I helped move the West Avenue Phase II and First Street Neighborhood Improvement Projects forward after years of delay. Both projects were sent to committee for vetting and improvement while they were still stalled, and I’m proud that the versions that emerged from committee were unanimously adopted by the City Commission, ending years of delay.

Projects like these are why I sponsored the Stop the Pause ordinance — to ensure essential infrastructure and water-quality projects cannot be derailed by short-term politics. Raising the voting threshold for halting such projects safeguards our long-term resiliency, public safety, and accountability to residents.

At its heart, my campaign is about protecting what makes Miami Beach special — our people, our neighborhoods, and our environment. I’m committed to keeping our city livable, affordable, and resilient for generations to come.

Tell us what Biscayne Bay means to you and to the City of Miami Beach. 

Biscayne Bay is personal to me as my home is right on the Biscayne Waterway I am literally one house in from the Bay, so it is my backyard. But it is also our Central Park — a beautiful, living landmark that fuels our tourism-based economy, and it’s what has attracted many of residents to living here.

Protecting Biscayne Bay means protecting our way of life. That’s why I’ve made clean water and resilient infrastructure top priorities — from launching Operation Clean Water to reduce canal contamination, to strengthening stormwater systems and limiting plastic pollution at our marinas, beaches, and parks, and having collaborated with leaders like Dave Doebler on sponsoring a completely plastic-free pouring rights agreement with PepsiCo for the water and soda.

Biscayne Bay is our treasure that we must protect, especially here in Miami Beach, where so many of our residents live right on it.

There are many issues that impact the health of Biscayne Bay. What do you think are the biggest ones, and how do you plan to address them?

From my Miami Beach perspective, the biggest threats to Biscayne Bay’s health are aging sewage infrastructure and stormwater runoff carrying pollutants into our waterways. These issues combine to create poor water quality, seagrass loss, and fish kills that threaten both our environment and our economy.

As I’ve previously mentioned, this is why I launched Operation Clean Water, secured funding to reline aging sewer pipes across North Beach and collaborated with Miami-Dade Public Schools to clean and reline their underground infrastructure at Biscayne Beach Elementary, and why I’ve passed legislation to ban smoking and plastic pollution at our marinas, parks, and beaches. Protecting the Bay starts with preventing what enters it.

Moving forward, as member of the Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board representing the Miami-Dade County League of Cities, I’ll continue supporting regional coordination between cities and the County for issues like replacement of outdated sewage and septic systems, expand clean-water technology, and strengthen enforcement against environmental negligence.

Florida is booming, with thousands moving here every month. How do we balance growth and associated development while protecting our natural resources in both the near term and long term?

One of the biggest challenges we face today is the lack of enforcement on our Bay. As more people move here, we’re seeing more boats, more illegal jet ski rentals, more floating food trucks, more speeding watercraft in protected areas, more pollution, and more stress on an already fragile ecosystem. These impacts aren’t coming only from those who live directly on the Bay — they’re also coming from across the region, including inland communities whose residents enjoy Biscayne Bay but also contribute to its stress and deterioration.

To truly balance growth with environmental protection, we must link development with accountability. As our region becomes denser through infill development, new projects should contribute their fair share through an impact fee dedicated specifically to Biscayne Bay. Growth should help fund the infrastructure, enforcement, and public safety resources needed to sustain the very environment that makes our region desirable.

In the near term, stronger enforcement on the water and coordination between local and county agencies is critical. Long term, every development decision must consider its cumulative impact on Biscayne Bay’s health — and how it can help support the many unfunded needs essential to restoring and protecting the Bay for future generations.

Stormwater is a major carrier of pollutants from our streets into Biscayne Bay, including plastics and nutrients from organic material such as leaves and grass clippings. What actions will you champion to ensure that the water flowing from our streets is clean enough to enter the Bay?

Building on the work I’ve already championed, I want to see Miami Beach focus on simple, effective solutions that make a big difference — starting with filter baskets at storm drains.

These baskets capture litter, leaves, and vegetation before they enter the stormwater system, helping prevent nutrient buildup and plastic pollution from reaching Biscayne Bay. Cities like Miami, South Miami, and Aventura have been using them successfully since 2019, and it’s time we do the same. It’s low-hanging fruit with a meaningful environmental return.

I’ll continue to champion common-sense measures like more frequent street sweeping and catch-basin cleaning, as well as stronger plastic-reduction enforcement. Cleaner streets is one of the simplest ways we can protect Biscayne Bay right now.

How do we keep plastics out of Biscayne Bay?

Policy, education, and enforcement.

Education is key and it needs to begin early. We should be teaching the value of a plastic-free lifestyle not only in our schools but even to expecting parents, empowering families to raise children with habits that respect our environment from birth. Instilling those values early helps create a generation that views sustainability as a way of life.

At the same time, we must strengthen local and regional policies that limit single-use plastics and hold both individuals and corporations accountable for pollution. And enforcement must be consistent — because good laws without follow-through are just words on paper. Government can also play a role by purchasing non-plastic products in bulk for restaurants and concessions to help reduce costs, while prohibiting traditional plastics and smoking at our public sidewalk cafés.

Protecting Biscayne Bay from plastic pollution will take a cultural shift as much as a legislative one.

When we talk about environmental stewardship, we are really talking about making our residents feel like this is their neighborhood and community. How do we engage the public and make them part of the solution?

We engage residents by giving them ownership of the solution. That means clear communication, visible results, and opportunities to take part. Everyone has a role to play. Not everyone may be out at a beach or Bay cleanup but everyone does have a passion and we need to find ways for those passions to connect to caring for our environment, whether through their profession, hobbies, or daily choices. When people see their actions making a difference, pride turns into participation, and participation becomes community care. The key is reaching people where they are at.

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Name: Kristin Gonzalez

Campaign Website:www.krgformiamibeach.com

Tell us about yourself and why you are running for office. 

I am a two-term Miami Beach Commissioners running for office to represent equally and fairly every resident of Miami Beach. My primary focus, apart from keeping us clean and safe, will be finishing capital projects, revitalizing commercial corridors, and prioritizing water quality issues.

Tell us what Biscayne Bay means to you and to the City of Miami Beach. 

I grew up splashing in the water, so to see the elevated bacteria levels and unswimmable water alerts pain me. Biscayne Bay is the heartbeat of Miami, and that is why I sponsored UM studies and a partnership with Surfrider to increase testing.

There are many issues that impact the health of Biscayne Bay. What do you think are the biggest ones, and how do you plan to address them?

Poop in the water. Sponsoring studies and then dredging when needed, lining and replacing pipes, injection wells, and holding Miami Dade County accountable for the Federal mandate to fix the sewage pipes leaking and spewing bacteria into our water.

Florida is booming, with thousands moving here every month. How do we balance growth and associated development while protecting our natural resources in both the near term and long term?

Make developers update infrastructure as they build and control development on our barrier island.

Stormwater is a major carrier of pollutants from our streets into Biscayne Bay, including plastics and nutrients from organic material such as leaves and grass clippings. What actions will you champion to ensure that the water flowing from our streets is clean enough to enter the Bay?

Recently it was fluorescent lights on outfalls to control bacteria. But I believe in constant testing, injection wells, and storm water grates.

How do we keep plastics out of Biscayne Bay?

Passing ordinances banning single use plastics, like I have always voted for as a Commissioner.

When we talk about environmental stewardship, we are really talking about making our residents feel like this is their neighborhood and community. How do we engage the public and make them part of the solution?

Clean water and a healthy Biscayne Bay is paramount for our economy and lifestyle here in South Florida. It must be prioritized at the highest levels.