Miami District 5 Commissioner Christine King, who cruised to re-election with a North-Korea-level 84% of the vote, was sworn in last week at City Hall surrounded by supporters, staff, church folks, youth groups, neighborhood leaders, and of course, the ever-present political padrino Keon Hardemon, whose fingerprints are still all over D5 like pastelito crumbs on a guayabera.
But there was someone missing — her father, who recently passed away. And when King talked about him, that’s when her voice cracked. Even Ladra’s cold little political heart moved a bit. (Just a bit.)
Her mother beamed with the kind of pride only a Caribbean mom can radiate — the kind that can warm a room and intimidate half the dais at the same time. You know who you are.
King, raised in Miami since the age of five, is the first Guyanese American ever elected to the Miami City Commission and the first woman to serve as chair. She talked about the “honor” of representing District 5 — and for once, it didn’t sound like boilerplate politician talk. Between the grief and the gratitude, she let the audience see the human behind the title. Rare for the 305, where over-polished speeches are practically an Olympic sport.
“This was a thank you campaign,” she said, thanking everyone for “allowing me the privilege and honor to serve. I do not take that responsibility lightly.”
Next to her mother, she broke into tears talking about her dad. “I lost my dad this year and that was really hard and it is still really hard. Which is why I’m tearing up now. Because he’s not here. But he is here.”
She said she lived “a fairy tale” life and thanked her family, her staff, her constituents and her mentors, including Billy Hardemon and former State Rep. Roy Hardemon, who died last week but was mentioned a few times.
“This life that I’ve been gifted by God is so full and my cup runneth over. I get to do things to improve the lives of families in District 5 and that’s what this job is about.
“Being able to work with commissioner Hardemon together to serve our community has been transformative for our community.”
Termed-out Mayor Francis Suarez was exuberant in his remarks.
“She is someone who has a tremendous fighting spirit,” Suarez said. “She has a fighter’s spirit, but she does it with a mother’s touch and with a soft hand. I remember when she was first elected and my chair had left our city, that I said I need someone who can keep the guys under control.
Read related: No runoffs in Miami as incumbents and Christine King score big election wins
“She said no at first. She literally told me no. She said, ‘No, I’m not ready. I just got here.’ I said, “No, no, no no, you are ready. You are made for this. Your personality is perfectly balanced to manage the people who are up here.”
Later, Commissioner Miguel Gabela said what everyone was thinking: “You’ve had a hard time working with us, you know, keeping us straight at times here. We’ve had a little bit of trouble on and off,” Gabela said. Ladra wonders if he means the time he got up and almost punched Joe Carollo.
Said Damian Pardo: “You do an amazing job of keeping the boys in line.”
During her words, King said “irrespective of what you all may hear, these are great guys. And I love them all… they are part of my fairy tale.”
Yeah, they’re all there: the big bad wolf, the tricky troll, the evil stepfather.
Suarez said King has a calming voice — which has been useful and has been useless at some meetings — and credited her with “making sure the agenda happens.” Suarez called her “a loyal friend… a loyal ally,” good, transparent, honest — and Ladra doesn’t know how those things can coexist.
Hardemon also had nothing but good things to say about his “number one partner” in the community, who he bonded with before either was elected. But he couldn’t help but take a few digs at the former county commissioner without naming her (Audrey Edmonson).
“To see these four years pass by so quickly, it’s like a blink of an eye,” he said, talking about the prrogress she’s made working with the county and the state. “I’m proud of the progress that you made. You made women in this town look good. I hope my daughters grow up to be somebody just like you, who can do something and say I can do it as a lady and look good doing it.”
Um, what? Cringe.
Read related: Miami-Dade Commissioners silence voters, appoint District 5 replacement
Even newly-appointed Miami-Dade Commissioner Vicki Lopez, less than 24 hours after her own swearing in, had some words of encouragement and support, calling King her sister and her “partner in crime.” Whoops. Hopefully, Lopez doesn’t mean the bribery charge she was slapped with when she was a Lee County commissioner in the 1990s.
“The thing that impressed me the most about her is that she led with her heart. She has cared deeply not only about her district but about the entire city,” Lopez said, adding that she had worked with King as a state rep on some projects and issues. “Some in her district and some not in her district. She never wavered in her commitment to the city.”
Still, this is Miami, and nobody gets a coronation without a bit of context.
There was never really a contest in D5. Marion Brown, a construction executive, and Frederick Bryant, a retired teacher and community activist really wasted their time running against her.
King — who previously served as Chief of Constituent Services for Miami-Dade County and later as president and CEO of the MLK Economic Development Corporation — has been the hand-picked successor to Hardemon, who went on to the Miami-Dade Commission, since before the commission slapped him in the face and appointed Commissioner Jeffrey “Who” Watson, who sorta promised, but not really, not to run for real and then got stomped in 2021 when Christine took 65% of the vote.
The chairwoman has some first-term wins: affordable-housing action, rental assistance, millions secured for Overtown, youth and workforce investments, homelessness programs, climate initiatives, beautification projects, and her signature “Constituent Tuesdays,” where anyone can show up and bend her ear without an appointment.
She promised more of the same in Term Two — more affordable housing, more youth programs, more senior support, more mental health access, more homelessness strategies, more resilience projects, and more neighborhood partnerships. All good things. All needed. All ambitious in the little four-year window Miami politicians get before redistricting, chaos, or FBI raids disrupt everything.
Read related: Rolando Escalona picks up two anti-Carollo endorsements in Miami D3 race
The only person beaming harder than King and her mom was Hardemon — the man who helped launch King into office back in 2021. The political godfather. The one person whose nod means more in District 5 than most outside it realize.
This wasn’t just a swearing-in; it was a reaffirmation of the District 5 political lineage. A continuation. A passing of the torch that never actually left the family.
But to King’s credit, she has grown into the role on her own terms. And on Thursday, as she promised to keep fighting for residents being pushed out of the neighborhoods they helped build, it felt… genuine. Emotional, yes. But, also, earned.
District 5 has seen its share of political turnover, drama, and reinvention. But for the next four years, it looks like Christine King isn’t going anywhere.

You can help get more independent, watchdog government reporting of our local government and political campaigns to our community with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.

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Their vote to change election year is illegal, he says
What is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waiting for?
Last week, DeSantis said that he could suspend the Miami city commissioners who voted to move the election from odd years to even, effectively cancelling this November’s mayoral and commission races, and giving themselves an extra year in office. This, even though State Attorney General James Uthmeier had warned they could not do that without first going to voters.
Three commissioners voted last month to move the elections to coincide with midterm and national cycles to (1) save at least $200,000 a year and (2) increase turnout quite a bit. At least that’s what they say. The move gives Mayor Francis Suarez and Commissioner Joe Carollo, who were termed out this year, another 12 months in office. As if term limits were mere suggestions. It also gives Commissioner Christine King, who was up for re-election this year, another year before she has to campaign.
Carollo, who has threatened to run for mayor this year, voted against it. But even a broken clock is right twice a day. So did Commissioner Miguel Gabela. And these two rarely agree on anything.
Read related: Miami Commissioners pass election date change — and steal an extra year
King and commissioners Damian Pardo and Ralph Rosado voted for the change. They would be the ones eligible for suspension, if DeSantis makes good on his threat.
“The reality is local governments have to abide by Florida law,” the governor told CBS4 News Miami. “Could it come to the point where commissioners can get suspended? The law does provide me that as one of many recourses.”
Well, tick, tock, Ron.
Apparently, the “law and order” governor suddenly remembered the Florida Constitution exists after the public outrage reached DEFCON 3. Ladra can’t help but wonder what political pressure he’s getting. Because it’s not like he didn’t know this was coming. Back in April, the governor said he was “highly skeptical” of the proposal to change the election — which, in Tallahassee-speak, is what you say when you know it’s wrong but don’t want to get your boots dirty just yet.
Why didn’t he act then? Why wait until the ordinance passed? Hmmm. Could he have been waiting for the veto deadline to pass before so he could include Suarez in the suspensions? After all, by signing the legislation, Suarez has endorsed or, effectively, voted for it. And DeSantis is not a fan of Baby X. Not because they were both vying for the presidential nomination — Suarez was just posing — but because the Miami mayor once boasted he voted for Andrew Gillum.
But Suarez didn’t veto the ordinance. And his suspension sounds like a good idea — until you realize that could leave Joe Carollo, the vice chair of the commission, free to appoint all the replacements all by himself. Shudder.
So why has the state not taken any legal action? After all, it is another available recourse.
In fact, the only one who has sued so far is former City Manager Emilio Gonzalez, one of 10 announced mayoral candidates, who has asked the court to weigh in on the ordinance’s constitutionality. His lead attorney is none other than former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson — so, you know, not some guy with a fax machine. “The City of Miami Commissioners unconstitutionally bypassed the democratic will of the people in a way that the Florida Constitution, the Miami-Dade Charter, and the City’s Charter expressly prohibit,” Lawson wrote in the complaint.
Read related: First lawsuit filed to stop city of Miami from cancelling November election
Translation: This isn’t just shady and self-dealing, it’s illegal. And it’s especially offensive in a community like Miami, where many voters have been stripped of their ballot box power before. In the lawsuit, Lawson compares Miami to lawless governments in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. The city’s attorneys took issue with that in their motion to dismiss.
“As for inflammatory hyperbole and political rhetoric, the complaint references ‘regimes’ like ‘Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia, or Cuba’ to argue the City lacks a legal basis to move the date of elections by ordinance. What purpose does this serve? As far as the City can tell, none — except to distract from the weakness of plaintiff’s legal theories,” wrote Assistant City Attorney Eric Eves.
But even AG Uthmeier made the connection in a social media post: “Home to thousands of patriotic Cuban Americans who know better than most about regimes that cavalierly delay elections and prolong their terms in power, the City of Miami owes to its citizens what the law requires.”
Only in Miami, when politicos aren’t out screaming “comunista” at each other, they’re scrapping elections.
There’s a hearing on the Gonzalez lawsuit and the city’s motion to dismiss next week (July 16). Meanwhile, there are 10 mayoral candidates and eight commissioner wannabes in limbo. Should they be knocking on doors? Should they be binging on Netflix?
DeSantis can end all this nonsense with a flick of the wrist. Then Miami voters can have an election in November for the mayor and four commissioners.
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His grandchildren already call it “Abue’s Park.” Now, it’s official.
The Miami City Commission on Thursday renamed West End Park as Manolo Reyes Park to honor the popular and beloved District 4 commissioner — who his grandchildren called “Abue” for abuelo — who died earlier this month at the age of 80 after battling health issues.
They also gave Reyes — who had hoped to run for mayor — the honorary title of “mayor emeritus, posthumously, as a mark of deep respect and appreciation for his exceptional leadership, legacy and dedication to public service,” and voted to support a Florida Senate measure to co-designate 57th Avenue between 8th Street and Flagler as Manolo Reyes Boulevard.
The room, which was packed with department directors and city staff, erupted in applause.
Read related: Miami voters to fill Manolo Reyes’ District 4 seat with June special election
The late commissioner’s family joined the commissioners on the dais, and Manny Reyes, the namesake son, spoke on their behalf.
“We are overwhelmed with all the love that the city has poured out to us and to him,” Reyes said. “Dad was a very noble man. A man of service… He would probably be looking down and saying ‘I don’t deserve this. I was just doing what I knew was right to do.’”
Commission Chairwoman Christine King‘s voice broke as she said, “It’s an honor to do it.”

On the other side of her, Commissioner Joe Carollo kept his distance. He was the only member of the commission not greeted by Reyes’ widow or family. Probably because he’s been a bully to Reyes and then had his mayoral campaign kick-off on the same day the late commissioner was buried.
West End Park, now Manolo Reyes Park, is a 16.6 acre recreational space at 6030 Southwest 2nd Street in Flagami and the site of a $16.8 million renovation project the commissioner championed that started last year. The grand opening is expected within weeks and the park will feature:

A new swimming pool and pool building
A children’s splash pad with spray features
Artificial turf on multi-use sports field
A walking trail and outdoor exercise equipment
Two tennis courts
Two basketball courts
Two pickleball courts
A new paved plaza entry with service entrance
New landscaping and irrigation
A lightning warning system
Art in public places components

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While there is only one candidate declared to be running for Miami commission, in District 5, there are many potential and rumored hopefuls — and most of them, if not all, are known entities in the community.
Attorney Alfie Leon, who almost beat Joe Carollo in 2017 for the District 3 seat (came within 252 votes) — and then sued him on residency status because he had long lived in D2’s Coconut Grove — told Political Cortadito in October that he was “planning on running again” and would “make an announcement soon.” Tick, tock, Alfie.
Two other 2017 candidates who lost in District 4 are said to be eyeing a second chance, should Manolo Reyes actually run for mayor as he has threatened to do: Urban planner Ralph Rosado, who got 36% of the vote against Reyes, who won with 58%, and Denise Galvez Turros, a marketing boutique owner who works with the Little Havana businessmen that sued Carollo, who only got 7%. Rosado has served on the Friends of The Underline board of directors. Galvez has served on the city’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board.
Read related: Alfonso “Alfie” Leon could run again for Miami D3 commission seat next year
Both make good candidates but venture capitalist Rafael “Ralph” Cabrera, president-elect of the Latin Builders Association, is apparently the heir apparent with Reyes’ blessing. That is, if he runs for mayor, after all.
Las malas lenguas say that Brenda Betancourt is eyeing the District 3 seat. She is the president of the Little Havana Neighborhood Association, a frequent speaker at commission meetings — where she defends Carollo — and the wife of Miguel Soliman, who ran unsuccessfully against Carollo in both 2017 ad 2020. He got almost 6% of the vote in 2017, with 357 ballots cast in his favor, but did worse in 2021, with less than 5% of the vote and 266 votes.
The most interesting rumored candidate, so far, is Patrick Range, the grandson of Mary Athelie Range — a Bahamian American civil rights activist and the first black elected to the city commission in 1965 — who is reportedly looking at a run in District 5 against Chairwoman Christine King.
There is a park ad a stretch of Biscayne Boulevard named after Athalie Range, who was appointed by then Mayor Robert King High to replace a commissioner who resigned and went on to win re-election twice. In 1971, she was appointed Secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs by Gov. Reubin Askew. She became the first African-American since Reconstruction and the first woman ever to head a state agency in Florida. In other words, she is Black Miami royalty.
Prince Patrick Range is an attorney who once worked for former Miami Commissioner Johnny Winton and now helps run the family funeral home.

He was more recently chair of the Virginia Key Trust Board and has been upset with King — who called voters “mean and miserable” — since she led the dismantling of the volunteer group that dedicated their time and efforts to ensure the beach, park and site of a future museum of Black history in Miami would be protected, and replaced it basically with the city commission.
He discussed it with WPLG’s Glenna Milberg last year. “Nobody has yet to explain why it was necessary to remove the prior board and to do so within the swift nature that we were removed,” Range told her. “This is with little explanation and no plan in place for how they would move forward. That just seems very shortsighted to me.”
He said that Virginia Beach had been the target of several development plans throughout the years, including hotels, private beach pavilions and other amenities and he seems distrustful of the commission (folks say he’s smart), which has floated housing the homeless in a camp there and also swiped the license of a concessionaire last year without any notice.
Read related: Long list of potential 2025 Miami mayoral candidates starts to take form
“This is why the trust was created back in 200o, in order to prevent these things from happening,” he said in the Channel 10 interview.
Range should be a real challenge to King, who has been a disappointment to many of her own constituents and has given half a million dollars in city funds to the non-profit she used to work at before she was elected (and where she’ll likely work after she’s voted out). Marion Brown, the one candidate who has filed to run in D5, got just over 10% of the vote in August’s Miami-Dade District 3 race.
The Miami commission and mayoral election is in November. Qualifying is Sept. 5 through Sept. 20. So we can expect more candidates to come up.
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One lifeline: Mayor Francis Suarez could veto

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After she was elected, Miami Commissioner Christine King resigned from her longtime position as president and chief executive officer of the non-profit Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation, founded to advocate for and assist investments in Liberty City and surrounding areas.

But she is still very close to the organization. And giving back.

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