Tomás Regalado, the longtime city commissioner whose campaign platform centered on putting a stop to what he has called wasteful spending on large public projects, won a sweeping victory in Miami’s mayoral race yesterday. He had attacked Mayor Manny Diaz, who was not up for reelection, on development initiatives like downtown highrises and a new baseball stadium in Little Havana, many of which were backed by his opponent, Joe Sanchez. Residents bought into Regalado’s promise to shift the focus from “inefficient projects tailored to fill the pockets of the affluent,” granting him nearly 72 percent of their votes Tuesday. [Miami Herald]

Miami commissioners voted to discard the comprehensive zoning revamp
that would have transformed future development and been a keystone of
Mayor Manny Diaz’s political legacy. Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez
cast the deciding vote, citing a series of amendments he feared would
open Miami to litigation. He and Commissioner Tomás Regalado are seen
as the leading contenders for the outgoing Diaz’s seat. The plan was
intended to cultivate localized, pedestrian neighborhood development in
the city. [more]