The race for Miami-Dade sheriff will be decided on Election Day

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida. — Miami-Dade County’s first sheriff’s election in more than six decades featured two candidates.

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Voters were asked to choose between candidates Rosie Cordero-Stutz, the Miami-Dade Police Department’s deputy director of investigative services and a Republican, and James Reyes, a Democrat who serves as the county’s public safety director.

Cordero-Stutz began her career with MDPD nearly 30 years ago as a police officer, working her way up from patrol officer to her current rank and being involved in everything from robberies to murder cases.

Last month, she told Local 10 News that she felt her experience made her an excellent candidate for the job.

“It’s not just about being able to read a book and understand the ABCs of police work,” she said. “It’s about 28 years of being familiar with and responding to the needs of our community and transferring that to the sheriff’s office.”

Cordero-Stutz received support from the Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, as well as 27 current Florida sheriffs.

Reyes was hired to lead corrections in Miami-Dade County after more than 20 years with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, where he led the administrative division and, before that, the detention division.

He was appointed to his current position as Public Safety Director by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and received the support of Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony, the Police Benevolent Association and former Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez .

“I’m the only candidate with leadership experience in a sheriff’s office, so I’m ready to move into a sheriff’s office from day one,” Reyes told Local 10 News last month.

Reyes said if elected, his priorities would include improving interagency communications, investing in crime-fighting technology, building public trust and increasing transparency.

VIEW ALL RESULTS: South Florida general election results for November 5, 2024