The City of Miami District 2 commissioner race is less than a month away, and Eddy Leal (R) appears to be a change of pace compared to other candidates in the special election.
In February of 2023, Sabina Covo (D) was elected to fill the vacant commissioner seat. Commissioner Covo made history as the second-only Latina woman elected to the commission. This is crucial, especially in a place like South Florida, where the cultural hegemony is largely Hispanic
Covo was elected to finish Russell’s term and now faces re-election. The district encompasses Coconut Grove, Brickell, some areas of Downtown, Edgewater, and Morningside. All the candidates faced difficulty in getting started as the final district maps were only approved by the courts in early September.
Leal is an attorney and has experience working with the City of Miami. Leal has been endorsed by One Grove, which backed the candidate in the special election and had this to say about Leal being the next commissioner, "One Grove—a collective of community-involved civic leaders and activists—is working to educate the residents about the candidates for the upcoming special election for District 2 city commissioner on February 27. One Grove previously organized the community response to Miami’s redistricting."
"Eddy Leal brings intellectual depth and substance. A bachelor’s degree in Economics (magna cum laude) and a Law Degree from Duke University validate that he has the mental tools and stamina to address complexity and organize creative solutions," added the group of Leal.
Leal participated in the debates against the other candidates where a stark contrast was created between himself and the rest of the field. Consensus showed that Leal demonstrated an intimate understanding of the issues concerning voters in a way that resonated with the general population.
The race also features Damian Pardo (D). If he is elected, Pardo, 59, would be the first openly gay commissioner in the city's history. However, the candidate has been accused of being involved with shady deals, earning him the moniker, "Pay-To-Play Pardo."
