Miami-Dade public safety chief James Reyes Runs for Sheriff, Cava could Back him

With the recently-released Netflix mini-series “Griselda” bringing back memories of Miami’s “Cocaine Cowboy” era that plagued the county, where law enforcement appeared inadequate to deal with the drug cartels and gangs, this coming November voters in Florida’s largest county will vote in a new sheriff.

The last time Miami-Dade had an elected Sheriff was back in 1966, but after it was unearthed that corruption had permeated into the police department, voters decided to scrap the position.

There will be a "new Sheriff in town."

Fast-forward to 2018, and Miami-Dade voters helped a statewide effort to approve a state constitutional amendment that requires all of Florida’s 67 counties to elect a Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, and County Tax Collector by 2025.

County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has not endorsed in the race, but there is growing speculation that she will endorse former Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) Colonel James Reyes, a Democrat, as part of a slate to ensure that Democrats lockdown the Sheriff’s race, as well as the Clerk of the Courts and Tax Collector positions.

Reyes left his role as Executive Director of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Administration and Director of the BSO Department of Detention to head up the Miami-Dade’s Corrections and Rehabilitation department.

Now a little over a year after accepting the corrections job in Miami-Dade, Reyes is running for county Sheriff.

Reyes has been working very closely with Mayor Cava.

Reyes is now part of the growing list of candidates for the including former federal agent Susan Khoury, longtime PBA President John Rivera, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Sanchez,and  former Miami-Dade police Major Ignacio "Iggy" Alvarez

The 2024 Primary election will be held on Aug. 30. The General Election will take place November 5.