Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee to elect new party Chair on December 14th

MIAMI— The Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee will elect a new party Chair among four remaining candidates on Dec. 14, as announced recently by the Miami-Dade Democratic Party.

The candidates for Chair are:

• Venusmia Fernandez Lovely
• Ricky Junquera
• Laura Kelly
• Marco Reyes

According to the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, the Chair serves as the chief executive and presiding officer of the Miami-Dade Executive Committee, which includes overall decision-making on party matters.

Once elected, the new Chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party will hold the position for the next four years. Its leadership is currently held by Chairman Shevrin "Shev" Jones, who also represents Florida's Senate District 34.

Among their duties, the Chair will supervise staff hiring, oversee financial records, prepare a budget, and regulate expenditures. They also may appoint or remove the Parliamentarian, General Counsel, and committee members.

Fernandez Lovely, a Miami-raised advocate born in Brooklyn, NY, notes a career in "multicultural arts, social change, and civic engagement" in her bid. Her accomplishments include working for the Coconut Grove Children’s Theater, with initiatives in "Voices in the Wind" and Miami Carnival.

"As we reflect on election night, it's clear we need unity—a forward-looking path that tackles today's issues. The road ahead won't be easy, but we will fight back. First, we must understand how we got here," Fernandez Lovely said.

Junquera has been Senior Press Secretary for the Sierra Club for nine years. He also served as Senior Advisor for Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in her U.S. Senate race.

"Ricky is running for Chair of the Miami Dade Democratic Executive Committee to bring structure and reform. He has a vision towards a future where candidates and elected officials can depend on the body to cultivate, activate, and engage voters to turn out to elect Democrats up and down the ballot," Junquera said.

Kelly has been an immigration attorney with over a decade of experience in Miami-Dade County. She also served as the Chair of the South Florida Chapter of Immigration Lawyers Association and ran for State Representative for Florida House District 111.

"My experience as a first-time candidate and as someone who has led a large organization gives me a fresh perspective on how to make structural and systemic change to rebuild and overhaul the Miami Dade DEC," Kelley said.

Reyes is currently Press Secretary for the Miami-Dade Democratic Party. He previously ran for Florida House District 119 and is a Miami native.

"One key lesson I’ve learned is that we must reach out to and engage voters across every corner of Miami-Dade County. Without this, we won’t be able to elect another Democrat in our county. Too many Democrats feel unheard, disconnected, and unappreciated by the Party," Reyes said.