Reyes vs. Cordero-Stutz: Miami-Dade will elect County Sheriff for the first time in 6 decades

This Nov. 5, voters will elect the first Miami-Dade County Sheriff in almost 60 years. The upcoming race will be between two Latinos, Cuban born Democrat James Reyes and Dominican born Republican Rosie Cordero-Stutz.

Reyes is backed by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony, the Police Benevolent Association and many local mayors and commissioners, while Cordero-Stutz has the support of U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez, former President Donald Trump, 27 current and two former Florida sheriffs, the Fraternal Order of Police and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Reyes is the current chief of public safety for Miami-Dade Police and spent 22 of his 25 years of law enforcement experience at the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

Cordero-Stutz has worked in the Miami-Dade Police for 28 years. She started as a patrol officer, working on robberies and homicides, and rose through the ranks as sergeant, lieutenant, and major to now become deputy chief.

During an interview with NBC6's Jackie Nespral, Cordero-Stutz explained that her priorities include putting more officers on the street, expanding the department's corruption unit and developing officer response to mental illness calls, while also caring for the mental well-being of the officers.

“We have suffered a lot as a department over the last few years and I believe that by supporting my officers with mental well-being, they can better serve our county,” she said.

Meanwhile, Reyes leaned more toward public safety, an assessment of the department's needs and community outreach.

“I want to have a sheriff's office that people feel reflected in when they see our organization. Not only do they need to feel like they see themselves, but they also need to see their values ​​and their priorities in the sheriff's office,” Reyes told Nespral. “It's about participation, it's about outreach, and it's about engaging our community with who we are, as an organization that's here to protect them.”

Both earned their nominations in a crowded primary in which 13 other candidates participated.

Miami-Dade County has had an appointed police director since 1966, but in 2018 Florida voters restored the elected sheriff position after passing Amendment 10.