Miami-Dade school board member Raquel Regalado says she is running for Miami-Dade County mayor.
The 40-year-old Regalado filed the paperwork on Monday. She’ll challenge incumbent Carlos Gimenez, who has held the office since 2011.
Regalado says Gimenez is out of touch with county voters.
“I think that a lot of the decisions that are being made at the county have more to do with who comes to visit the mayor, and what ideas they have; what lobbyists bring what proposals," she says.
Regalado says transportation and transit is her top issue. County road projects too often only focus on folks heading in one direction, she says.
“There are so many different projects in the area of transportation that are focused on north-south issues," she says. "Meanwhile, we’re not dealing with our east-west crisis, and that’s what I’m going to be focusing on.”
She expects her experience will be questioned, but says the schools are improving since she was elected in 2010.
Regalado brings a strong pedigree to the race: her father is City of Miami mayor Tomas Regalado.
Many presidential candidates have yet to announce, but Regalado says an early start will help her meet voters.
“I don’t want to be the candidate that someone sees on a commercial or on a video," she says. "I want to be the candidate that someone actually meets and talks to.”
Gimenez’ office did not respond to Regalado’s announcement.
The election is scheduled for next year.
