A Cuban was elected as the Democratic candidate for sheriff of Miami-Dade on Tuesday in the Florida primaries.
He is James Reyes, 46 years old, born in Cuba, son of a political prisoner, and whose family emigrated to the United States in the late 70s.
He is currently the Chief of Public Safety for Miami-Dade County, where he oversees several "critical" departments, such as the Police, Fire Department, and Prisons.
He grew up in Miami but developed his police career over 25 years at the Broward County Sheriff's Office. He has a degree in Criminology and a master's in Criminal Justice. He is married and has three children.
For him, Miami-Dade is the place that gave him and his family freedom and the opportunity in the American dream "after we fled the dangers of communism and made a new home in Hialeah."
In an interview with Diario las Américas, he recounted that he began his career as a cadet at the Broward Police Academy working in prisons. He went through all the ranks: sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel.
"I managed to become the first Hispanic, in an organization that has been in existence for over 100 years, to reach the rank of lieutenant colonel and colonel," he emphasized.
In Tuesday's primaries, supported by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Reyes was chosen as his party's candidate by easily surpassing three opponents after obtaining 46% of the votes.
"When we went out to the community, the support was overwhelming. I really fed off that energy for eight long months," he said after learning of the victory, as quoted by Local 10.
According to the proclamation on her campaign website, "Chief James Reyes's story begins with a journey in search of freedom, escaping the clutches of communism in Cuba to find a new home in Hialeah, Florida. His family's pursuit of the American dream laid the foundation for his deep commitment to duty, service, and community. Those values drive his dedication to public safety and neighborhood security."
In the general elections in November, the Cuban-American will face the Republican candidate Rosie Cordero-Stutz, who on Tuesday surpassed 10 rivals from her party.
"The things that helped me win today will help me win in November. The experience of being number one is what helped me," he stated.
For the first time in over 60 years, voters in Miami-Dade elected candidates for the position of sheriff.
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