The new City of Miami commissioner represents a critical swing vote on a five-member board that has become increasingly polarized in recent weeks.
The Miami City Commission is back to full strength and on the cusp of some major policy decisions this month following the Tuesday election of former North Bay Village manager Ralph Rosado as the city’s new District 4 commissioner.
Rosado easily defeated his sole opponent Jose Regalado, the son of former Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, in the race to replace Commissioner Manolo Reyes, who died in office in April.
Rosado captured 55% of the vote in a low-turnout election. Only 11% of eligible voters bothered to cast a ballot in the special election on June 3.
“Thank you to the late Commissioner Manolo Reyes for his tireless dedication to the residents of District 4,” Rosado wrote on social media once his victory was secure. “I know that I have big shoes to fill and we will keep his legacy alive.”
Rosado, an urban planning consultant who lives in Coral Gate, represents a critical swing vote on the five-member commission, where several reform measures have stalled for lack of a fifth commissioner.
Coconut Grove’s District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo is looking for a third vote to move his proposal for lifetime term limits forward at next week’s commission meeting.
If approved by voters, the proposal would block elected officials in the City of Miami from serving more than two full or partial terms as a commissioner, or as mayor.
The limit would apply retroactively and it would be a “lifetime” ban, which would prevent a politician from leaving office, sitting out an election cycle, and then returning to office.
The measure could effectively banish Miami District 3 Commissioner Joe Carollo from city politics, and block his brother Frank Carollo from taking office as his replacement. Both Carollos have served multiple terms in office.
Joe Carollo spent heavily to help Rosado win the election, leading to questions about how Rosado might align himself once elected. Rosado raised $79,534 for his campaign, lagging well behind Regalado, who raised $190,870.
“I hope to be a voice of reason,” Rosado told CBS News 4 on election night. “I have deep respect for each of the members of the dais and I’m looking forward to working with them – and there are no sides to take.”
Rosado did not respond to an interview request from the Spotlight. He is expected to take the oath of office in time to join the June 12 commission meeting next week, when commissioners will vote on another reform measure pushed by Pardo.
Pardo is seeking to move the city’s November 2025 election – when voters will choose a new mayor and elect a commissioner to replace Carollo – to November 2026, to improve voter turnout by aligning city elections with state and federal elections.
Pardo says the shift is needed for another reason as well – to protect his lifetime term limit proposal from a legal challenge. The move is controversial, however, in part because it would allow Carollo, a divisive figure, to remain in office for another year.
Regarding his own agenda as a new commissioner, Rosado previously told the Spotlight he plans to monitor heavy development in residential communities, mitigate the housing crisis and reform the city’s permitting process, specifically for tree removal.
He celebrated his win at a watch party on Tuesday night at El Atlacatl restaurant, where he was joined by both Pardo and Carollo.
