Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo is pushing to appoint a former council member to fill the vacant seat left by Jesus Tundidor, who resigned to run against him for mayor in November.
Calvo, who campaigned as an anti-establishment candidate, is backing Luis González, a former council member who served under mayors Julio Robaina and Carlos Hernandez. González previously ran against Tundidor in 2019 and lost, making this a full-circle moment as he now stands to take the seat once held by his former opponent. González first served on Hialeah’s council from 2005 to 2017.
Calvo previously told the Herald he was delaying the appointment for Tundidor’s seat until the outcome of Angelica Pacheco’s trial, the former council member indicted by the FBI for healthcare fraud. On Monday afternoon, she pleaded guilty to lying on pandemic loan forms, and now she is barred from holding public office.
Angelica Pacheco, former Hialeah council member, leaves federal court in downtown Miami on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, after pleading guilty to fraud related to a pandemic relief loan.
“With finality over her case, now we can move forward and focus on what matters most: serving the residents of Hialeah,” Calvo told the Herald while advocating for González’s appointment.
The City Council is set to appoint a new member at its Tuesday night meeting, with Calvo’s backing making González the clear frontrunner. The Herald spoke with four of the city’s six council members. Some voiced concerns about Calvo’s pick but stopped short of publicly criticizing or challenging the new mayor.
González, 55, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Florida International University.
“I’m inspired by Mayor Calvo and want to return to public service to stabilize the city’s finances and bring experience to a young council,” González said in a phone interview to the Herald. “I’m not looking to create more laws. My priority is how we administer the city financially. We’re talking about bankruptcy, fewer services and wasteful spending.”
During his prior tenure, González opposed Florida Power & Light rate increases and advocated for express lane changes on the Palmetto Expressway. He praised Calvo while noting prior administrations left issues unresolved, including potholes, pools in need of repair and challenges with the water system. He said he plans to push for tax reductions that benefit all residents, not just seniors, as Calvo campaigned on.
González pending return has drawn mixed reactions from residents, some of whom expected a clean start under Calvo, who ran as an anti-establishment candidate in opposition to former Mayor Esteban “Steve” Bovo.
Calvo said González’s experience makes him a strong choice for balancing a younger council.
“Having someone with experience creates balance,” Calvo said. While he cannot vote on the appointment, he emphasized that González is his preferred choice but is open to other applicants. He also noted that appointing a former council member could save the city from the roughly $500,000 cost of a special election.
That’s a change in position for the mayor. While Calvo served on the City Council, he pushed for special elections rather than appointments to fill vacant seats — first when Pacheco was suspended after her federal healthcare fraud indictment, and later when he was preparing to run for Tax Collector, a race he ultimately lost in the Republican primary to Dariel Fernandez.
Nine candidates have applied for the vacant seat. Six of them have previously run for office and lost, including González. The remaining three candidates have no prior political experience.
Candidates for the vacant seat include:
Juan Santana, 42: Longtime activist and former mayoral and council candidate. Finished third in the November City Council Group IV race. Campaigns on transparency, affordable housing, and lower trash and water costs.
Kassandra Montandon, 31: Runs financial literacy programs for students and holds a bachelor’s in psychology from FIU. Focuses on empowering her community through education.
Phillip Kennedy, 56: Retired Hialeah police lieutenant, currently with the Miccosukee Police Department.
Mariana Chavez, 21: Communications student at St. Thomas University and pro-life activist. Emphasizes infrastructure improvements, youth engagement and new perspectives.
Abdel Jimenez, 46: Attorney and former Miami Springs police officer. Focuses on streamlining permits, lowering water bills and bringing trash collection under city control.
Alejandra Cortina, 43: Known for voluntary work with nonprofits serving seniors and youth in Hialeah.
Brittney Soto, 36: Graduated with a Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of Florida. Highlights her public service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Raul Estrada, 21: Completing an associate degree in paralegal studies. Applied to promote accountability in local government, particularly public safety and city services.