On second thought … never mind.
One week after announcing her candidacy for the Miami-Dade County Commission, Miami Gardens Council Member Linda Julien has opted to stay put.
Julien announced she will not seek the District 1 seat being vacated by Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, who filed to run for Congress. Her exit leaves Miami-Dade School Board Member Steve Gallon as the only candidate in the District 1 race with one week remaining before the June 12 qualifying deadline.
“After much prayer, reflection, and conversations with residents, community leaders, and those who have supported my journey, I have decided to remain on the Miami Gardens City Council and not seek a seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission,” Julien said Friday.
“Miami Gardens is not a stepping stone for me; it is my home. It is where I have chosen to serve, and it is where I believe I can make the greatest impact right now.”
Julien announced her Commission bid last Friday, the same day Gilbert announced his resignation from the Commission and U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, whom Gilbert hopes to succeed, said she was retiring from Congress.
At the time, Julien framed her entry as a natural next step in her political career. She has served on the Miami Gardens City Council since 2020 and previously sat on Miami-Dade’s Affordable Housing Board.
District 1 on the Miami-Dade County Commission covers northern Miami-Dade including Miami Gardens.
Because County Commission races are nonpartisan, all candidates appear on the Aug. 18 Primary ballot. A candidate must clear 50% to win outright; otherwise, the top two vote-getters advance to a Nov. 3 runoff.
The winner of this year’s District 1 race will complete the last two years of what was to be Gilbert’s final term on the 13-member County Commission.