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Brett Moss, a former council member, speaks about spending for the Big Dig, Nov. 18. 2025 (KBI Photo\/Tony WInton)<\/p>\nIt may be a week too early to call him \u201cmayor-elect,\u201d but a remarkable political consensus quickly developed in support of\u00a0former Council Member Brett Moss as the island\u2019s next mayor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The support includes recent positive comments from the current mayor, Joe Rasco, and former mayors Mayra Pe\u00f1a Lindsay and Mike Davey.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Key Biscayne politics has sometimes been factionalized, but it reached its peak in 2022, when a campaign spending record was set for the mayor\u2019s race. Rasco defeated lobbyist Fausto Gomez in a contest that saw more than $140,000 spent including ads by \u201cdark money\u201d groups who pumped out a series of sometimes salacious attacks to the mailboxes of\u00a0 about 8,000 voters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Friday, when asked for a reaction to Moss\u2019s run, Gomez simply texted back: \u201cbest wishes\u201d to a candidate who had endorsed his rival.<\/p>\n
Why the consensus from so many?<\/p>\n
During his eight years on the Council, Moss often dove deep into the details \u2014 critics would say\u00a0micromanage \u2014 many various village projects such as the site that is now Paradise Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But after first supporting the Big Dig project, Moss became a vocal opponent when projected costs of the elaborate pipe-and-pump system started to balloon. For some, that independence from Village administration has become a unifying factor. Moss is also a political independent: he has no party affiliation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lindsay, who helped campaign for a citizen referendum aimed at placing limits on new stormwater projects in response to the Big Dig, was quick to support Moss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is thoughtful and diligent,\u201d she said. \u201cI am very glad he is running for mayor.\u201d She was joined by her predecessor, Mike Davey.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Rasco, who was championing the Big Dig until recently, had to listen when Moss would repeatedly step up to the public comment podium and challenge the Village\u2019s direction. <\/p>\n
But Saturday, Rasco said Moss was an \u201cexcellent choice\u201d to succeed him and was already looking ahead to yielding the mayor\u2019s gavel. \u201cI look forward to working closely with Brett to ensure a smooth transition,\u201d he said in a statement.\u00a0Rasco added that he hoped Moss would address the island\u2019s infrastructure and quality of life priorities <\/p>\n
Brett Moss, a former council member, speaks about spending for the Big Dig, Nov. 18. 2025 (KBI Photo\/Tony WInton)<\/p>\n
Outgoing Council Member Ed London, who often voted against Moss on budget matters, also said his former Council colleague would do well on the job. \u201cA great mayor,\u201d London said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
London had joined Moss in turning against the Big Dig project and ultimately succeeded in forcing a major change in favor of a less-expensive shallow injection well approach. The Council\u2019s about-face may mean residents won\u2019t be able to tap state and federal grants<\/a> and low-interest loans arranged for the Big Dig concept, however.<\/p>\n Allison McCormick, who also sat on the Council dais with Moss, added her support.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m very excited for Brett, but mostly I\u2019m excited for the Village of Key Biscayne.\u201d (McCormick is a board member of Miami Fourth Estate, the nonprofit that publishes the Independent.)<\/p>\n Others supporting Moss included Council Member Nancy Stoner, who said Moss \u201cwill forge ahead where Joe [Rasco] left off,\u201d adding that Moss is \u201ca critical thinker who loves our community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The broad support amongst sometime-rivals seemed to signal that anyone challenging Moss would face long odds.\u00a0<\/p>\n The mayoral filing deadline is Friday. If no one else files before then, Moss will become mayor-elect and take office in November. It is an unpaid position.<\/p>\n
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