After decades of continuous public service on both sides of the government dais, Joe Sanchez wants to bring his experience and insights to Miami-Dade County Hall.<\/p>\n
He just filed to run for the newly vacant District 5 seat on the Miami-Dade Commission, which represents a southern portion of Miami Beach and parts of Miami, including Downtown, Little Havana and sections of Brickell.<\/p>\n
\u201cDistrict 5 is my home: I\u2019ve raised my children here, watched my mother grow old here, and seen this community grow,\u201d Sanchez said in a statement Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe our residents deserve to be represented by one of their own, a true neighbor who understands their needs. That\u2019s why I want to serve and help keep this district a strong, thriving home for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sanchez is running to replace Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who stepped down<\/a> Wednesday to run for Miami Mayor in compliance with Florida\u2019s resign-to-run law<\/a>.<\/p>\n He\u2019s calling for a Special Election.<\/p>\n \u201cNot just for my candidacy, but because it\u2019s the most democratic choice,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery voice in our community deserves to be heard, and it\u2019s worth every dollar to let the people, not the politicians, decide who represents us.\u201d<\/p>\n Sanchez is a figure well known to many longtime District 5 residents. He\u2019s lived in Miami-Dade for more than 55 years, 36 of which in law enforcement and community leadership positions.<\/p>\n He began his public service in 1987 by joining the Florida Highway Patrol, where he continues to serve today as Public Information Officer for South Florida. He also served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves and 11 years on the Miami City Commission, including as Chair.<\/p>\n In 1996, he was awarded\u00a0the Medal of Valor by the Miami-Dade Commission for his leadership in the\u00a0ValuJet search-and-recovery operation<\/a> to locate survivors of the plane crash\u00a0in the Everglades.<\/p>\n Last year, he ran unsuccessfully<\/a> for Miami-Dade Sheriff, placing second<\/a> in an 11-candidate Republican Primary behind the race\u2019s ultimate winner, Rosie Cordero-Stutz.<\/p>\n But notably, his campaign said, Sanchez earned most of the votes cast in the precincts that make up District 5, demonstrating his \u201cbroad local support and deep community roots.\u201d<\/p>\n