The field of candidates vying for three open Village of Key Biscayne Council seats is set, with two incumbents, another with an incumbent tie, a former political figure, and a newcomer will be running for the right to represent Village readers leading up to the Nov. 3 election.<\/p>\n
Fernando Vazquez and Vice Mayor Oscar Sardi\u00f1as<\/a>, who have spent the past four years serving in their first terms up on the dais, were among the five who officially qualified and beat Thursday’s noon deadline.<\/p>\n Claire London, whose husband, Ed, is termed out after serving the past eight years on Council, also will be running for a seat.<\/p>\n In addition, Luis “Lucho” de la Cruz,<\/a> who served on Council from 2014-2018, has decided to run again and will be joined by political newcomer Silvia Tarafa, a longtime educator and school administrator on the island.<\/p>\n The three victorious candidates will be working with new incoming Mayor Brett Moss<\/a>, who ran unopposed.<\/p>\n Having already featured profiles on de la Cruz<\/a> and Sardi\u00f1as<\/a>, Islander News will publish profiles on London, Tarafa and Vazquez over the next two issues. As has been an Islander News tradition, our September 9 issue will include the “In My Own Words” candidate statements on why they are seeking the chance to represent Key Biscayners.<\/p>\n Then, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce<\/a> and Islander News will team up for the Village Council candidate debate, which will start at 6 p.m. at the Council Chambers. The debate will once again be moderated by Steven V. Moll<\/a>, associate professor and vice provost emeritus at FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism<\/a> Management.<\/p>\n As Election Day nears, follow Islander News to learn more about each local, state and national candidates, as well as the local referendum on resiliency projects<\/a> and the statewide property tax referendum<\/a> as Election Day counts down, including sample ballots in our October 7, 2026, issue and the early voting schedule.<\/p>\n