DORAL, Fla. – A historic race for sheriff is underway in Miami-Dade County, a position not voted on in the county since the 1960s.
Rosie Cordero-Stutz, the assistant director of investigative services at the Miami-Dade Police Department, is running against James Reyes, who serves as the department’s public safety director.
She began her career at MDPD as a police officer nearly 30 years ago, working her way up from a patrol officer to her current rank and working on everything from robbery cases to homicides.
She believes that experience makes her the superior candidate for Miami-Dade County sheriff.
“It’s not just about being able to read a book and understanding the ABC’s of policing,” she said. “It’s about having 28 years of being exposed to our community’s needs and how we respond to them and carrying that over into the office of the sheriff.”
Her priorities if elected sheriff include assuring a proper budget, putting more uniformed officers on the street, tackling corruption among elected leaders, fraudsters and HOAs, as well as restructuring and expanding Miami-Dade’s traffic unit.
“Now we do have traffic and motors, but I would like to reimagine that in a way that’s more substantial to address areas that are very high in traffic concerns,” said Cordero-Stutz.
She’s received endorsements, to include 27 current and two former Florida sheriffs, the Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and most famously, former President Donald Trump.
“It put Miami-Dade in the spotlight, but it also put the sheriff’s race in the spotlight, which was important to me,” Cordero-Stutz said.
Both candidates hold current positions at the Miami-Dade Police Department.
Reyes has held his position as public safety director for the past year, appointed by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Before that, he was hired to run Miami-Dade County Corrections following more than 20 years at the Broward Sheriff’s Office, where he led the department of administration and, before that, the department of detention.
“I am the only candidate with executive leadership experience in a sheriff’s office, so that makes me ready on day one to transition to an office of a sheriff,” said Reyes.
Among his priorities if elected sheriff are improving communication between agencies, investing in crime-fighting technology, building public trust and increasing transparency.
“Being transparent, taking quick, swift action is what our community expects from us as public servants and I’m committed to doing that,” he said.
Among those to endorse Reyes are Levine Cava, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony, the Police Benevolent Association, and many local mayors and commissioners.
Cordero-Stutz is a Republican and Reyes is a Democrat, but both candidates say those affiliations will have little to do with how they lead.
“We defend the rights of people even when we don’t agree with them,” said Cordero-Stutz.
“Public safety should not be partisan -- it’s not something that should have political influence,” added Reyes.