MIAMI — Ken Russell, a former Miami commissioner, is among the 13 candidates running for Miami mayor on Nov. 4.
Russell, 52, a father of three who lives in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood, served as commissioner for District 2 from 2015 to 2022.
Russell, who was born in Coral Gables and grew up in Key Biscayne, said the city can’t afford corruption at City Hall anymore, and he has testified about it in two cases.
“This is about systemic reform to our charter that starts moving out the dynasties that we all know. The many, many families that revolve into Miami and control the city, and welcoming in new blood,” Russell said. “And I am not talking about me. I am happy to be the transitional person.”
Russell said he wants to make sure the city is spending the $400 million Miami Forever bond on affordable housing and resiliency projects.
“The affordable housing money has become a bit of a piñata of cash grab for the different commissioners, rather than using it appropriately to leverage and actually produce real affordable housing and help people stay in their homes," Russell said. “The infrastructure money, for storm surge and king tides, and sea level rise, it has begun, but not quickly enough.”
Russell said the city received a study from Florida International University that provided a plan that needs to be implemented. He said he supports inclusionary zoning as a measure to incentivize developers to invest in affordable housing.
Russell, a businessman and the son of World Yo-Yo Champions, became interested in politics after learning that Merrie Christmas Park, near his then-home in Coconut Grove, had toxic soil.
Russell remained active as a member of the Old Smokey Steering Committee, a nonprofit organization dealing with the environmental legacy of an old trash incinerator in West Coconut Grove, which has a history of racial segregation.
Related link: Campaign page
Related document: Affidavit of candidate (.PDF)
OTHER MAYORAL CANDIDATES
The other candidates in the nonpartisan race are Alex Díaz de la Portilla, Alyssa Crocker, Christian E. Cevallos, Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins, Elijah John Bowdre, Emilio González, Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, June Savage, Kenneth DeSantis, Laura Anderson, Michael A. Hepburn, and Xavier L. Suarez.
Name recognition: In September, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is not related to Kenneth DeSantis, endorsed González, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and fellow Republican.
Suarez, who served as Miami mayor from 1985 to 1993 and from 1997 to 1998, is the father of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
Carollo, a former Metro Dade police officer, served as a city commissioner, a city vice mayor, and two terms as Miami mayor from 1996 to 1997 and from 1998 to 2001.
Legal trouble: De La Portilla is a former Miami commissioner who served from 2020 to 2023 when Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended him over a corruption case that prosecutors later dropped.
Carollo, who lives near Little Havana, has an arrest record. In 2001, police officers arrested him for domestic violence, and prosecutors dropped the case after he agreed to attend anger management classes.
Later in 2023, a federal jury in civil court sided with two businessmen who won $63.5 million in damages against Carollo for “weaponizing” city employees to violate their rights after they supported one of his political opponents.
INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC
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