Ryan Nicol
Roberto Martell has become the fifth Miami-Dade County mayor to back Manny Diaz in his bid for Senate District 36.
“There is no question that Manny Diaz is fully prepared to be an outstanding senator,” said Medley Mayor Martell. “His time in the Florida House has been characterized by forward thinking, hard work, and attention to constituent needs. He has been a strong partner for the Town of Medley, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.”
Diaz has represented House District 103 since 2012. He’s now looking to serve SD 36, which covers parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties. If successful, he’ll replace outgoing Sen. Rene Garcia, who is term-limited.
Aiding Diaz in that pursuit is the growing support of Miami-Dade mayors. Last week, Diaz added endorsements from Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez and Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid. Diaz has also previously been endorsed by Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez and Hialeah Gardens Mayor Yioset De La Cruz.
Diaz can now count the Medley mayor among his supporters. Mayor Martell was elected back in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. He’s the founder of Martell Construction and also started the Town of Medley Chamber of Commerce in 2010.
“Mayor Martell is an outstanding leader,” said Diaz. “It’s been a privilege to work with him on behalf of the citizens of Medley, and I’m honored by his endorsement. I look forward to continuing to partner with him and all the local leaders in Miami-Dade County.”
Diaz is the favorite to take the SD 36 seat. He’s the only Republican registered to run and has pulled in impressive fundraising totals, crossing the $500,000 mark in his most recent filing. Muhammad Amin, the only Democrat who has filed to run, has not yet declared any fundraising information with the Florida Division of Elections.
