Ryan Nicol
Former Miami-Dade County mayoral candidate Monique Nicole Barley is endorsing Esteban “Steve” Bovo after Barley failed to advance to a top-two runoff in the contest last week.
Bovo and fellow Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava secured the top two spots in the Aug. 18 Primary Election. On Thursday, Democratic Reps. Donna Shalala and Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced they were backing Levine Cava’s bid.
Barley placed fifth in the seven-person field, courting just 5% of the vote last Tuesday. Barley, an entrepreneur, said she was “walking away from the Democratic Party” to endorse Bovo.
Adding to her critique of Democrats, Barley said of her campaign, “They didn’t help me and [I] did my best with no money. For the most part they didn’t believe in me.”
The Miami-Dade County mayoral race is a nonpartisan race, though Democrats and Republicans clearly signaled their preferences ahead of the Aug. 18 contest.
“I think that Steve Bovo has the right ideas to take Miami-Dade County forward,” Barley said in a Thursday statement announcing her endorsement.
“He has shown leadership, effectiveness, and a willingness to serve. Together we stand for a better quality of life for the residents of our county.”
Added Bovo, “I’m honored by the endorsement today of Monique Barley. It was a pleasure participating with Ms. Barley in numerous debates and forums, and getting to know her genuine commitment for our community. We share a common goal in wanting our county to provide a better quality of life for all its residents.”
Levine Cava had already secured support from Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Now, Shalala and Wasserman Schultz are adding their names to the list of Democrats endorsing Levine Cava.
“With the pain of a once-in-a-generation pandemic and economic downturn weighing heavily on our community, Miami-Dade is in need of a compassionate, empathetic leader; one with a steadfast commitment to bringing our community together and helping us heal,” Wasserman Schultz said.
“That leader is Daniella Levine Cava, and the choice could not be more clear. Daniella’s record proves that she is the only candidate in this race who can engineer a recovery that works for everybody, and I could not be more proud to endorse her historic candidacy for Miami-Dade County Mayor.”
Levine Cava would be the first woman Mayor in the county’s history if successful in November.
“Daniella Levine Cava has been a force for good in our community for many years, and I am proud to support her campaign to bring that legacy of service to the Miami-Dade County Mayor’s office,” Shalala added.
“She is a resourceful, balanced, and deliberate leader who will put our County on the right path, and she is by far the right choice — at the right moment — to lead our community forward.”
Bovo and Levine Cava will face off in the Nov. 3. General Election. Nearly $12 million has already been spent in the contest.
“These powerful women have inspired me through their service and dedication, and I am honored to receive their endorsements,” Levine Cava said Thursday.
One comment
Rene
August 31, 2020 at 12:48 am
Bovo is just another same ole , same ole Miami CAREER politician .
Part of the self serving junta which makes me think the older Cuban members of my family who are used to this banana republic will lock step vote for him.
I will simply be voting against him and hope plenty do the same .
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