+ Why are you running for office and what qualities, training, experience and skills do you bring to this position?

I have decided to run for office, so that I can contribute to a team dedicated to advancing the town's progress through budgeting, crafting ordinances, and offering guidance to the town manager and staff, ensuring the delivery of the services our residents rightfully deserve.

As a school social worker in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for the last 29 years, I have dedicated my life to serving those students and families struggling the most in our community, especially the special needs community. Currently, I am the social worker at Miami Lakes Middle School and Barbara Goleman Senior High. I have volunteered extensively in PTSA’s, EESAC Committees, and am the president of the Barbara Goleman Magnet Booster Club. In the community, have been volunteering with Giving Gators by identifying and providing services for families who have financial difficulties. In the town, I was a founding member of the Town of Miami Lakes Mental Health Task Force as well as the chair of the town’s Education Advisory Board.

+ What are the 3 most important issues facing your community? For each concern, how do you propose to mitigate/improve/resolve the issue?

The three most important issues currently facing our community are aging infrastructure, blasting, and traffic management.

Infrastructure - Even though our town is relatively young, some of the infrastructure is aging and in need of repairs. The town needs to prioritize and fund infrastructure related projects.

Blasting - Our neighborhoods in the western part of town continue to be detrimentally impacted by blasting. Blasting is regulated by the state and legislators who are not affected by this issue. There needs to be advocacy and collaboration between all impacted communities such as Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, Miramar, and Pembroke Pines. Our strength is in numbers and this issue is not exclusive to Miami Lakes.

Traffic Management - As a town, traffic must become one of the legislative priorities. The Palmetto Expressway traffic flow directly correlates to traffic. In our town. Additionally, we must work with FDOT and GMX (Greater Miami Expressway) to create additional exits from the town such as ramps that connect to Gratigny and I-75 as well as Palmetto Expressway underpasses.

+ Why are you running for office and what qualities, training, experience and skills do you bring to this position?

I have been a resident of Miami Lakes for over thirty years, and I have extensive experience in public service and community involvement. My mission is to ensure that our government works for every member of our community. Throughout the years, I have worked tirelessly with my neighbors to advocate for our community’s needs, and have volunteered to make a positive impact on the lives of those around me.

A retired public servant with thirty-two years of municipal and county service. Practical experience in day-to-day administration, including public safety operations, with hands-on knowledge of finance, budgeting, procurement, grants, human resources, contract-labor negotiation, and debt management. I am an experienced educator in the business environment with fifteen years of academic experience as an adjunct professor in higher education. My expertise lies in Accounting, Business Law, Ethics, Finance, Economics, Business Management, Entrepreneurship, and mentoring.

I am a qualified, professional, and ethical candidate ready to work as a proud public servant for the residents of Miami Lakes.

Form of Government Experience:

Mayor, Manager, and Constitutional Office – Sheriff of Broward County An excellent relationship builder, collaborating with public and private organizations, who fostered and maintained strong relationships with residents and community members.

Recognitions

· 2023 Recipient -Town of Miami Lakes Woman of Distinction Award -Volunteer

· 2019 Susan G. Komen Race for Cure - One of the top two local team fundraiser.

Awards & Commendations

Recipient of the Certificate of Achievement Excellence in Financial Reporting

Recipient of the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award Organization: Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada

Education

FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, BOCA RATON, FL. 1999 CENTER FOR ADVANCED CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES - CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM GRADUATE

SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY, MIAMI, FL 1993- MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, MIAMI, FL - BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – ACCOUNTING & FINANCE MIAMI DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, MIAMI, FL-ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE, ASSOCIATION OF ARTS – BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING

Boards and Committees Served

Miami Dade County; Commission for Women, District 13 Representative Miami Lakes; CULTURAL Affairs and Sheriff Ordinance Ad-Hoc Committees. Blasting Advisory Board. ZONTA INTERNATIONAL AND ZONTA CLUB OF MIAMI LAKES – MEMBER

+ What are the 3 most important issues facing your community? For each concern, how do you propose to mitigate/improve/resolve the issue?

Town Issues - Priorities

Public Safety: Traffic is a persistent issue that poses safety concerns, especially in school zones and busy intersections. Adequate funding ensures quickly respond to community demands. Traffic congestion is a leading quality-of-life issue. Prioritize People’s Transportation Plan funds so alternative routes can be identified and constructed to mitigate congestion.

Infrastructure: Investing in resources for aging infrastructure is essential. Proper funding for the infrastructure fund should be a top priority, with a focus on drainage projects, as well as prioritizing road and sidewalk projects. It is important to identify and allocate the collected impact fees towards the necessary infrastructure projects. Furthermore, pocket parks need to offer a safe outdoor space while preserving tree canopies to maintain the town’s charm.

Fiscal Accountability: To maintain fiscal responsibility, the town’s economic stability must rely on transparent and best-practice principles. Allocating funds to essential services and meeting the community’s needs fosters economic prosperity. Projects that do not benefit residents, negatively impact our millage rate and are irresponsible.

Community Engagement Is Key: Collaboration and open communication with neighboring communities and local, state, and federal officials is essential for addressing the damaging impact of mine blasting on homes and infrastructure. Let’s work together to make our community more transparent and better for everyone. I’m committed to being accountable for your tax dollars.

Esther Colon for Miami Lakes Town Council – Seat 6

#Miami Lakes - A Safe Place to Live, Work, and Play

+ Why are you running for office and what qualities, training, experience and skills do you bring to this position?

I am a lifelong Miami Laker through and through. I was raised here, I went to school at Miami Lakes Middle and Hialeah-Miami Lakes, I’ve played in our parks, I go to church at Our Lady of the Lakes, my parents still live here, my brother still lives here, and when the time came for me to buy my first home, I bought in Miami Lakes. In fact, when I opened my own law firm, I chose to open it right here in Miami Lakes. As such, I’m invested in the future of our Town.

I am running to protect that investment. I want to make sure that Miami Lakes is as great of a place to live, work, and play for my nephews and future children as it has been for me. I want to make sure that Miami Lakes remains among the safest municipalities in Miami Lakes. I want to work with our counterparts in the County government to wholistically address traffic problems in Miami Lakes. I want to make sure that Miami Lakes lives up to its slogan of “Growing Beautifully,” while also ensuring that we grow responsibly by avoiding the allure of overdevelopment. I want to ensure that Miami Lakes maintains its reputation for being a great place to do business.

I am an attorney with my own law practice primarily working in the field of corporate law. I have volunteered as a member of the Town’s Neighborhood Improvement Committee and Blasting Advisory Board, and I have also served as President of my Homeowners’ Association. Over the years, I have gained valuable qualifications and skills from these experiences which make me great fit for our Town Council. Specifically, my experience as a business owner has taught me how to balance a budget and streamline processes to minimize inefficiencies. As an attorney, I not only know how the law works and how different laws and bodies of law interact with each other, but I’ve also become skilled in the art of consensus-building and negotiation; and, as a litigator, despite the adversarial nature of litigation, I hold my opposing counsels in high regard and treat them with respect and civility. As a member of the Neighborhood Improvement Committee, I got to collaborate with my colleagues on various efforts to beautify our Town and improve Miami Lakers’ quality of life. As a member of the Blasting Advisory Board, I learned about the real threat posed by blasting and how our Town can continue to advocate for blasting reform in Tallahassee. Finally, as the President of my HOA, I had the opportunity to listen to my neighbors’ concerns and deliver results that positively affected their day to day life, I was also able to establish a balanced budget that kept dues low for our residents, and take decisive actions that directly led to improved safety in the community.

I believe these skills and qualifications, together with my passion for advocacy and leadership, make me uniquely qualified for the Town Council. I would be honored to have your vote and support.

+ What are the 3 most important issues facing your community? For each concern, how do you propose to mitigate/improve/resolve the issue?

The top three issues for Miami Lakes are public safety, blasting, cost of living.

As to public safety, I believe we need to give our police the tools and resources necessary to provide effective and efficient services. This includes ensuring a clear and streamlined chain of command, dispensing with policies that don’t yield results, and adopting policies that do. As an attorney, I am used to relying on experts to provide insight into matters beyond my expertise. That is why I would seek the perspective of Major Gonzalez and Lieutenant Ulloa, as well as our patrol officers, to find and improve inefficiencies, provide resources, and ensure that they have what they need to keep us safe.

Blasting from the limestone rock quarries should concern every resident in the Town of Miami Lakes. For most of us, our homes are our greatest investments and the setting of some of our fondest memories. However, blasting puts our homes, our businesses, and our safety at significant risk. Unfortunately, however, the regulation of blasting is handled at the state-level. During my time on the Town of Miami Lakes Blasting Advisory Board, I had the opportunity to advocate to our elected officials in Tallahassee for the implementation of reduced blasting intensity limits that would allow the rock mines to continue their very important work while protecting our properties from further harm. It is imperative that we continue fighting for these changes. Currently, the Blasting Advisory Board is not given any budget. This has caused issues with being able to secure low cost travel arrangements when the BAB needs to make a sudden trip to advocate, such as what happened earlier in February when the issue was finally put on a committee agenda for the first time after years of hard work. I propose the establishment of a fixed budget for the BAB to allow them to accomplish their mission. I further propose that the issue of blasting be placed higher on the Town’s state legislative priorities so that the issue is advanced by more than just the BAB.

Finally, in a time where the price of groceries and daily essentials are at record levels and the cost of living is taking a bigger bite out our everyone’s pocketbook, elected officials need to make the difficult choices that will result in the lowest possible tax burden on our residents. This includes ensuring that taxpayer money is not spent on projects that don’t serve or benefit the residents of our Town and looking for alternate streams of revenues from things like state and federal appropriations, grants, sponsorships, and land-leases. This also means streamlining ineffective processes to yield more cost effectiveness. It also means knowing the right time to take action. For example, cracked sidewalks are a major issue in parts of the Town. Rather than spend money from the general fund, the Town can use the funds under the People’s Transportation Plan to pay for all or some of the needed repairs. However, those funds are currently on hold pending the completion of the 59th Avenue project. By waiting one to one-and-a-half years for the 59th Avenue project to finish, we can fund the repairs without digging into the resident’s pockets.

+ Why are you running for office and what qualities, training, experience and skills do you bring to this position?

After receiving many calls from neighbors and supporters, I have decided to run again. After the November 2024 election we will have 5 new Council Members. I believe I can be a mentor to these new Council members and I hope to bring unity back to this current Council.

As a former Council Member and Vice Mayor I served the Town for eight years. My experience allows me to get to work immediately on Day 1.

+ What are the 3 most important issues facing your community? For each concern, how do you propose to mitigate/improve/resolve the issue?

Traffic, Public Safety and Blasting.

FDOT is currently working on the southbound Palmetto expansion. I am hoping that upon the completion traffic will improve.

Public Safety is always a top priority. Restoring the Police overtime budget will take some changes to the budget.

The Blasting problem is been an issue for over 20 years. The State of Florida regulates the blasting limits. Once again the State Legislature has failed to address this issue. There are only two solutions stop the blasting which is unlikely or lower the blasting limits are the only choices. We must continue to try to lower the blasting limits. At the current blasting limits, major damages are happening to our homes.

Nelson Rodriguez 305-281-3001

+ Why are you running for office and what qualities, training, experience and skills do you bring to this position?

My name is John Rogger and I am a resident of West Lakes, living here since 2020, but I have been involved in the community since I moved to Country Club back in 2016. I have also been on the Special Needs Advisory Board since 2019, being named chair for 3 of those years. I am a neurodivergent adult, a single father of two children with autism, a public relations manager for the South Florida Autism Charter School & a radio personality.

I am running on these four principles.....Advocacy for those with special needs, Safety for our residents, Preserving our small town feel & Transparency in our town Government. My reason for running is simple, I believe that our town council needs to be a representation of the people. This isn't a career politician "Status Quo" position, but rather, a seat in which we do the will of the residents in this town. They are depending on us to deliver to them a town that provides for its basic needs....such as maintaining safety, maintenance of the town's amazing tree canopy and our systems of roads, providing help to our residents with special abilities & showing that we are listening, by providing open access & public meetings to allow residents to voice their opinions and help decide what needs to get done in our community. To do so means you have to put the people first and that's what I intend to do...it's what our founding fathers wanted and it's what I believe in.

As an Eagle Scout, I bring integrity and honesty to the table. As a former News Director, I investigate issues & allow the people to see the truth in what is happening. As a former Marketing Expert, I bring negotiation skills & idea planning that can help move us forward in finding grants, funding & battling the ongoing issues with blasting and crime. As a father & special needs advocate, I am committed to seeing that our town remains a "Model Town for Inclusion" and that we help those with special needs find opportunities, activities and keep active in our town's government, business and community.

+ What are the 3 most important issues facing your community? For each concern, how do you propose to mitigate/improve/resolve the issue?

The three most important issues we face as a community are:

In my opinion the three biggest issues facing our community at this time are:

1. The condition of our streets, parks & our tree canopies
2. Blasting Issues
3. Government Transparency

For issue #1, I plan to encourage the existing Neighborhood Improvement Committee to begin a process of identifying Canopy issues, Dead Trees, Plant improvement opportunities and problems with our area streets & roads, so that we can create a multi-phased plan to identify, fix, repair and replace. We also need to begin including our parks in this plan, so at the end...we can see exactly what needs to be done, get an idea of what it will cost and begin working on a plan to finalize it using Project Management. That way the residents will know what we are doing & can give their input, and we can have a definitive answer as to when it will be finished. Our canopy, our roads and our parks are the first thing people see & appreciate about our town, we cannot let this be a place that slacks behind. There are plenty of grants, fundraising abilities & more that can be utilized to raise the funds needed to make these projects happen without having to ask for tax increases.

For issue # 2, I plan to focus on getting other communities in our region affected by the blasting to join us in our efforts to speak to Tallahassee about the problem. We need the cities that surround us, along with Miami-Dade County & Broward County's assistance, to really get the point across. People in Tallahassee are not going to listen to a small town in the corner....but a large voice makes a major impact. We need their help and we need to make sure they are fully aware that we aren't advocating to end blasting, but rather toning it down to stop the ongoing damage that is occurring. Negotiations are key but the power can't exist without the help of our neighbors.

For issue # 3, I plan to make sure that all of the concepts, ideas & plans the council is working on are shared properly with our residents. We can utilize memo boards on our website, hold workshops with the public, and give our residents a chance to speak with us about the plans for more than just 3 mins at a board meeting once a month. It's a government for the people, by the people, of the people.....not the other way around.

As I stated earlier, I am in the race to make a difference and represent our residents. It's not about fame, glory, power....it's about responsibility, care & the respect of being a representative for our residents. I sincerely hope I can count on the people's vote come April 9th, so that we can start being the change the town needs to keep "Growing Beautifully" as we promise!

You can learn more about me at http://votejohnrogger.com