2017 Hialeah mayoral election
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| Elections in Florida |
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The 2017 Hialeah mayoral election took place on November 7, 2017. Incumbent Mayor Carlos Hernández ran for re-election to a second full term. Former interim Mayor Julio Martínez, one of Hernández's opponents in 2013, challenged Hernández's eligibility to run, arguing that the city charter's term limits counted the partial term he served from 2011 to 2013 as a full term.[1] Martínez's lawsuit was ultimately dismissed, and Hernández ran for re-election.[2]
Hernández faced two opponents: businesswoman Tania García and activist Juan Santana. García argued that Hernández governed with "fear" and that she "want[ed] Hialeah to return to its best time, clean streets, children playing in the parks, when the workers of the city were the residents themselves." Santana campaigned on cutting taxes for elderly residents and new businesses and making wireless internet free throughout the area, and campaigned with a "Make Hialeah Great Again" hat.[2]
During the campaign, Hernández weathered controversy over ethical violations. A public corruption investigation conducted by the State Attorney's office revealed that allocated for food assistance for poor children were instead spent on a parks and recreation conference in Las Vegas,[3]
Hernández was ultimately re-elected in a landslide, receiving 79 percent of the vote to García's 16 percent and Santana's 6 percent.[4]
