MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The 2025 election season in Miami Beach has one final, critical decision for voters. While other races were settled on Nov. 4, the Group I commission seat remains open, setting the stage for a December 9 runoff that will determine the political direction of the city for the next four years.
Miami Beach Shines Brighter: A Tropical Holiday Wonderland Awaits
The contest pits two women with contrasting visions and backgrounds: Monica Matteo-Salinas, a former city staffer advocating for a “residents first” approach, and Monique Pardo Pope, an attorney positioning herself as a “law and order” candidate. The winner will help shape pivotal decisions on development, public safety, and affordability in a city grappling with its identity.
The Candidates and Their Competing Visions
Monica Matteo-Salinas: The “Residents First” Candidate
Monica Matteo-Salinas, 46, emerged from the six-person field with a narrow lead, securing 23% of the initial vote. A single mother and longtime community advocate, she leverages her experience as a former aide to Commissioners Kristen Rosen Gonzalez and Alex Fernandez. Her platform resonates with residents concerned about overdevelopment and rising costs.
She focuses on:
-
Affordability and Food Security: Proposing initiatives like a community food pantry.
-
Restrained Development: Advocating for tighter controls on new tower sizes and noise.
-
Transportation: Exploring an advertising-sponsored expansion of the trolley system.
Matteo-Salinas has secured key endorsements from Commissioners Alex Fernandez and Laura Dominguez, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, the Miami Beach Fraternal Order of Police, and the community watchdog group SOBESAFE.
“Monica brings the kind of practical leadership and integrity our city needs,” said FOP President Bobby Hernandez in a statement.
Monique Pardo Pope: The “Law and Order” Candidate
Finishing a close second with 20% of the vote, Monique Pardo Pope, 44, is a family-law attorney and finance professional. She leads the nonprofit Woman’s Cancer Association of the University of Miami and has centered her campaign on public safety and infrastructure.
Her key stances include:
-
Combating Homeless Camping: Taking a firm stance on quality-of-life issues.
-
Protecting Infrastructure: Focusing on the maintenance and improvement of city services.
-
Partnering with Developers: Advocating for “smart growth,” though her endorsement from Commissioner David Suarez—who proposed a major density increase on Washington Avenue—raises questions about her development stance for some observers.
The Complexities Beyond Policy
The race carries significant partisan undertones, despite being technically nonpartisan. Pardo Pope, a registered Republican and member of the Republican National Lawyers Association, features prominent MAGA-aligned figures in her campaign social media. Matteo-Salinas is a registered Democrat, creating a clear ideological divide for voters.
A deeply personal and controversial aspect of the race involves Pardo Pope’s family history. Her father, Manuel Pardo, was a former Sweetwater police officer executed in 2012 for murdering nine people in the 1980s. A self-professed Hitler admirer, his crimes have drawn renewed attention in a city with a substantial Jewish population.
Pardo Pope and her supporters argue that a child cannot be held accountable for a parent’s crimes. However, her own social media references to him as her “hero” have made his legacy a unavoidable topic of discussion for many voters.
What’s at Stake in the Final Tally
The outcome of this runoff will tip the balance of power on the dais. With three incumbents returning, this single seat could become the deciding vote on major issues, from zoning and development permits to police funding and homelessness policy.
Both campaigns are financially competitive. Recent filings show Pardo Pope has raised $94,064, including a significant personal investment. Matteo-Salinas has raised $83,642, bolstered by a broad base of smaller donations from residents.
Early voting begins Friday, December 5, coinciding with the bustling Art Basel weekend. The election concludes on Tuesday, December 9, giving Miami Beach residents the final word on who will guide their city’s future.