Candidate James Suarez, Pinecrest Council Seat 3

James Suarez, a lawyer and mediator, is running for Pinecrest Village Council Seat 3 on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. His only opponent is Ralph Sanchez, according to the official Pinecrest sample ballot. No incumbent is running. The race is nonpartisan. The Village Clerk lists it as a special election to fill a vacancy. The same ballot carries a three-way contest for the at-large Seat 4. The mayor’s office is already settled: Shannon del Prado drew no opponent and was automatically elected under the village charter, so her name will not appear on the ballot.

At a Glance

Office: Village of Pinecrest Councilmember, Seat 3 (special election)
Area covered: Seat 3 represents a designated residential area of the village, and its councilmember must live there
Incumbent: No. The seat is held by appointed Councilmember James E. McDonald, who is not on the ballot
Opponent on the ballot: Ralph Sanchez
Ballot number: 195
Campaign website: jamesforpinecrest.com

Background

Suarez moved to Miami from New York in 1987, according to Florida Politics, which covered his campaign launch on May 19, 2026. His campaign website says he attended Palmetto Junior High and graduated from Miami Palmetto High School in 1992.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in English, cum laude, from Florida International University and a law degree from The George Washington University Law School in 1999, the year he was admitted to The Florida Bar, according to his campaign site. Florida Politics reported that he has worked as a lawyer and mediator. In the Miami Herald candidate guide, he cited “my experience as a mediator” as part of his case for the seat.

Locally, Suarez has served on the Pinecrest Zoning Board and the Joint Education Action Committee and has worked with area nonprofits, according to his campaign site and Florida Politics. He and his wife are raising three daughters in Pinecrest, where they attend public schools, and his parents have retired in the village, his campaign site says.

In Their Own Words

At his campaign launch, Suarez told Florida Politics:

“Pinecrest isn’t just where I live, it’s home. I’m running because Pinecrest deserves leadership that listens, works hard, and delivers results.”

James Suarez, Florida Politics, May 19, 2026

“We need leadership that can balance growth, infrastructure, and community priorities while delivering real results.”

James Suarez, Florida Politics, May 19, 2026

In the Miami Herald’s candidate guide, published Sept. 24, 2026, he described his qualifications:

“I know how to listen, bring people together and find solutions.”

James Suarez, Miami Herald candidate guide, Sept. 24, 2026

And on the most pressing issue:

“Pinecrest must manage growth while protecting its character and keeping taxes under control.”

James Suarez, Miami Herald candidate guide, Sept. 24, 2026

Where He Stands on the Issues

Suarez’s campaign priorities page lists six commitments:

Fiscal responsibility: protecting taxpayer dollars, putting essential services first and spending carefully
Access to local government: making sure residents can be heard and informed about decisions that affect them
First responders: supporting and investing in police and firefighters
Transparency and accountability: keeping residents informed about how decisions are made and public resources managed
Small businesses: helping local entrepreneurs grow and serve the community
Quality of life: protecting neighborhood character, investing in infrastructure and putting residents and families first

In the Herald questionnaire, he called for responsible infrastructure planning, support for police and schools, and disciplined spending. He also said the village should look for ways to “broaden revenue without simply increasing the burden on homeowners.” He did not specify which revenue sources he had in mind.

About the Seat

Seat 3 opened when Councilmember Shannon del Prado resigned effective April 18, 2026; she has since been elected mayor without opposition. The council then appointed former Vice Mayor James E. McDonald, who held Seat 3 from 2012 to 2020, to serve for the rest of the unexpired term, according to a village announcement. McDonald is not a candidate. The Nov. 3 winner will take the seat through a special election.

Pinecrest, incorporated in 1996, is a village of about 18,400 residents (2020 census) covering roughly 7.5 square miles southwest of downtown Miami, according to census-based reference data. It operates under a council-manager form of government. The five-member Village Council includes a mayor, three councilmembers for Seats 1, 2 and 3, who must live in the residential areas those seats represent, and one at-large member. The council sets policy, adopts the budget and property tax rate, and passes local laws. On Sept. 22, 2026, it adopted a rate of 2.503 mills for fiscal 2026-27, which the village described as unchanged from the prior year.

Campaign issues this year include traffic, zoning and permitting, parks, policing, public works and peafowl, according to Political Cortadito. Several candidates also point to Amendment 3, the statewide homestead exemption measure. A village notice republished by the Pinecrest Tribune said it would raise the exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, reduce local government revenue, and first affect the village budget in fiscal year 2027-28.

The Race

Suarez’s opponent, Ralph Sanchez, is an attorney who founded his own law firm in 2017 and serves on the Miami-Dade County Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Committee. He is campaigning on traffic and road safety, public safety, permitting, storm readiness and preserving the village’s character, according to his campaign website and coverage by Florida Politics.

Suarez’s campaign site lists endorsements that include Miami Realtors, Pinecrest Mayor Joseph M. Corradino, former Pinecrest Mayor Evelyn Greer, South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez, Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham, former state Sen. Anitere Flores and former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson. Sanchez’s campaign site lists an endorsement from the South Florida Police Benevolent Association.

Pinecrest’s council seats are decided on the November ballot. The South Dade News Leader’s roundup after the Aug. 18 primary did not include them. Pinecrest’s runoff date, if one is needed in any race, is Nov. 17, according to Florida Politics.

How to Vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, and polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters casting a ballot in person on Election Day must go to their assigned precinct.

Early voting: Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, at any early voting site in Miami-Dade County, according to the county’s early voting schedule. Nearby sites include the Coral Reef Branch Library and Kendall Branch Library.
Vote by mail: Requests must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 22, and completed ballots must reach the Miami-Dade Elections Department by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, according to the Village of Pinecrest. The South Dade News Leader also reported the Oct. 22 request deadline.
Check your ballot: Sample ballots, precinct lookups and vote-by-mail requests are available from the Miami-Dade County Elections Department.

Community Leadership Alliance is nonpartisan and does not endorse candidates. This profile is based on public records, candidate statements and news coverage, including the South Dade News Leader. Candidates who wish to submit corrections may contact us through our Contact page.