Candidate Rene Gomez, Cutler Bay Council Seat 3

Rene Gomez, a Cutler Bay resident since 2010, is challenging incumbent Richard Ramirez for Cutler Bay Town Council Residential Area Seat 3 on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. The nonpartisan race is decided by voters town-wide. Gomez appears on the ballot as Rene Gomez; the South Dade News Leader profiled him under his full name, Rene Froilan Gomez Jr.

At a Glance

Office: Cutler Bay Town Council, Residential Area Seat 3
Area covered: Residential Area 3 of the Town of Cutler Bay; elected by voters town-wide
Incumbent: No
Opponent on ballot: Richard Ramirez (incumbent)
Campaign website: None located as of Oct. 11, 2026. His campaign email, as listed by the South Dade News Leader, is renegomez1984@gmail.com.

Background

In his responses to a South Dade News Leader candidate questionnaire published Sept. 4, 2026, Gomez said he moved to Cutler Bay with his family in 2010 and hopes to stay for the rest of his life. He said he is running because he wants to be more involved in the community.

Gomez told the News Leader that he does not have much government experience. He cited two years as vice president of the PTA board at Whigham Elementary. He described himself as “grassroots” and said he refers to Cutler Bay as “God’s Town.”

In Their Own Words

The following quotes come from Gomez’s responses to the South Dade News Leader questionnaire.

I want to be more involved in my community, and I feel this is a good step for me to begin my journey.

Rene Gomez, South Dade News Leader, Sept. 4, 2026

I will be the first to admit I do not have much experience, but I have energy.

Rene Gomez, South Dade News Leader, Sept. 4, 2026

Right now, Cutler Bay should push back on any new development as much as possible.

Rene Gomez, South Dade News Leader, Sept. 4, 2026

We do not need more taxes or regulations; we need a better free-market economy.

Rene Gomez, South Dade News Leader, Sept. 4, 2026

Where He Stands on the Issues

Gomez named traffic, taxes and quality of life as the three most important issues facing residents in his News Leader questionnaire.

Development

He said the town should resist new development as much as possible and, where development does go forward, hold developers accountable.

Transportation

Gomez said the town should pursue grant funding to expand Metro Connect, which he said seniors and other residents use.

Public safety

He called for a larger law-enforcement presence in town and said public safety should be among local government’s top priorities.

Taxes and local business

Gomez said he would look at lowering taxes on small businesses and give more support to independently owned businesses, and that he opposes additional taxes and regulations.

Town events

The town policy he said he would most like to change is the use of vendors at town events. He said he does not want a small group of vendors to dominate and would open the work to all vendors.

Civic engagement

He said he would keep residents informed through social media and by visiting local businesses.

About Seat 3

Seat 3 covers the residential area bounded on the north by SW 207th Street, extending east to Biscayne National Park, south to SW 232nd Street and west to Old Cutler Road. Richard Ramirez has held the seat since 2022, when he qualified without opposition to succeed term-limited council member Roger Coriat.

What This Office Does

Cutler Bay is governed by a five-member Town Council under a council-manager form of government. The mayor and vice mayor may live anywhere in town, while the three council members must each live in the residential area tied to their seat. According to the town, the council sets policy, adopts the annual budget and passes local laws. Council members also sit as the Local Planning Agency, which makes them responsible for the town’s Comprehensive Development Master Plan and its land development regulations, the rules that govern what can be built and where.

Although each council member must live in a specific residential area, every seat is voted on town-wide, so all registered Cutler Bay voters can cast a ballot in both the Seat 1 and Seat 3 races. Council members serve four-year terms. The town clerk’s office lists the council member salary as $10,939.56 a year. The council regularly meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

Candidates for a residential seat must have lived in that area continuously for at least one year before qualifying. Qualifying for the 2026 election ran from noon July 23 to noon Aug. 6, 2026, according to the Town Clerk.

Issues Facing Cutler Bay

Coverage of this year’s Cutler Bay races has centered on growth and public works. A Sept. 28 Political Cortadito analysis identified the redevelopment of the former Southland Mall into Southplace City Center as the largest issue before the town. The article reported developers’ estimate of about $1.5 billion in investment over seven years, with more than 5,000 market-rate homes plus retail, a medical center, a hotel and green space.

The same article noted that town voters approved up to $37 million in general obligation bonds in 2022 for the Legacy Park and municipal complex project, which is planned to include a park, Town Hall, police station, community center and aquatics facility, and that a January 2025 presentation put one version of the project at about $51 million. It also pointed to roads, drainage and stormwater, recalling the June 2022 rain event in which the area received nearly 23 inches in seven days.

The Race

Rene Gomez faces Richard Ramirez for Seat 3. Cutler Bay elections are nonpartisan, and both candidates appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. The same ballot includes an open mayoral race among Ricardo De Melo Gomes, Robert “B.J.” Duncan, Suzy Lord and Clint Rodriguez, and an open Seat 1 race among Ricky Fernandez, James Richie Hawkins and Mary Ann Mixon, according to the Town Clerk. The town has almost 30,000 registered voters, according to Political Cortadito.

Cumulative campaign finance totals posted on the town’s reporting portal as of Oct. 11, 2026:

Richard Ramirez: $5,250.00 raised (plus $250.00 in-kind), $490.50 spent
Rene Gomez: $719.00 raised, $554.15 spent

Coverage of the two candidates has come from different outlets. Rene Gomez answered a South Dade News Leader candidate questionnaire published Sept. 4, while the Miami Herald listed him as “awaiting response” in its Sept. 22 questionnaire, in which Ramirez did respond. Miami’s Community Newspapers published an Oct. 6 video interview with Ramirez and an Oct. 6 column by its publisher arguing for Ramirez’s re-election.

Gomez had reported $719.00 in monetary contributions and $554.15 in expenditures, according to cumulative totals on the town’s campaign finance portal as of Oct. 11, 2026.

How to Vote

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Early voting: Monday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, according to the Town of Cutler Bay. Locations and hours are listed on the county’s early voting schedule.
Vote-by-mail: The deadline to request a mail ballot is Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, according to the town clerk.
Possible runoff: If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, a runoff would be held Dec. 1, according to Political Cortadito.

Voters can confirm their registration, precinct and sample ballot through the Miami-Dade County Elections Department. Results are expected on the Supervisor of Elections website beginning at 7:15 p.m. on election night.

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.