Candidate Tamara Mourino, Palmetto Bay Mayor

Tamara Mourino, a small-business owner and former president of the Palmetto Bay Business Association, is running for mayor of the Village of Palmetto Bay in the nonpartisan municipal election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The seat is open because Mayor Karyn Cunningham is term-limited. Karen Baez-Wallis and David M. Singer are also on the ballot for mayor, according to the Miami-Dade County sample ballot.

At a Glance

Office: Mayor, Village of Palmetto Bay
Area covered: Villagewide; the mayor is elected at large
Incumbent? No. The seat is open; Mayor Karyn Cunningham is term-limited.
Opponents on ballot: Karen Baez-Wallis, David M. Singer
Campaign website: TamaraMourino.com

Background

Mourino’s campaign website describes her as a longtime Palmetto Bay resident and small-business owner. It says she graduated from Florida International University with a degree in business and management. She later served as president of the Palmetto Bay Business Association, working with local business owners and advocating for small businesses. The campaign website does not name her business.

She and her husband, Joe, are raising their two daughters in the village. In the Miami Herald’s candidate questionnaire, published Sept. 24, 2026, she said the couple built their life, their business and their family in Palmetto Bay.

Mourino registered as a mayoral candidate on Dec. 12, 2025, according to registration dates the village clerk provided to Community Newspapers. No public record we reviewed shows her holding elected office before.

In Their Own Words

“I’m running for mayor because I’m invested in this community and its future, and I want to protect our neighborhoods, strengthen our quality of life and keep Palmetto Bay a special place to live and raise a family.”

Tamara Mourino, Miami Herald candidate questionnaire, Sept. 24, 2026

“I know how to lead, manage budgets and make tough decisions. As mayor, I’ll bring that proven leadership, business experience and a fresh approach to Village Hall.”

Tamara Mourino, Miami Herald candidate questionnaire, Sept. 24, 2026

“Financial sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing Palmetto Bay.”

Tamara Mourino, Miami Herald candidate questionnaire, Sept. 24, 2026

“She believes Palmetto Bay can continue to grow and thrive without losing the character and quality of life that make it such a special place to live.”

Mourino campaign, TamaraMourino.com

Where She Stands on the Issues

Village finances

In the Herald questionnaire, Mourino named financial sustainability as one of the biggest challenges facing the village. She called for disciplined budgeting, smart investments and long-term planning to pay for public safety, infrastructure and essential services while protecting taxpayers from unnecessary increases. Her campaign website lists keeping property taxes low through “smarter budgeting” as a priority and says local government should “live within its means.”

Amendment 3

Mourino declined an interview request from CBS Miami for its Oct. 9 report on how the mayoral candidates would handle the village budget if the statewide property tax measure passes. The station reported that she deferred sharing her proposals on a possible deficit until after the election.

Development and village character

Her website says she is committed to “stopping overdevelopment” and protecting green space, and to preserving what it calls the village’s “bedroom-community feel.” Florida Politics likewise described her platform as preserving Palmetto Bay’s bedroom-community character and protecting green space.

Traffic, parks and public safety

Other priorities listed on her campaign website include traffic relief and mobility solutions, crime prevention and stronger public safety, and protecting neighborhoods, parks and green spaces.

Transparency and small business

Her website says residents deserve a village government that is “transparent, responsive, and accountable.” It says village decisions should be made with input from residents, not imposed on them. It also lists support for local businesses, which ties to her time leading the business association.

What This Office Does

The Village of Palmetto Bay was incorporated on Sept. 10, 2002. It covers about 8.4 square miles between U.S. 1 and Biscayne Bay, bordered by Pinecrest to the north and Cutler Bay to the south, and had 24,439 residents in the 2020 Census, according to Census figures compiled on Wikipedia. The Village Council has five members: the mayor, the vice mayor and three numbered seats. The mayor is elected villagewide and serves on the council with the other four members. Council agendas also list a village manager, a village attorney and a village clerk. Under the current charter, officials may serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same office, according to Florida Politics.

The next mayor will take office as the village faces a possible revenue loss. If Amendment 3 passes, the village manager estimates Palmetto Bay would lose about $2.2 million, or 8% of revenue, in 2027 and about $3.5 million, or 14%, in 2028, CBS Miami reported. Mayor Cunningham told the station that the current budget is already set, so any changes would come in the next budget cycle.

Voters will also decide six village charter questions, Florida Politics reported:

Public speakers giving only their name and municipality instead of a home address
Requiring voter approval for most sales or leases of village property
Pursuing the U.S. Department of Agriculture property near Southwest 136th Street and 67th Avenue for park use if it becomes available
Electing Council Seats 1, 2 and 3 by single-member districts starting in 2028
Changing term limits and adding a waiting period
Requiring pedestrian, bicycle and golf cart facilities in road projects

The Race

Three candidates qualified for mayor. Former Vice Mayor John DuBois registered for the race but withdrew in June to challenge Miami-Dade County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, Florida Politics reported. Cohen Higgins won that District 8 race outright in the Aug. 18 primary, the South Dade News Leader reported. Palmetto Bay’s municipal races were not on the August ballot.

Karen Baez-Wallis is a registered nurse with more than 30 years of experience, including executive roles in trauma and emergency services. She is running on public safety, transparency and stopping overdevelopment.
David M. Singer is a CPA, business executive and former Seat 2 councilmember. He is running on fiscal discipline, accountability, public safety and “smart growth.” The South Dade News Leader published his candidate questionnaire on Oct. 2.

Florida Politics reported that Palmetto Bay will hold a runoff on Dec. 1 if one is needed. Around Palmetto Bay held a nonpartisan candidate forum on Oct. 3, WLRN reported.

How to Vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line by 7 p.m. may vote. Early voting in Miami-Dade County runs from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, NBC6 reported. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Oct. 22, according to NBC6 and the South Dade News Leader. Completed mail ballots must reach the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks do not count. Sample ballots, polling places and vote-by-mail requests are available from the Miami-Dade 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.