Candidate Richard Ramirez, Cutler Bay Council Seat 3

Richard Ramirez, who has represented Cutler Bay’s Seat 3 since 2022, is seeking another four-year term on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. He faces Rene Gomez in the nonpartisan race, which is decided by voters town-wide.

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: Yes, first elected without opposition in 2022
Opponent on ballot: Rene Gomez
Campaign website: None located as of Oct. 11, 2026. His town email is rramirez@cutlerbay-fl.gov.

Background

According to his official town biography, Ramirez moved to South Florida in 1977 when his father retired from the Army. His mother also served in the Army and later retired from the Air Force Reserve. He graduated from South Dade High School in 1978 and joined the U.S. Coast Guard a year later. The biography says an injury cut his military career short, after which he worked and taught in the physical therapy department at the former Homestead Hospital for several years.

Ramirez joined Miami-Dade Fire Rescue in early 2000 and served out of Fire Station 34 in Cutler Bay. The town biography says he was promoted to fire lieutenant in 2005, became a paramedic a year later and spent 17 years on the firefighters’ union executive board. He retired from the department in 2020. The biography notes that two months before retiring he was hospitalized with COVID-19 and that he continues to deal with long COVID conditions.

The town biography also says he volunteers as administrator of the Perrine Moose Lodge in Palmetto Bay, a nonprofit that serves people in need, and that he has three grown stepchildren and a grandchild.

In Their Own Words

The following quotes come from Ramirez’s responses to the Miami Herald’s Cutler Bay candidate questionnaire.

My heart is in Cutler Bay, not only as a councilmember, but also as a firefighter and time spent serving my community. Plus, I show up to many events to represent this town.

Richard Ramirez, Miami Herald candidate questionnaire, Sept. 22, 2026

Experience. Logical thinking on what makes the best sense for the residents of Cutler Bay. If I am reelected, I will have the most political experience on the council of anyone who will be seated.

Richard Ramirez, Miami Herald candidate questionnaire, Sept. 22, 2026

Responsible growth plus making sure that the money is spent properly. Traffic is an issue which we deal with the county “experts.”

Richard Ramirez, Miami Herald candidate questionnaire, Sept. 22, 2026

Record and Priorities

Ramirez took office in 2022 after qualifying without opposition to succeed term-limited council member Roger Coriat, according to the town’s 2022 candidate list and Florida Politics. His four-year term has overlapped with the council’s handling of the Southplace City Center redevelopment of the former Southland Mall and the voter-approved Legacy Park and municipal complex project described below.

In April 2026, the South Dade News Leader reported that state Sen. Alexis Calatayud met with Ramirez and council member Suzy Lord at Town Hall to discuss how proposed changes to ad valorem property taxes could affect Cutler Bay’s finances.

In his Herald questionnaire, Ramirez named responsible growth and proper spending of public money as the most pressing issues, and identified traffic as an issue the town handles with Miami-Dade County. The town biography says he intends to continue the direction Cutler Bay is headed and to listen to the needs of the community.

Community Leadership Alliance did not find a South Dade News Leader candidate questionnaire from Ramirez for this election, and did not review his individual council votes for this profile. Agendas and minutes for council meetings are available through the Town Council page.

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

Richard Ramirez faces Rene Gomez 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.

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.