Miami-Dade County Democratic Party
03/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/02/2026 02:35
2026 Elections in Surfside
On Tuesday March 17 voters in Surfside will elect a Mayor and four Commissioners. Current Vice Mayor Tina Paul , a Democrat, has qualified for the Mayoral race, while four Democrats, current Commissioner Gerardo Vildostegui , William Blumenkranz, Jocelyn Kinzer, and Andrea Travani, are running for the Commission seats.
While some voters have already cast their vote by mail, a brief window-until March 5-remains open for additional voters to request a mail ballot.. No early voting has been scheduled, so voters will have only two options: cast a mail ballot or go to polls on Election Day.
Beat the March 5 Deadline to Enroll in Vote By Mail!
A Mayoral Candidate debate has been scheduled for March 3 at 6:30 pm in Surfside Commission Chambers, 9293 Harding Avenue.. A Commission Candidate debate will follow on March 5 at the same location, beginning at 6:00 pm.
All Election Day voting will take place at 9293 Harding Avenue
About the Surfside candidates
Tina Paul
Tina Paul is the Vice Mayor of Surfside and a seasoned elected official with nearly a decade of service to the community, having first won a seat on the Town Commission in 2016 and gone on to serve two terms before returning to continue her leadership. Over the course of her tenure, she has built a reputation for steady, collaborative governance focused on bringing people together, moving stalled infrastructure projects forward, and keeping the Town's commitment to the Champlain South memorial at the forefront of local priorities.
Paul has consistently championed public safety, fiscal responsibility, and transparent governance, while advocating for thoughtful, measured growth that respects zoning regulations, neighborhood character, and residents' quality of life. She has also been a strong voice for community resilience, supporting efforts to address flooding and the long-term challenges posed by sea level rise, and has worked to strengthen civic engagement across Surfside's diverse population.
At the heart of her leadership is a dedication to the people and families who make Surfside the community it is, from seniors and young families to local small business owners. She offers a commitment to preserving the Town's close-knit spirit as it plans responsibly for its future. With her depth of experience and collaborative approach, Paul continues to be a stabilizing and accountable voice on the Commission.
Gerardo Vildostegui
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Gerardo Vildostegui is a Surfside Town Commissioner and lifelong community member who grew up in Surfside after his Cuban-born parents settled there, later graduating as valedictorian from Miami Beach High before earning degrees from Yale and UC Berkeley and building a twelve-year career as a law professor. After returning to Surfside in 2020 to care for his mother, he ran for the Commission in 2024 and won, finishing second in a field of ten candidates with over 1,000 votes.
During his time on the Commission, Vildostegui has been instrumental in advancing the Champlain South memorial design, completing 96th Street Park, and building new stormwater infrastructure on Abbott Avenue. He has championed ethical governance by strengthening financial disclosure requirements, defending local zoning authority against state preemption laws, and expanding protections for residents' free speech rights.
Beyond infrastructure and policy, he has distinguished himself through community-focused initiatives, including securing a $200,000 federal Safe Streets for All transportation grant, establishing the Community Relations Board, creating a native plant garden at Little Bay Park, and launching Singerfest, a literary festival honoring Nobel Prize-winning Surfside resident Isaac Bashevis Singer. Now seeking re-election, he is focused on completing the Surfside Memorial, advancing sustainable infrastructure, and ensuring Surfside remains an open, inclusive, and ethically governed community.
Miami-Dade County Democratic Party published this content on March 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 02, 2026 at 08:35 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]