Just days after unionized workers at Miami-Dade County’s biggest economic engine backed him, former City Manager Emilio González is adding support from five former Police Chiefs to his bid for Miami Mayor.
That includes former Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez and three former Chiefs of the Miami Police Department.
Perez, whose last local endorsement went to since-elected Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero Stutz a year and a half ago, said only González “has the vision, integrity, and courage to lead Miami forward.”
“In Miami’s Mayor’s race, it is not a matter of who we want, it is a matter of who we need,” he said in a statement. “Unequivocally, that is Emilio González.”
Former Miami Police Chiefs Rodolfo Llanes and Manuel Oroza expressed similar sentiments.
“Emilio González is a true representation of the leader Miami needs,” Llanes said in a statement. “His experience and commitment to our community make me proud to endorse his candidacy for Mayor of Miami.”
Oroza added in a statement that González is “the only candidate that has the experience, integrity, and honesty to run the city of Miami.”
“I trust him and hope you will too,” he said.
David Magnusson, a former Police Chief of El Portal and a 30-year veteran of the Miami Police Department, said in a statement that as a law enforcement professional who rose to the top of his procession, he demands “honesty, humility, and integrity.”
“I demand no less from elected officials,” he said, “which is exactly why I support Emilio González for Mayor of Miami.”
David Rivero, a retired University of Miami Police Chief, said in a statement that González’s “military service, integrity, and proven leadership will make Miami stronger and safer.”
The nods from the five Police Chiefs join another from former Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina. They come three days after AFSCME Local 1542, which represents county employees at Miami International Airport (MIA), endorsed González.
González also enjoys support from construction-focused trade group Associated Builders and Contractors, Miami Young Republicans, former Miami Director of Human Services Milton Vickers, mixed martial arts star Jorge Masvidal and Emmy Award-winning reporter Michael Putney, among others.
In a statement, González said he is “deeply honored to have the confidence of Miami’s law enforcement leaders who know what it takes to keep our families safe.”
“As Mayor,” he said, “I will bring the same courage and integrity these law enforcement leaders exemplify, and that I demonstrated serving in the Army and throughout my career — making tough calls when needed, being fair, and always putting people over politics.”
González is a U.S. Army veteran who rose to the rank of colonel and a former Miami City Manager who served as Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush.
He also worked as CEO of MIA.
He currently holds several professional and appointed roles, as listed on his LinkedIn profile.
In July, González successfully sued Miami to stop officials, including Mayor Francis Suarez, from delaying the city’s election by a year, to November 2026. An appellate court then upheld the decision.
He’s one of 12 candidates running for Mayor. Other Republicans running include Christian Cevallos, Alyssa Crocker, June Savage and former Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla.
Democrats running include Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins, former Miami Commissioner Ken Russell, Ijamyn Gray, Michael Hepburn and Max Martinez, who ran unsuccessfully for Mayor in 2021.
Laura Anderson and former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez, who previously served as a Miami-Dade Commissioner and is the current Mayor’s father, have no party affiliation.
The Miami Mayor’s race is technically nonpartisan.
Miami’s General Election is Nov. 4. If no mayoral candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will compete in a runoff.
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