The Doral City Council has approved an ordinance that changes election laws in response to a recent residency dispute.
Irina Vilarino, candidate for Seat 3 and co-owner of Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine, was served with a complaint for not having lived in Doral for the required two years before running for office. The complaint was eventually dismissed by a judge.
The updated requirements require candidates to submit more specific documentation to the city clerk to prove they reside in the city. They must provide at least three of five specified documents: a lease, proof of home ownership in the city for at least two years prior to qualifying for the position, a Florida driver’s license or ID card showing a Doral residential address, utility bills and other documents in the candidate’s name that cover the duration of the residency requirement, or copies of filed income tax returns showing a Doral address.
In a memo to the council, City Attorney Lorenzo Cobiella highlighted the growing debate over election laws at both the national and state levels. To address those concerns, the city wants to improve “transparency and accountability” in its own election process. Cobiella noted to el Nuevo Herald that the changes to the ordinance are intended to clarify residency requirements and prevent future confusion.
The council unanimously approved the ordinance on its first vote, with a final vote scheduled for Oct. 9.
If those requirements had been put in place earlier in this election cycle, Vilarino’s documentation might not have been sufficient to qualify. Public records show she provided proof of home ownership in the city for at least two years before she qualified for office, along with a bank statement and a voter registration that was updated in March 2024 — four months before the qualifying period began. At that time, however, her driver’s license still listed her previous address in Pinecrest, and her property exemption was registered for the Pinecrest property, not the Doral one. Those discrepancies were highlighted in the challenge to her candidacy.
Doral’s city charter requires candidates for mayor and city council to live in the city for at least two years before they can run for office. Some legal experts consider that requirement excessive. Jose Smith, a former city attorney for Miami Beach and North Miami Beach and currently a special magistrate judge for North Miami, argues that while a one-year residency requirement is reasonable, a two-year requirement could be considered excessive. Smith said that Florida Court of Appeals decisions have held that a two-year residency requirement is unconstitutional.
According to the regulation, residency requirements for candidates ensure that political candidates are better informed and knowledgeable. This exposes potential candidates to voters and better ensures that a candidate is part of the political community he or she hopes to represent.
Vilarino criticized the amendment when el Nuevo Herald asked her for her opinion.
“Instead of creating additional hurdles for people entering politics, the qualification process should be streamlined,” she said, adding that there appears to be a reluctance to allow “outsiders” to run.
Two weeks ago, Vilarino held a press conference in which she claimed that she was being politically persecuted because she did not run for Mayor Christi Fraga. During her press conference, Vilarino presented evidence that Fraga’s Leaders of Tomorrow PAC had paid $10,000 in legal fees to the firm representing Emmanuel “Manny” Sarmiento, the person who filed the complaint against Vilarino.
In response, Fraga held a press conference to defend her actions, stating that the PAC’s involvement was a matter of transparency and public interest. Fraga explained that the PAC supported the investigation based on evidence suggesting that Vilarino did not meet residency requirements.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Peter Lopez ruled on August 15 that Vilarino had provided sufficient proof of residency to be considered a candidate.
The ordinance was approved on the same day that Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart endorsed Vilarino’s candidacy over two other candidates for Seat 3: Nicole Reinoso, an executive director at Miami-Dade County Public Schools and a former colleague of Fraga who is being endorsed by the mayor; and Juan Carlos Esquivel, who is making his third attempt at a seat on the council and was endorsed by Sarmiento, the resident who challenged Vilarino’s candidacy.
The candidate who secures the seat could significantly influence the city’s power dynamics over the next four years. Since early 2024, the city has been struggling with a series of political upheavals. The mayor currently has only one ally on the five-person council of which she is also a member, meaning her policy proposals often fall short.
