Who's on Your Ballot? A Neutral Guide to the Miami Gardens City Council Candidates
With Election Day here, voters are choosing City Council members for three seats. Here is a neutral, side-by-side look at who is running and what they say they'll focus on.
With Election Day tomorrow, Miami Gardens voters are electing City Council members for three seats. This is a neutral guide to help you know who's on your ballot and what each candidate says they stand for. We are not endorsing anyone. Our goal is simply to help you cast an informed vote. For each candidate's full platform, we encourage you to visit their campaign materials directly.
The three seats up for election
Voters are choosing council members for Residential Area Seat 2, Residential Area Seat 4, and At-Large Seat 6, each for a four-year term. If you live in Area 2 or Area 4, you vote in that race plus the citywide seat. Here's how each race is shaping up, according to the City of Miami Gardens and local reporting.
Residential Area Seat 2
This is an open seat, as current Councilman Reggie Leon is term-limited. Three candidates are running:
Lavern V. Deer
Deer is a former chief administrative aide to the Broward County mayor and the founder of a global nonprofit. According to local reporting, her stated priorities include housing affordability, food security, senior services, and economic opportunity.
Linnette Smith
Smith is also a candidate for Seat 2. She did not grant an interview to local media covering the race, and less public information about her platform was available at the time of reporting. Voters seeking her positions should look for her campaign materials directly.
Paul V. Wilson Jr.
Wilson is the son of U.S. Representative Frederica Wilson and cites a lifelong connection to Miami Gardens. According to local reporting, his stated priorities include better transportation and housing for seniors, strengthening community policing, and supporting youth diversion programs.
Residential Area Seat 4
This is also an open seat with three candidates running:
Mykita Cherry-Prime
Cherry-Prime is a department chair at Miami Norland Senior High. According to local reporting, her stated priorities include education, health and safety (with an emphasis on traffic safety), college and career readiness, and reviving the city's Progressive Young Advisory Board.
Rod Mack
Roderick "Rod" Mack has, according to local reporting, linked public safety to youth development and emphasized intentional development that avoids displacing existing residents.
Angela Maria Wynter
Wynter has, according to local reporting, centered her campaign on affordable housing, caregiving, and workforce support.
At-Large Seat 6 (citywide)
This race is effectively settled. According to the City of Miami Gardens, one candidate, Erhabor Ighodaro, withdrew from the race in June 2026, leaving incumbent Vice Mayor Robert Stephens III running unopposed.
Robert Stephens III (incumbent, unopposed)
Stephens was first appointed to the council in 2020 and elected in 2022. He serves as Vice Mayor. According to local reporting, he is seeking reelection to continue projects already underway, including a university partnership initiative that offers residents access to affordable degree programs in community spaces, and he has highlighted the new Orange Bowl STEAM Center at Bunche Park.
Common themes across the races
Even across different candidates and seats, a few shared concerns kept surfacing in how candidates described their priorities: housing affordability, public safety (including traffic and pedestrian safety), youth development and education, senior services, and responsible development that avoids displacing longtime residents. These themes reflect the real conversations happening across Miami Gardens right now, and they're worth weighing as you decide who best represents your priorities.
Could there be a runoff?
Yes, in the contested races. In a Miami Gardens council race with more than two candidates, if no one receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers advance to a runoff later in the year. With three candidates each in Seats 2 and 4, a runoff is a real possibility in either race. We'll keep readers informed if any race heads to a second round.
How to learn more before you vote
This guide is a starting point, not a substitute for your own research. To dig deeper: look up each candidate's own campaign website and materials for their full platforms, read local coverage from outlets like The Miami Times and the Miami Herald, and check the official candidate list and your specific sample ballot at the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections (miamidade.gov/elections).
Frequently asked questions
Who is running for Miami Gardens City Council in 2026?
For the August 18, 2026 election, Seat 2 candidates are Lavern V. Deer, Linnette Smith, and Paul V. Wilson Jr. Seat 4 candidates are Mykita Cherry-Prime, Rod Mack, and Angela Maria Wynter. For At-Large Seat 6, incumbent Vice Mayor Robert Stephens III is running unopposed after candidate Erhabor Ighodaro withdrew.
Which Miami Gardens council seats are contested in 2026?
Residential Area Seat 2 and Residential Area Seat 4 are the contested races, each with three candidates. At-Large Seat 6 is uncontested because incumbent Robert Stephens III is running unopposed after the other candidate withdrew. Seats 2 and 4 are both open seats.
Where can I find the official Miami Gardens candidate list?
The official candidate list is available from the City of Miami Gardens Elections office at miamigardens-fl.gov and the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections at miamidade.gov/elections, where you can also preview your specific sample ballot based on your address.
Candidate list from the City of Miami Gardens Elections office. Candidate priorities based on public reporting from The Miami Times and Axios. This guide is neutral and non-partisan; MiamiGardens.com does not endorse candidates. For full platforms, consult each candidate's campaign materials. Published: August 17, 2026.
