MIAMI – Republican mayoral candidate Emilio Gonzalez said he will shift the city’s approach to housing from renting toward ownership if elected, criticizing Democratic runoff opponent Eileen Higgins for policies he said would leave residents renting long term.
Gonzalez made the remarks as he and Higgins prepare for a Dec. 9 runoff after no candidate reached a majority on election night Nov. 4. He framed his proposals as measures to improve affordability and expand opportunities for first-time buyers while reducing the city’s reliance on property tax revenue. The debate sits at the intersection of housing policy and municipal finance, and it is a focus of our Politics Coverage.
Why this matters
The struggle over whether city policy should prioritize homeownership or subsidized rental housing carries immediate governance and fiscal stakes. Property tax levies fund city services and capital projects, and proposals to eliminate or sharply cut those levies would require the city to identify replacement revenue or make spending reductions. Those tradeoffs matter for public safety, infrastructure and long-term affordability.
Background
Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner, led the Nov. 4 field with 35.96 percent of the vote; Gonzalez finished with 19.47 percent. Under city election rules, a candidate must win a majority to avoid a runoff, so the top two vote getters advanced to the Dec. 9 contest.
Higgins resigned from the county commission to run for mayor. Her campaign has highlighted investments she helped advance, including small business grants and projects tied to thousands of affordable housing units, according to campaign materials. The winner will replace incumbent Mayor Francis Suarez, who is term-limited.
Details from officials and records
Gonzalez, an Army veteran, former West Point instructor and business executive, argued that Higgins’ emphasis on government-backed housing could produce a persistent class of renters instead of expanding homeownership. “She wants to create a city of renters,” Gonzalez said. “I on the other hand want to create a city of owners. I want property owners.”
He said his priorities include making housing affordable enough for recent graduates to remain in the city and creating pathways to ownership through down-payment assistance and targeted incentives for first-time buyers. He framed eliminating property taxes as one component of a broader affordability push and said it would return money to residents and make homebuying more attainable.
Gonzalez told reporters that property taxes make up less than 7 percent of the city’s budget, a figure he used to argue the city could find offsets through efficiencies and revenue changes. That figure is his campaign’s characterization and would need verification by the city’s budget office; even if property taxes are a modest share of the general fund, they often support specific services and capital projects that would be affected by any cut.
Gonzalez has sought high-profile support. His campaign said he has received endorsements from former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., according to Fox News. Endorsements from statewide or national figures can bring fundraising, volunteers and media attention, but they do not change local governance responsibilities or the mechanics of municipal finance.
Legal and fiscal hurdles
Eliminating municipal property taxes is not a simple executive decision. Property tax authority and limits are governed by state and local law, and any change would require approval by the city commission and compliance with Florida statutes and charters. In addition, cutting property tax revenue would likely force the city to consider one or more of the following: shifting the burden to other local taxes or fees, reducing services, delaying capital projects, or seeking state-level relief or compensation.
For example, public safety, sanitation, parks and infrastructure projects often depend on predictable revenue streams. If property tax revenue were reduced, city leaders would need to identify specific budget offsets. That process can involve public hearings, commission votes and, in some cases, voter approval for certain levies or bond measures.
Housing policy tradeoffs
Shifting emphasis from rental subsidies and subsidized multifamily construction to ownership programs changes who benefits and how quickly housing is delivered. Homeownership programs can build household wealth and stability but typically require down-payment assistance, mortgage access and income sufficient to carry monthly costs. They also deliver fewer units per public dollar than some rental subsidy approaches.
By contrast, subsidized rental development or vouchers can move lower-income residents into housing more quickly and at scale, but they do not create the same wealth-building opportunity that ownership can. Local officials must weigh the differing time frames, administrative complexity and fiscal impacts of each approach when setting priorities.
Campaign reactions and next steps
Higgins has emphasized her record on affordability and economic development, and her campaign materials point to prior investments in housing and small business support. Her campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment from news outlets on Gonzalez’s proposals.
Both campaigns are expected to focus on turnout and targeted messaging ahead of the Dec. 9 runoff. Runoff contests often hinge on which campaign can mobilize voters who stayed home in the general election and which can persuade undecided voters that its plan is fiscally realistic and administratively achievable.
- Runoff date: Dec. 9.
- Nov. 4 results: Higgins 35.96 percent, Gonzalez 19.47 percent.
- Incumbent mayor: Francis Suarez is term-limited.
Analysis
The contest highlights competing approaches to urban affordability and municipal governance. A platform that emphasizes expanding homeownership and eliminating property taxes raises concrete governance questions: how will the city replace lost revenue, which services or capital projects will face cuts or delays, and what legal steps are required under Florida law? Those are not rhetorical questions; they are operational matters the next mayor and the city commission would have to resolve.
Voters will weigh promises about returning money to residents and increasing homeownership against the technical realities of budgeting and housing production. Policies that aim to expand ownership can complement rental-focused strategies if accompanied by robust financing programs, workforce development and measures to preserve long-term affordability. Without clear implementation plans, however, ambitious tax cuts risk creating budget shortfalls that affect basic services.
Accountability will depend on specificity. Candidates who propose sweeping changes to taxes and housing policy should outline how they would phase reforms, identify offsets, and comply with legal requirements. The Dec. 9 runoff will give Miami voters a clearer picture of which candidate has a detailed, feasible plan that balances affordability, fiscal responsibility and the delivery of city services.
