Mayoral candidates discuss issues at forum

Mayoral candidates Tomás Regalado (left) and Joe Sanchez, both sitting City Commissioners, gave their vision for the city at a forum on Saturday, at a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Both commissioners gave their take on why they would be a good mayor. Regalado, says he would like to see Miami go back to basics. Sanchez felt that we need to look to the future.

While Sanchez says the days of Miami being called a "Banana Republic" are over, many disagree. Many feel the city is overdeveloped and actually run by builders and developers.

Regalado said he is not in favor of any more taxes. And while he has been seen as the anti-development commissioner (and Sanchez has been seen as pro-development, especially with his votes approving the 300 Bay Residences and the Marlins Stadium), Regalado says he has voted 90 percent of the time in favor of development and has seen that the developers work with neighbors.

A local Grove group is putting together a debate between the two candidates for the fall and there will probably be many more before November's election.