City of Doral Elections 2024 : Get familiar with the candidates you are going to vote for
By: Diana Bello Aristizábal
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, voters will have the opportunity to vote in federal, state, and local elections.
Voting in your local election is one of the most important things you can do because it impacts your way of life. But remember, for an election to be successful and democratic, voters must understand their rights and responsibilities, be well-informed before casting their ballots, and participate massively in the voting process.
The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2024, and it can be done easily by mail or online at https://registertovoteflorida.gov, or in person at the Miami-Dade Elections Department.
This year, Doral will hold an election to determine who will be the mayor and city council members for the following years. These are the candidates:
Candidates For City of Doral Mayor
Christi Fraga
The proud Cuban American candidate began her career at age 24 when she took office as the youngest councilmember in the history of Doral, focusing on empowering youth, women, individuals with special needs and senior adults. A year later, she was serving as vice mayor elected by her colleagues and in 2020, she became Miami-Dade County School Board representative for District 5.
Subsequently, Fraga made history for the second time, in December 2022, after becoming the first female mayor the city has ever had, replacing the current Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners member for District 12, Juan Carlos Bermudez.
Now the candidate returns seeking a reelection after accumulating several achievements in her first term, such as revoking the lifetime pensions of elected officials, establishing Info Doral, a resources and solutions center to help residents and business owners, accelerating the construction and opening date of Doral Central Park, and launching a ride-sharing program for seniors, among others.
The current mayor, a resident for more than 20 years, a successful businesswoman and a community leader, holds an associate’s degree in business administration from Miami Dade College, a bachelor’s degree in financial management and accounting from Florida International University and a certificate from the Good Government Initiative’s Leaders in Excellence from University of Miami. For more information, visit www.christifraga.com
Roxana Garay
This businesswoman born in Hialeah with Cuban and Ecuadorian roots has an active work life. In addition to managing a family business in the logistics field since 2014, she has real estate licenses and a technology company in hardware solutions.
From an entrepreneurial family, Garay decided to expand her businesses internationally and train in business skills in the United States and South America where she currently supervises multiple associations.
Additionally, she earned a master’s degree in sustainable smart cities and has experience in project management. Her goal is to drive comprehensive policy formulation and leverage modernization frameworks to create green buildings.
Candidates for Doral City Council, Seat 1
Ivette Gonzalez Petkovich
After being a candidate for the Doral council in the 2022 elections, the lawyer and businesswoman returns to contest for seat 1. She defines herself as a problem solver who loves the City of Doral, where she has lived for almost two decades, and wants to help it prosper.
As a lifelong resident of South Florida and a product of traditional public education, she says her focus has always been to advocate and fight for those in need and for issues that require intervention.
She holds a degree in business administration from University of Miami and a Juris Doctor (JD) from St. Thomas University School of Law. Also, she was a Miami-Dade Assistant State’s Attorney and is currently the owner of Petkovich Law Firm.
Ivette is the president of the Doral Community Coalition and actively organized Doral residents to mobilize against the Covanta garbage incinerator. For more information, visit www.ivettefordoral.com
Rafael A. Pineyro
His career dates back to 2004, when he became parks manager for the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department. That position was followed by others until, in 2014, he arrived at Doral’s City Hall to serve as legislative analyst and chief of staff. In 2022, he was elected by residents to occupy a seat on the city council.
Councilman Pineyro (incumbent), who served as vice mayor until 2023, prioritized public safety, worked with county officials to try to close the Doral trash incinerator, advocated for responsible and controlled growth, and repealed the elected official’s lifetime pensions, among many other initiatives.
Pineyro holds an associate of arts degree from Miami Dade College, a professional degree in public administration from Florida International University, and a master’s degree in psychology from Lipscomb University. In addition to his role in the city, since 2018 he has been a management consultant for Pineyro Enterprise Inc.
He has been dedicated to serving the residents of Doral with integrity and transparency and to making our community a better place for all. For more information, visit www.rafaelpineyro.com
Candidates for Doral City Council, Seat 3
Juan Carlos Esquivel
Of Cuban descent and born in Venezuela, Esquivel will contest for a place on the city council for the third time after having contested in the 2020 and 2022 elections. He has lived in Miami since 12 years of age and in Doral for the past 21 years.
During his 38-year career in logistics, he worked for two shipping lines in South Florida and established his first company in Doral. He is currently the owner of Port Logistics Solutions Corporation and president and CEO of Doral Voice Corporation.
Esquivel studied at Rockway Junior and Coral Park Senior High, attended Miami Dade College and has begun pursuing an MBA in International Business at Humboldt International University. For more information, visit www.jcesquivelfordoral.com
Nicole Reinoso
Born in Puerto Rico and of Cuban descent, the candidate began her career in 2010 as a case manager for Rubenstein Law. Then, in 2019, she came to the City of Doral to work as a legislative analyst for Christi Fraga when she was a councilwoman.
Subsequently, she joined the Miami-Dade County Public Schools in 2020 as chief of staff until 2023. Currently, Reinoso is the executive director for Land Use & Intergovernmental Affairs of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Reinoso studied health services administration at Miami Dade College and Florida International University, an MBA at Florida International University, and a juris doctorate at St. Thomas University.
Nicole aspires to enrich the lives of Doral’s seniors by providing them with more engaging activities and fostering partnerships with community organizations. She is committed to advocating for children, including those with special needs, by utilizing Doral’s parks and resources to ensure they can access the support and opportunities they deserve. For more information, visit www.nicolereinoso.com
Irina Vilarino
Vilarino came to the United States in 1980 from Cuba alongside her working family, that established some restaurants and real estate ventures. She says that having run a family business has changed her vision on the economy and the American dream.
Today, she is a resident of Doral and passionate about preserving the opportunity for success for other families seeking a better life. She and her fifteen-year-old daughter are active members of the Epiphany Catholic Church.
With degrees from Stetson University and Florida International University, Vilarino ran for election to the United States House of Representatives to represent Florida’s 26th Congressional District in 2020 but withdrew her candidacy.
For more information, visit www.irinafordoral.com