Ivette González Petkovich – Candidate for Doral City Council, Seat 2

Ivette González Petkovich

Campaign website: www.ivettefordoral.com

Current Employment: Petkovich Law Firm P.A.

Political Experience: 

• Vice-Chair, Doral’s Committee on the Status of Women
• Doral’s Citizen’s Audit Advisory: Scrutinized the City’s budget to ensure efficiency in the administration of our taxpayer dollars.
• President, Doral Community Coalition
• Miami Dade Assistant State Attorney: Prosecuted thousands of criminal cases as a public servant.

What is the most pressing issue facing the city and how would you propose handling it?

The trash incinerator is an ongoing threat to our quality of life, property values, and our health. The facility must be retired, and the County Commission recently voted to replace it with a new facility across the street. Doral MUST have its opportunity to be heard. Miami-Dade has other options including sites in industrial areas with minimal residences nearby. If despite all efforts the County still insists on building the new facility here, we must demand adherence to strict air standards to avoid increases in toxic and noxious emissions – a problem that worsened as the current facility grew older.

How will you handle population growth in our city, especially with the recent arrival of illegal immigrants?

Our population is growing because our city is thriving, and people are choosing to move here for all that Doral offers. We cannot absorb unlimited growth, but it’s important to not lose sight of the fact that our City is maturing and offering a quality of life not available in other parts of Miami-Dade. Securing Doral’s future and preserving our quality of life requires that we continue to be mindful of how this continued growth could impact Doral’s livability. We must preserve our green spaces, leverage every opportunity to reduce traffic, and work with our police department to address crime.

Do you think the city should increase its police force?

Generally, property crime and violent crime are both on the increase in 2022. Doral isn’t immune to these trends – especially in our commercial areas. However, my first instinct is to ask how we can do better with what we already have within our budget and resources rather than increase the burden on taxpayers. Before committing to increasing the size of our force, I would want to explore options like targeted enforcement, better coordination with security at our gated communities, and public security cameras to monitor commercial areas overnight.

A personal message to voters:

I am a wife and mother, lawyer, and community leader, who represent experienced and authentic leadership. Born in Miami and having been in Doral since before it became a City, I have a keen understanding of the needs of residents and our business community. As a homeowner, raising my family here, I want to ensure Doral continues to thrive so our children can be as proud of living here as we are. I will never stop fighting for what matters to you most. Most importantly, I know Doral’s success is largely due to the leadership of Mayor JC Bermudez. I intend to continue his legacy.