Meet the candidates for Palmetto Bay mayor, council. Here’s what they have to say

Palmetto Bay residents will elect a mayor and two council members on Tuesday, Nov. 3. We asked the nine candidates where they stood on key issues facing the village. Here is how they responded:

PALMETTO BAY MAYOR

Why are you running for office?

Karen Baez-Wallis: I’m running for mayor to protect Palmetto Bay’s quality of life and put residents first. I’ll preserve our neighborhoods, stand firm against overdevelopment, address traffic, support public safety, and bring transparency, integrity and accountability to Village Hall. This is my home, and I’m committed to the community we love.

Tamara Mourino: Palmetto Bay isn’t just where I live. It’s where Joe and I built our life, raised Sofia and Mia, built our business and put down roots. I’m running for mayor because I’m invested in this community and its future, and I want to protect our neighborhoods, strengthen our quality of life and keep Palmetto Bay a special place to live and raise a family.

David M. Singer: As a CPA and business professional, I’m running because Palmetto Bay is at a critical crossroads. I care deeply about the future and stability of our village. Over the last few years, we’ve watched local government become bogged down in unnecessary division, internal politics, and a lack of clear, accountable leadership.

What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?

Karen Baez-Wallis: I bring 30+ years of healthcare leadership, including emergency and trauma services, overseeing complex operations, multimillion-dollar budgets, large teams and crisis response. As a longtime Palmetto Bay resident and community advocate, I bring proven executive leadership, sound decision-making and firsthand knowledge of our community.

Tamara Mourino: I’ve built and run a successful business in our village, led the Palmetto Bay Business Association and spent years bringing people together to solve problems in our community. I know how to lead, manage budgets and make tough decisions. As mayor, I’ll bring that proven leadership, business experience and a fresh approach to Village Hall.

David M. Singer: What sets me apart is a combination of deep roots in this community and the practical, real-world experience needed to govern effectively from day one. I’ve been on the council for four years, and I’m not learning on the job. As a CPA and finance professional, I bring a sharp eye for fiscal discipline that is rare in municipal politics.

What is the most pressing issue facing the community you wish to represent?

Karen Baez-Wallis: The most pressing issue facing Palmetto Bay is protecting our quality of life. Overdevelopment, traffic and infrastructure are interconnected, and every decision must consider its impact on our residents. My priority is to put residents first, protect our neighborhoods and green spaces, and preserve the character of the community we call home.

Tamara Mourino: Financial sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing Palmetto Bay. We need disciplined budgeting, smart investments and long-term planning to properly fund public safety, infrastructure and essential services, protect taxpayers from unnecessary increases, and keep our village financially strong and prepared for the future.

David M. Singer: The most pressing issue is a breakdown in fiscal accountability and stable, focused leadership at Village Hall. When government loses its focus on core responsibilities, everything else suffers. How we handle growth and traffic to how we resource our public safety and maintain our parks. While overdevelopment and traffic threaten our neighborhoods.

PALMETTO BAY SEAT 1

Why are you running for office?

Pam Gorman: I’m running to protect what makes Palmetto Bay special: our neighborhoods, our bedroom community character and the quality of life that brought us here. I will bring fresh ideas, fiscal responsibility and a more constructive approach to Village Hall, with less political drama, more listening and a focus on delivering results for residents.

Tana Llinas: As a longtime resident, mother, business owner for nearly 20 years and proven community leader, I bring experience managing budgets, building consensus and delivering results. My priority is protecting Palmetto Bay’s quality of life while making thoughtful, fiscally responsible decisions for our future.

What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?

Pam Gorman: I bring unmatched financial experience, with 34 years managing budgets, controlling costs and making tough decisions, along with a proven record of getting things done for Palmetto Bay. I’ve advocated for Fire Station 62, sidewalk repairs and critical C-100 canal issues, and I’ll bring that same hands-on, results-driven approach to the council.

Tana Llinas: With my business knowledge and community leadership experience, I know how to manage budgets, bring people together, solve problems and deliver results. I’ll bring that proven leadership to Village Hall — protecting our quality of life and making smart, fiscally responsible decisions for our residents.

What is the most pressing issue facing the community you wish to represent?

Pam Gorman: Advocating against overdevelopment for years, I will continue to protect Palmetto Bay from pressures of overdevelopment. We must preserve our bedroom community character, demand responsible development, address traffic and infrastructure, protect our neighborhoods and green spaces, and keep Palmetto Bay the special place we’re proud to call home.

Tana Llinas: Traffic and overdevelopment go hand in hand. We need a comprehensive mobility plan that improves how we move through our village, while ensuring new development follows our zoning laws and aligns with our infrastructure. Smart, responsible planning will help reduce congestion, protect our neighborhoods and preserve Palmetto Bay’s quality of life.

PALMETTO BAY SEAT 3

Why are you running for office?

Lasaly Changkachith: Palmetto Bay’s council has become mired in division, chaos covered not just by the Miami Herald and WLRN, but by the New York Times. Our village deserves better. I’m running to replace infighting with calm, collaborative leadership and thoughtful proposals that protect the character and essence that make Palmetto Bay home.

Carl Crawford: I’m running because Palmetto Bay is my home and where my wife and I are raising our children. I want to protect the community we love while preparing it for the future. I believe residents deserve thoughtful growth, fiscal discipline, safer streets and a council that listens, communicates and gets things done.

Alan “AlJohn” Farquharson: To restore civility, honesty and accountability to our village

A.J. “AL” Lara: I’m running for Palmetto Bay Council because I care deeply about the community I call home, and I believe my experience in leadership, operations, facilities, budgeting and problem-solving can make a real difference in our village. I’m not running for a title. I’m running because I believe in serving my neighbors.

What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?

Lasaly Changkachith: I understand how the council is run and respect that the real work for our village is done by village administration and staff. As chair of the Resiliency Committee and the only woman among four candidates for Seat 3, I bring a service-first mindset, shown through volunteering at Pine Rockland restorations, recycling drives and beach cleanups.

Carl Crawford: I bring nearly 30 years of real estate, business and project-management experience. I understand budgets, contracts, development and accountability. As a homeowner, business owner and father raising my family here, I’ll bring practical, results-driven leadership to the council.

Alan “AlJohn” Farquharson: I bring small business, hands-on experience, deep roots in the community, and a practical commitment to putting residents, responsible spending and Palmetto Bay’s future first.

A.J. “AL” Lara: Throughout my career, I have managed operations, facilities, budgets, people and complex problems. That experience has taught me how to listen carefully, evaluate information, make responsible decisions, manage resources effectively and follow through. These are the same skills needed to serve effectively on the Village Council.

What is the most pressing issue facing the community you wish to represent?

Lasaly Changkachith: Issues vary by district, from the FPL-Luxcom settlement to traffic, peacocks and Burger King headquarters gentrification in District 3. But one issue touches every resident: Referendum 4, which would shift council votes from at-large to single district. Since council decisions affect the whole village, residents should keep voting at-large.

Carl Crawford: Our greatest challenge is managing growth without sacrificing the quality of life that makes Palmetto Bay special. Development must be balanced with traffic, drainage, infrastructure, public safety and neighborhood character. We need disciplined planning that protects our residents, property values and village for the next generation.

Alan “AlJohn” Farquharson: Our most pressing issue is this election itself. We must elect leaders who will put residents first.

A.J. “AL” Lara: Residents want safe streets, reliable infrastructure, responsible development, effective traffic management and careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars. These concerns are closely connected: As the community grows and development pressures increase, the village must ensure that roads, drainage, public spaces and public safety services keep pace.

This story was originally published September 24, 2026 at 5:00 AM.