Damian Pardo won the runoff for Miami’s District 2 seat, beating incumbent Sabina Covo and becoming the city’s first openly-gay commissioner, unofficial election night results showed. He led Covo by more than 250 votes, with all precincts reporting.
The mood inside Flanigan’s in Coconut Grove was one of celebration as a crowd of about 50 supporters crammed into a small room adorned with Christmas decor where they clapped and chanted “Damian,” with one attendee likening the victory to “David and Goliath.” Guests included Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera and businessman Bill Fuller, who, along with Martin Pinilla, won a $63.5 million judgment against Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo earlier this year.
“It’s such an honor,” Pardo said when asked about the historic race. “Because I know what it means to young folks. I know what it means to older folks like me… It’s really proven when you can get elected to be a city commissioner in what is considered to be a pretty conservative city.” […]
Click here to read the full piece. This story was originally published by Miami Herald on November 21, 2023.
