Joe Martinez Wants To Be Miami-Dade Mayor

MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) -- Joe Martinez, chairman of the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners has thrown his hat into the ring in the race to become the County's next mayor. Martinez has announced he will run for Mayor of Miami-Dade County in 2012.

Martinez has represented District 11 as County Commissioner for the past eleven years. He says he has the experience and leadership skills to run for Mayor. Martinez says he will not leave his current post as Commission Chairman during his bid for mayor.

"My parents taught me to finish what I start," said Martinez in a prepared release. "The residents of District 11 and my colleagues elected me to lead them during these times and I am not going to quit before my term ends. As Chairman of the Board, I know I can do more for this community, and will focus on a mayoral race when my term is up."

Martinez is not the only South Florida politician hoping to become Miami-Dade County's next mayor.

Two-term County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez will run to be the next mayor if Carlos Alvarez loses the recall election set for March 15th. Early voting is already underway.

In addition, Doral Mayor J.C. Bermudez has said he's running to be the next mayor but not before 2012 when Alvarez' term officially ends.

If Alvarez is ousted from office due to the recall election, commissioners could appoint a replacement until the general election or they could hold a special election to fill the position.

If that happens, the candidates so far include Gimenez, Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and former state legislator Marcelo Llorente. A special election would have to take place within 45 days of the recall vote, which is expected to cost taxpayers between $4 million and $5 million.