By Mandy Miles & Gwen Filosa
The Key West mayor last week answered a question that had been on the island’s collective mind — will she run for a final term?
After serving a total of 14 years, as city commissioner and then mayor, Mayor Teri Johnston announced on Jan. 26 that she will not run again.
“Throughout my tenure, we have worked tirelessly to make our city vibrant, sustainable and welcoming — one where progress moves forward, not back,” Johnston said in a statement. “However, like all leaders realize, there comes a time to allow new leadership to take the helm. This is my time. While I may be moving onto the next chapter, my commitment to our city, our people and our new city manager remains steadfast,” Johnston said. “I look forward to supporting our next generation of leaders who will continue making Key West one of the best places to live, grow and visit.”
The mayor’s race had already drawn one candidate in former Monroe County tax collector DeeDee Henriquez, who announced her candidacy last year and has already raised $19,800.
Henriquez and her husband, Ralph, also own Kilwins chocolate and ice cream shop on Duval Street. Ralph Henriquez is the longtime Conch baseball coach at Key West High School.
It now seems as if Henriquez will face City Commissioner Sam Kaufman for the mayor’s gavel.
Kaufman told the Keys Weekly on Jan. 29 that he indeed plans to run for mayor.
Kaufman had previously said he supports Johnston wholeheartedly and would never run against her, but with Johnston’s decision made, Kaufman is putting his campaign together now.
“The number of people who have told me I should run has really been encouraging,” Kaufman said. “I really feel like it’s my obligation.”
Kaufman said his platform will focus on “the big issues — affordable housing, the hospital and the environment.”
He also sent out an online survey asking residents about their views of city officials, and he said the results “were very encouraging.”
Florida’s resign-to-run law means Kaufman must resign his current commission seat at least one week before qualifying for the mayor’s race, which occurs in June. So he’ll resign his current seat in late May, but will serve as commissioner until then. Kaufman is in his ninth year on the commission and serving his sixth year as vice mayor.
Former city commissioner Mark Rossi is eyeing Kaufman’s commission seat — the same one Rossi occupied from 2004-2015.
“I’m definitely gonna go for it, for sure,” Rossi told the Keys Weekly on Jan. 30. “I’m just waiting for clarification about whether there needs to be a special election to fulfill the end of Commissioner Kaufman’s term, or whether there is an appointment made for someone to complete that term. But I think it would be good for the city, and my number-one issue will be fixing the streets — but not Duval Street, with that current hare-brained plan to redo Duval Street. And I won’t raise anyone’s taxes.”
Street repairs, coupled with fiscal responsibility, are Rossi’s main platform points, he said.
Rossi owns Rick’s & Dirty Harry’s Entertainment Complex on Lower Duval Street.
The Key West city races are nonpartisan and could be decided in the Aug. 20 primary if one candidate for a commission seat or the mayor’s office receives more than 50% of the vote. If no one does, then the top two candidates will head to a runoff in the Nov. 5 general election.
