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Fausto Gomez and Joe Rasco filed papers Tuesday to run for mayor of Key Biscayne, setting up a potential three-way contest involving Vice Mayor Brett Moss, who announced plans to run in February. The winner would succeed incumbent Mike Davey, who is term limited. The primary would take place Aug. 23.

Gomez is a former lobbyist who once counted the Village government as one of his clients. Rasco is a former mayor and Miami-Dade government relations official. 

The 2022 election could be pivotal for Key Biscayne as it sets a course to spend up to $250 million to combat sea level rise, because a measure to raise the borrowing cap will be on the November ballot. In addition to the mayor’s race, the terms of three council members are expiring: Luis Lauredo, Ed London, and Ignacio Segurola. If Moss runs, it would open a fourth council seat because he would be required to resign under Florida’s “resign to run” law. 

Rasco, 67, said he was running to provide “sustainable leadership” and had a proven track record as a council member and mayor. “I think we need leadership that will continue good policies, continue to have high ethical standards, be able to control budgets, and push forward with projects that need to be done.” 

Brett Moss speaks at a meeting of the Village Council, May 10, 2022. Moss announced plans to run for mayor in February, but would be required to resign from his current seat to do so. (KBI Photo/Tony Winton)

In an interesting twist, however, Rasco said he was in discussions with Moss about “the future of the Village,” a reference to one or the other changing their political plans. “No decisions have been made,” Rasco said. 

Mayor Davey has not been shy about his preference that Moss remain on the Council for the remainder of his second-term. Moss was the highest vote-getter in the 2020 election. 

Gomez was not immediately available for comment. 

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This story updated to clarify that primary would be Aug. 23.

Editor-in-Chief

Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He was president of the News Media Guild, a journalism union, for 10 years. Born in Chicago, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His interests are photography and technology, sailing, cooking, and science fiction.

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Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow...