Ok, don't take that literally. Joe isn't a loser. Wednesday night he was though when he came out on the losing end of the Miami Mayoral race. His yearlong campaign ended with a dismal 28% of the votes.
Was Sanchez's opponent, city hall lifer Tomas Regalado, really that great? I'm not so sure. I wonder how many voters were scanning the page looking for a third option. I have nothing against either candidate. They have always been fine politicians. But neither has impressed me with their ability to lead.
It's clear Sanchez was hoping to get elected by following Mayor Manny Diaz leadership. He voted with the mayor on practically everything from the boom to the Marlins stadium fiasco. Historically this was the safe thing to do. A well liked mayor's endorsement would guarantee you the election. The Mayor delivered, even taking Regalado to task at a recent council meeting accusing him of spending wildly. It was quite comical to see Regalado tossing papers in rage as he responded to the allegations.
In the end Manny Diaz may have been the reason Sanchez lost. Diaz vision for a bigger and better city is currently in a state of depression.
The residents are now angry that the city is teetering on the edge of being bankrupt. I'm sure many couldn't imagine hiring another mayor intent on keeping the same breakneck pace up. So in the end the guy who gets elected is the one who said no to all the spending and big projects.
You can always tell when you are at the losers party.
I know both Sanchez and Regalado camps could provide me a list of accomplishments they are proud of. Still I could not list a single item from either candidate that stands out as amazing leadership. As commissioners it seems both of these men were more reactionary then innovators of government policy.
I wish our new mayor the best of luck as he takes over at perhaps "the worst time to be mayor" (as Joe Sanchez said it election day). Moreover I hope he has the courage to lead this great city through a very trying time.
