Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Palmetto Bay Mayor & Village Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

9 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

Karen Baez-WallisHealthcare leader who says she has 30-plus years of experience, including emergency and trauma services.2sourced
Tamara MourinoPalmetto Bay business owner who says she led the Palmetto Bay Business Association.2sourced
David M. SingerCPA and finance professional who says he has served four years on the Palmetto Bay council.2sourced

Councilmember Seat 1 · 1 seat

Councilmember Seat 3 · 1 seat

Three contests are on the Nov. 3 ballot: Mayor, Seat 1 and Seat 3. Seats 1 and 3 are filled by residents of the northern and southern residential areas, and the Charter provides for at-large voting. Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer and Councilmember Steve Cody keep their seats.

2 notes on these statements

John DuBois registered for the mayoral race and withdrew his candidacy on June 18, 2026. Village of Palmetto Bay

Candidate statements here come from the Miami Herald's candidate questionnaire, published Sept. 24, 2026. Miami Herald · Sep 24, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Steve CodyCouncilmember, Seat 2; term in office 2024-20285sourced Mark MerwitzerVice Mayor; term in office 2024-20285sourced

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesProperty tax rate and the Village budget, Single-member council districts, Development and traffic Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Property tax rate and the Village budget

Where it standsThe council adopted a FY2026-27 millage rate of 2.3500 on Sept. 23, 2026, 4-1, and a budget the same night, 3-2.

What's on the tableThe next council will set future millage rates and budgets.

The ordinance adopted a millage rate of 2.3500, which is 8.19% higher than the rollback rate of 2.1722. Village of Palmetto Bay · Sep 23, 2026
On Sept. 23, 2026 the council amended the rate from 2.389 to 2.3500 and adopted it, 4-1, with Councilmember Matson voting no. Village of Palmetto Bay · Sep 23, 2026
On Sept. 14, 2026 the first-reading millage ordinance passed 3-2, with Vice Mayor Merwitzer and Councilmember Matson voting no. Village of Palmetto Bay · Sep 14, 2026

Single-member council districts

Where it standsVoters will decide a Charter amendment on single-member districts for Seats 1, 2 and 3.

What's on the tableIf it passes, the council elected in 2028 and 2030 would be chosen by district rather than at large.

The amendment would make Seats 1, 2 and 3 single-member districts, starting with Seat 2 in 2028 and Seats 1 and 3 in 2030. Miami-Dade Elections
It would keep at-large elections for Mayor and Vice Mayor. Miami-Dade Elections

Development and traffic

Where it standsCandidates in the Herald guide for Mayor and both council seats named development, traffic or infrastructure among their top concerns.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how the Village applies its zoning rules and plans for traffic.

Karen Baez-Wallis called overdevelopment, traffic and infrastructure interconnected. Miami Herald · Sep 24, 2026
Tana Llinas said the Village needs a comprehensive mobility plan. Miami Herald · Sep 24, 2026
Voters will also decide an amendment requiring the Village to use best efforts to acquire the federal USDA property near SW 136 Street and SW 67 Avenue for park or open space if it becomes available. Miami-Dade Elections

Council transparency and conduct

Where it standsIn 2026 the council rejected ordinances on fee waiver reporting and on decorum rules for public meetings.

What's on the tableThe next council will set its own meeting rules and any reporting requirements on Village spending.

An ordinance requiring cost accounting and annual reporting for fee waivers failed 2-3 in July 2026. Village of Palmetto Bay · Jul 6, 2026
An ordinance modernizing the council's decorum statement and rules of public meeting conduct failed 2-4 on June 1, 2026. Village of Palmetto Bay · Jun 1, 2026
A Charter amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot would require only a speaker's name and municipality of residence for public comment. Miami-Dade Elections

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How should council members be elected?
2. How should the council treat new development?
3. How should the Village address traffic?
4. Should the Village require public reporting of the full cost of fee waivers?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Election DayVillage of Palmetto BayNov 3, 2026
Runoff election, if requiredVillage of Palmetto BayDec 1, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Steve Cody, Mark Merwitzer3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Palmetto Bay has a Council-Manager form of government; the Mayor, Vice Mayor and three Councilmembers make up the legislative body. Village of Palmetto Bay
Council Seats 1, 2 and 3 each represent a residential area of the Village (north, central, south). Village of Palmetto Bay
The Charter currently provides at-large elections for Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers. Miami-Dade Elections
If no candidate wins outright, a runoff would be held Dec. 1, 2026. Village of Palmetto Bay

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