MIAMI.- The Hialeah City Council elected Melinda de la Vega to fill the vacancy left by former Councilwoman Angélica Pacheco, who was suspended on June 25 by Governor Ron DeSantis due to problems with the law.
De la Vega, 38, will serve as interim council member for the fourth seat until the November 2025 election.
Councilwoman Mónica Pérez, after acknowledging the presence and contribution of former council members at the extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday, July 16, and thanking the other candidates for the vacant seat, nominated De la Vega, highlighting her dedication to public service through donations to the community and her participation as a volunteer in multiple activities.
“Compassion is an innate quality that is difficult to teach, and De la Vega is known for his compassion,” said Jesús Tundidor, president of the Council.
All council members voted in favor of De la Vega, except Bryan Calvo, who did not agree with the process and expressed his desire for residents to vote in favor of the person who would fill the available seat.
The result of the vote did not surprise resident José Azze, who, speaking at the meeting before the election took place, warned of the need for independent voices within the municipal legislative body.
“You, the Council members, will vote for Geilen Perez or Melinda de la Vega. Why? Because they are the people Mayor Bovo always wanted. Another complacent vote within the Council,” Azze predicted.
“I am asking them to have an independent voice, which is the job they were elected to do, especially now that Councillor Calvo will also be leaving and we will be left with a Council with all its seats saying yes sir,” said the resident.
De la Vega, who holds a degree in Health Administration and Human Resources and is a member of the Hialeah Historic Preservation Board, was sworn in as interim councilwoman after the vote.
Council seat four had been vacant since June 25, when Governor DeSantis suspended Pacheco after she turned herself in to the FBI on charges of fraud against the Health System.
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