Candidates are Lined Up to Run for Mayor of Florida City

On Jan. 27, Florida City voters will go to the polls to choose a new mayor to replace longtime Mayor Otis Wallace, who is leaving office after many years of service. Five candidates have qualified to run for the open seat.

Israel J. Andrews is running for mayor and promises to advocate for the residents of Florida City. He says he will focus on fair job opportunities, improved parks and recreation, equitable police protection, and enhanced city services. If elected, he pledges a more responsive local government and stronger community resources.

Alphonso D. Bryant is a lifelong Florida City resident, educator, and community leader. He says he is committed to building a safer and more united city. His career spans more than three decades in Miami-Dade and Broward schools, where he has served as a teacher’s assistant, athletic director, school safety officer, paraprofessional, and principal. He has also served as principal of the Bee Academy, overseeing budgets, staff leadership, academic programming, and family engagement.

For more than thirty years, Bryant has also worked as a funeral attendant, which he says has given him a deeper understanding of the challenges local families face. Bryant and his wife, Ashley, are the parents of three children.

Sharon “Sheep” Smith-Butler is also a candidate for mayor. She says it is time for bold leadership and real change in Florida City. “I’m ready to serve, uplift, and represent our community with transparency and purpose. Let’s make history — do I have your vote?” she wrote on social media.

City Commissioner Walter P. Thompson Sr. is running as well. “I didn’t stay comfortable. I pushed boundaries, challenged decisions, and created opportunity for Florida City wherever I could. Now I’m running for mayor to finish the job — to protect our city, center long-term residents, and do what is necessary for Florida City’s future,” he said on his campaign website.

Charlotte Thompson is also seeking the mayor’s office. She says her priorities include repairing potholes, improving trash removal, and enhancing the city’s drainage system, according to her campaign social media.