Candidates Profile: Robert “B.J.” Duncan

Office sought: Mayor of Cutler Bay

Election date: Nov. 3, 2026

Campaign website: BJD.vote

Why are you running for mayor of Cutler Bay?

Three generations of my family live in Cutler Bay — my parents, my wife and I, and our two young sons. When I talk about the town’s future, I am describing decisions that affect my own household at three different stages of life.

We are entering the largest decade of change in the town’s history, and I am running to make sure we come out of it still recognizable: small-town, family-friendly and ours.

What are the three most important issues facing the town?

Development pressure on residential neighborhoods; economic opportunity, so more residents’ spending remains in Cutler Bay; and access to town government, because too many decisions are made at an hour many working families cannot attend.

What experience best prepares you to serve as mayor?

I have served the town for 12 years — eight on the Town Council and four on the Education Advisory Committee — working on budgets, land use and securing state and county funding.

Professionally, I direct operations for a college at Florida International University. A mayor needs to read a budget, run a team and understand which decisions belong to the town and which belong to the county or state.

What would be your first major priority?

Opening up how the town makes decisions. If a resident’s shift ends at 6 p.m. or they have young children at home, attending a 6 p.m. council meeting may not be realistic.

I would begin holding monthly public forums in rotating neighborhoods so town government comes to residents. These would be conversations with answers residents can hold me to.

How would you address development, traffic and infrastructure concerns?

Density belongs on U.S. 1. It does not belong on Old Cutler Road, Southwest 87th Avenue or residential streets.

On traffic and infrastructure, I would apply the Franjo Road model: design the fix, secure outside funding and pair roadway work with drainage improvements so the same street is not repeatedly excavated.

The town does not control U.S. 1 or the transitway, so part of the mayor’s responsibility is effective advocacy with Miami-Dade County and the Florida Department of Transportation.

How would you remain accessible and accountable?

I would hold monthly neighborhood forums, maintain standing invitations for individual meetings in person or by video and publish an email address that I personally read.

What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

I was elected to the Town Council in 2018 and have worked on appropriations for drainage, parks, roads and senior programs, the Franjo Road redesign and projects including a new Town Hall, community center and Legacy Park.

The next mayor will inherit decisions already in motion and must understand how the town government works.

What else would you like voters to know?

I would be raising my children under every decision I make. That is the accountability I am offering. This is home, and I intend to remain here long after the election.