Candidate: Bryan Morera

My name is Bryan Morera. I am 32 years old, a husband to by beautiful wife, Katherine, and I am a lifelong resident of the Town of Miami Lakes. Having grown up here, I had the opportunity to play in our parks, fall in love with baseball at the Miami Lakes Optimist Park, go to school at Miami Lakes Middle School, go to church at Our Lady of the Lakes, and pet the cows at the various pastures scattered throughout the Town. As I got older, I was able to frequent Main Street and the various restaurants and bars in Town and watch as our Town changed over time.

As a kid, I always gravitated toward passionate advocacy. This passion would lead me to become a proud double-Panther, earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 2013, and my Juris Doctorate Degree in 2017, from Florida International University. After passing the Florida Bar and practicing law for several years, I decided to open my own law firm. Sometime later, I opened another business that provides business advising and consulting services. Of course, I set up both businesses right here in Miami Lakes.

While a lot of the changes that I have witnessed over the years have been positive, not all have. Over the years, the cow pastures have all but disappeared, traffic has become difficult to contend with at best, and a nightmare at worst, several of our tree canopies have been removed, and numerous interests have endeavored to treat taxpayer dollars like a blank check and to over-develop our Town.

This is why I am running for Miami Lakes Councilman. I believe that my combination of passion for advocacy, my knowledge of the law, my experience in negotiating terms favorable to my clients, my experience in advocating for my clients’ rights in and out of court, my experience as President of my Homeowners’ Association, and my experience in advocating for things that matter to Miami Lakers would add value to our Town Council in a way that pushes Miami Lakes forward while preserving its small-town character and nature.

Not being one to shy away from complicated or controversial issues, I have found myself at the forefront of several important issues. First, when Mount Sinai sought to build a six-story hospital on the corner of NW 154th Street and NW 87th Avenue, complete with a helipad and an emergency room, I successfully led the charge against the approval of the project. This project would have led to helicopters constantly flying and landing mere feet away from hundreds of Miami Lakers’ backyards and ambulances speeding through residential neighborhoods to reach the hospital.

Also, when the issue surrounding the opening of the bridges at NW 154th Street and NW 170th Street came up, I was among the most vocal opponents to the opening of the bridges, knowing that if they were opened, it would only worsen the already overwhelming traffic in Miami Lakes. As part of the efforts, I created and circulated a petition that garnered thousands of signatures, met with elected officials, and spoke up at public meetings at Town Hall and in County Hall. Ultimately, they opened only the NW 170th Street bridge, and not the NW 154th Street bridge, and the result is visible every morning along NW 87th Avenue with thousands of vehicles coming over the bridge and creating a never-ending queue to make the left-turn onto NW 154th Street to ultimately reach the Palmetto. 

Finally, I have also contributed efforts to improve the quality of life in Miami Lakes through my involvement in the Neighborhood Improvement Committee (NIC) and the Blasting Advisory Board (BAB). In the NIC, I joined other dedicated residents in finding creative, cost-effective, and desirable ways to improve our Town. In the BAB, I learned about one of the greatest threats to Miami Lakers and their properties. Being part of a phenomenal team of public servants, we were able to take the fight to Tallahassee and directly to the miners doing the blasting to advocate for limitations on blasting to secure the safety and structural integrity of our homes.

I love Miami Lakes, and I love living, working, and playing in Miami Lakes. I want my young nephews and future children to love living, working, and playing in Miami Lakes. That is the other reason I am running. We need someone who has the skills, knowledge, and courage to secure the future of Miami Lakes, to make sure that it evolves with the times, but that it always maintains its small-town character. That is why I humbly ask that on April 9th, you vote for me for Town Council Seat 6.