MIAMI — Less than two weeks after her swearing-in, Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins has selected James Reyes, the county’s public safety chief, as her choice to become the city’s top administrator, her office announced Monday.
Reyes would replace current City Manager Art Noriega if confirmed by commissioners.
Reyes has worked for Miami-Dade County since 2022, when he was hired by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to first lead the corrections department after a long tenure as a high-ranking deputy with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He now oversees both the corrections and fire rescue departments and also oversaw what was then the Miami-Dade Police Department before it reverted to being led by an elected sheriff earlier this year.
Reyes was the Democratic nominee for that office in 2024, losing to Republican Rosie Cordero-Stutz in a near-sweep of top county offices for the GOP that year. He and Higgins, also a Democrat but serving in a nonpartisan role, shared the same campaign manager.
Reyes, Higgins said in a memorandum to commissioners, “demonstrated the transformational leadership our city needs.”
In a news release, her office touted Reyes’ current role, “overseeing operations serving nearly three million residents with an annual budget exceeding $1.2 billion.”
“James Reyes brings the executive leadership skills essential to municipal management: fiscal accountability, process improvement, strategic planning, and the ability to develop high-performing teams,” Higgins wrote in the memo. “His servant leadership approach emphasizes transparency and empowering others to succeed. He shares my commitment to serving all Miami residents with respect and dignity.”
Reyes, in a statement, said he was “honored” by Higgins’ nomination and “grateful for the trust she has placed in me.”
“My career in public service has been guided by a commitment to listening to our community, leading with integrity, and delivering results that make a real difference in people’s daily lives,” he said. “I look forward to working with the City Commission through the confirmation process and helping deliver results for residents while restoring trust in City Hall through transparent, accountable leadership.”
Higgins said she believes that Reyes will help her achieve her goals of streamlining and modernizing city government, including the permitting process.
Commissioners are expected to vote on Reyes’ nomination on Jan. 8.
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