(WSVN) – MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. (WSVN) – For South Floridians voting on Election Day, the presidential election isn’t the only contest on their ballot. For the first time in six decades, voters in Miami-Dade County will elect a sheriff.

Whoever wins the election for sheriff will inherit one of the largest police departments in the U.S., with more than 32,000 sworn officers, more than 5,000 total employees and a $1 billion budget.

Democratic sheriff candidate James Reyes currently serves as the county’s public safety director, which includes police, fire and correctional departments. Prior to his appointment to his current position, he spent the majority of his career as a law enforcement officer in Broward County for 22 years.

“I was able to single-handedly manage over 5,600 employees and a $1.2 billion budget. These are some of the new responsibilities we can expect as we transition to an independent constitutional office,” Reyes said.

7News caught up with Reyes as he visited last-minute campaign stops and polling locations around the county to make his final push for sheriff.

“I feel very confident. I feel like our message has resonated with the community,” he said.

That message to voters is that his experience in leadership positions makes him the candidate who will be ready to lead the new sheriff’s office on day one of his term.

“Being the only candidate who has leadership experience in the Sheriff’s Office makes me the candidate who is ready for the transition from day one

He has been endorsed by Miami-Dade County Democratic Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and former MDPD Police Director Freddy Ramirez, but promises voters he will be an independent voice.

Reyes said his priority if elected would be community safety, improving mental health services for lawmakers on the street and establishing a public corruption unit to investigate illegal behavior by elected officials.

“I am committed to bringing that transparency and communication to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

Reyes will host his watch party at Bay 13 Brewery in Coral Gables.

Meanwhile, his Republican opponent, Rosie Cordero-Stutz, is a current Miami-Dade police officer who has held top positions in multiple departments over her 28-year career, working her way up from street cop to deputy director.

Like Reyes, Cordero-Stutz was seen making last-minute election stops in Doral and Sweetwater.

“Here we are, I’ve visited a lot of polling stations,” Cordero-Stutz said. “The energy is still good. We got a lot of people to come out and vote.”

She hopes to become the elected sheriff when the Miami-Dade Police Department becomes a sheriff’s office.

Cordero-Stutz currently leads the Miami-Dade Police Department’s investigative services and is supported by former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“I am the only police officer running for sheriff in Miami-Dade County. I am the only person who has served as a police officer here in this county for 28 years. “That’s important,” said Cordero-Stutz.

She said her 28-year career with the MDPD is the main reason she should become Reyes sheriff.

“I will serve this community as I have for the last 28 years. In some ways, that’s true for all of Miami-Dade County,” Cordero-Stutz said.

She gave 7News her simple and important message to voters who have not yet voted in Miami-Dade.

“Come out. It’s such an important time in our community nationally, but also here at the county level,” Cordero-Stutz said.

If elected, she would like to focus on community safety and address the way the department handles emergency calls.

Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.