Suspended Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez will have to file for sheriff “very soon” – NBC 6 South Florida

Suspended Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez said he plans to run in the county's upcoming sheriff's race as he faces a corruption trial.

Martinez attended a hearing in his criminal case Tuesday and later spoke about running for sheriff.

“After much consultation, I am letting you know that I will be running for elected sheriff in Miami-Dade County very soon and I look forward to representing the community fairly, not politically, but fairly,” he said. he declared. “Because law enforcement, even though I am a Republican and proud of it, should not be about Republicans, Democrats, Independents or politics, but rather about defending the public.”

In an exclusive interview with sister station Telemundo 51, former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez said he is confident he did nothing illegal.

Martinez has not officially filed for office but plans to join 16 other candidates who have registered and are seeking the county's top police officer position.

Martinez was arrested in August 2022 on charges of illegal compensation and conspiracy to commit illegal compensation.

According to an arrest warrant, the charges stem from money Martinez allegedly accepted in exchange for helping a supermarket owner and property owner who were having problems with merchandise storage containers.

The warrant says Martinez accepted three $5,000 payments from the supermarket owner in exchange for helping with fees and fines, as well as helping draft legislation changing the ordinance to allow a storage container on properties less than 10 acres.

Martinez's lawyers say the charges are political because Martinez was considering running for sheriff.

Martinez was later suspended from the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Martinez has previously served as chairman of the commission twice. He first held the District 11 seat in 2000 and opted not to run for re-election in 2012 before winning the position again in 2016.