In a crowded race for Miami-Dade sheriff, some want to recruit Miami’s ousted chief

There are 14 people running for Miami-Dade County sheriff, but a new website is seeking another candidate: former Miami police chief Art Acevedo.

Backed by filmmaker Billy Corben with encouragement from a Democratic pollster and others, draftchiefacevedo.com seeks to drum up support for Acevedo as a vindicated anti-corruption crusader ready to lead county law enforcement.

“To have the sheriff that was run out of town ride back into town — that’s a very exciting prospect,” Corben said.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade’s sheriff race draws GOP-heavy crowd with a dozen candidates — and counting

Acevedo accused city commissioners of firing him in 2021 after six months on the job over his reform efforts, including targeting corruption within Miami government. City management cited public gaffes that cost Acevedo support of officers, including a claim that a “Cuban mafia” runs Miami.

Since his forced exit, corruption allegations resulted in the arrest of Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla on charges he sold his vote in exchange for political contributions and gifts, and a $63 million verdict against Commissioner Joe Carollo in a lawsuit alleging misuse of city inspectors against a Miami business. Mayor Francis Suarez also drew interest from federal investigators over his $10,000-a-month job for a local developer.

READ MORE: ‘We need help in Miami’: Former police chief begged for federal investigation

In a brief interview, Acevedo, a Cuban-American now working as interim police chief in Aurora, Colorado, said he’s been fielding requests to run for sheriff since he arrived in Miami two years ago after serving as Houston’s police chief and hasn’t ruled out a candidacy.

“I’ve been asked that before. I’ve been asked by a lot of people. It’s not anything I’m pursuing,” Acevedo said Wednesday. “My philosophy in life is never say never.”

Acevedo no longer owns real estate in Miami-Dade, but Florida law only requires sheriffs live in the state, according to a 2018 opinion from Florida’s Elections Division.

READ MORE: Fired police chief sues Miami, claims commissioners tried to ‘weaponize’ cops against enemies

Fourteen candidates have already filed, with the majority either officers or supervisors with the Miami-Dade Police Department, which would be absorbed by the new Sheriff’s Office. So far, it’s a field crowded with Republicans, with only three Democrats in the race.

The sheriff election is partisan, meaning Democrats and Republicans compete in primaries for their party’s slot on the November ballot. Acevedo said he last registered as a Democrat when he was living in California.

Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster backing the draft effort, said the public recruitment campaign

could by year’s end measure whether there’s enough support for Acevedo to drop his current police job and move back to Miami. He said he spoke to Acevedo about two weeks ago.

“People are either going to instantly connect with him and his message or they’re going to say: ‘Ho hum,’ ” Amandi said. “But I think they’ll quickly say: ‘Hell yes.’ ”