Sweetwater Commissioner Running for Reelection Considers Himself a ‘Doer’

By Lou Hernández

Current Sweetwater Commissioner Reinaldo Rey has felt a sense of community service from a young age and now, in adulthood, has brought that awareness to bear. “During the pandemic, I was always there to help at food drives and distributions—not for any photo opportunity or to be acknowledged for what I did,” said the 33-year-old, who was born in Miami Beach and is of Cuban descent. “I love to help anyone I can. It’s what fulfills me. I would get a call from someone at city hall telling me some resident is about to be hit with a code violation for uncut grass. I was not averse to going to the home and cutting the grass.”

First appointed to a vacancy on the commission dais, Rey won outright election to the seat in 2021 and is seeking reelection in May. Among his early accomplishments, he fought to have red light cameras removed from the city and add safety features to his own residential area.

“We heard the residents,” he explained. “Now the redlight cameras have been completely removed. In the apartment complex where I live, I proposed installation of traffic flashers in a hazardous area susceptible to accidents. Since the flashers were installed there hasn’t been an accident.

“We were also able to lower the millage rate,” added the 15-year resident of Sweetwater, “which helped reduce property taxes.”

Off and on, Rey has been an electrician by trade for the past ten years. He assessed his political position as follows: “I see my job as an employee of the residents. Our bosses are the residents, so we have to listen to them. At the same time, we’re leaders. We have to lead the people to what they need, their end point. But there are different avenues for help, some local, some county, some state, some federal. We have to direct them accordingly.”

Rey is quick to address any lack of comprehension on the part of his constituents. “Some residents don’t understand where their tax dollars go,” he said. “I try to explain to them that the truck you see cleaning the street— that’s paid for by your taxes. The government employees you see on the job, cutting trees, clearing drainage, and others that you don’t see—in offices—they are making sure that your tax dollars are being distributed and collected the right way and making sure we don’t run into issues with the year-end budgets.”

Married for four years to spouse Daniela and the father of a eight-month-old boy named Isaac, Rey cites the recent annexation of land into the city of Sweetwater and the University City student housing apartments, in the heart of Sweetwater on 109th Avenue, as two important, future growth points. “We doubled the size of the city with the annexation. I’m left speechless with the potential development planned for the annexed site, which includes residential housing.”

According to the young commissioner, you’ll see him canvassing in Sweetwater regularly. “I go out every single day, Monday through Friday, from 3:30 pm to sundown around 8:00 pm, and Saturday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. I respect Sundays, so I cut the hours down from noon to about five o’clock.”

A lot of politicians come and they never come again, Rey said is a complaint he often hears. “Everyone is a neighbor in your neighborhood,” he asserted, “not just the ones that live next to you. I let residents know. Here is my personal number. ‘Whenever there is an issue, call me,’ I tell them.”

“I’m not too much of a “sayer”—I consider myself a “doer,” stated Reinaldo, who also considers his father as his greatest source of personal inspiration. His focus on “doing” for the residents of Sweetwater revolves around lowering taxes, improving infrastructure and transit options, keeping neighborhoods safe, improving overall quality of life and park enhancements.

“I firmly believe that parks are the heart of our city and I will continue to support the expansion and investments into our parks. We want to bring life to our parks.”