The Democratic candidate who lost a Dec. 5 special election to represent the 118th District in the state House of Representatives is contesting the election results because he says the winner, Republican Mike Redondo, doesn’t legally reside in the district.
Miami resident Johnny G. Farias filed a petition Dec. 21 in the 11th Judicial Circuit, alleging that Redondo on May 30 of last year signed a 30-year mortgage contract for property located in District 113, 20 miles away from the district he now represents.
The purchase contract calls on Redondo to maintain the condo unit at 2500 Biscayne Blvd. for a minimum of one year and to take possession of the property within 60 days of the signing of the document, according to Farias’ court complaint.
“The respondent performed his contractual duties and has resided within his property located in District 113,” the complaint states.
Redondo also informed the Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections in August that he planned to run in the 2023 special election rather than the general election for District 118 representative scheduled for later this year, according to the lawsuit. Had he decided to run in the 2024 general election, the one-year restriction on the loan contract would have expired by the deadline for the general election’s certification, the complaint says.
“As per the Florida Constitution, Mr. Redondo must be an elector and resident of District 118 upon taking office,” the petition states. “Mr. Redondo has not modified his contract and altered his primary residence to District 118.”
The Republican officeholder, who has been appointed to multiple committees in the Legislature, also voted in District 118 during the special election while a resident of District 113 – a violation of state law, according to the complaint.
Though Redondo rents a property within the district he now represents, that property doesn’t fit the definition of a primary residence based on previous court decisions, Farias’ legal complaint says.
“The most important thing is that he should get disqualified because he shouldn't have run in first place,” Farias told the Florida Record. He added that he was not filing the challenge in a bid to be anointed to the legislative post.
“I’m asking that another fair election be held so people who live in the district can run,” he said.
The residency issue was first raised by a news service run by the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications called Fresh Take Florida, according to the Florida Politics media platform.
The special election produced a turnout of 7.75%, with 8,774 ballots cast out of a total of 113,269 registered voters in the district. Redondo garnered 51.8% of the vote to 45.6% for Farias, with 540 votes separating the two candidates.
Farias said he wasn’t expecting the courts to rule on the issue immediately, but he added that he wanted the state Legislature to respect the eligibility rules in place for state offices.
“It dawned on me how the court system … hasn’t said anything about what’s going on,” Farias said. “... If the court system does not go my way, I’ll live with it.”
He also filed a complaint with the Florida Bar over the residency issue. Redondo is an attorney with a law degree from Florida State University.