Sweetwater Rises: Three Neighbors Step Into Politics After the Trailer Park Eviction.

Sweetwater Rises: Three Neighbors Step Into Politics After the Trailer Park Eviction. Teresita Blanco, Mario Leiva, and Luis Armando Chanlatte.

Sweetwater, FL — In a forgotten corner of this small city, where the dust of vacant lots mixes with the sweat of those fighting to stay in their homes, three atypical candidates emerged: Teresita Blanco, Mario Leiva, and Luis Armando Chanlatte. They are not career politicians. They don’t show up in expensive suits or with empty promises. They are neighbors from the trailer park affected by the evictions, survivors of a battle against dark interests, and today they seek to change things from within local government.

From Displaced to Candidates, From Victims to Leaders: The Story the Powerful Don’t Want You to Know

Less than a year ago, tragedy struck Sweetwater’s trailer park when, just days before Christmas 2024, residents received a cold, impersonal letter announcing their eviction. Teresita, Mario, and Armando, along with dozens of families, watched as bulldozers approached, threatening to erase not just their homes, but over 30 years of history, community, and roots. Under a municipal administration clinging to power, real estate development took precedence over the lives of the most vulnerable. But instead of giving in, these three neighbors rose up: together with many of the affected, they organized protests, raised their voices at public hearings, and denounced the corruption that facilitated the mass eviction.

Now, they are taking a bolder step: they are running for commissioner in Sweetwater’s upcoming municipal elections.

Their mission is clear and deeply connected to the lived experiences of their community:

• Stop unjust evictions and establish clear regulations to prevent long-time residents from being displaced by real estate interests.
• Audit municipal contracts that for years have benefited a small elite close to power, without transparency or real competition.
• Create real affordable housing programs for the working families that sustain the city.
• Open the doors of local government so it stops being an exclusive club for lobbyists and developers and starts being an accessible space for everyday citizens.

They also face a new challenge: the accelerated growth of Florida International University (FIU). What was once a bedroom community is now rapidly transforming into an urban expansion hub. With every new building that rises, small businesses struggle to survive amid rising rents and pressure from major franchises. Development can be an opportunity, but if left unregulated, it threatens to erase Sweetwater’s identity and displace those who built it from the ground up.

Teresita, Mario, and Armando don’t come from political parties or expensive consultants. They come from the neighborhood. And now, they want to bring that voice directly into government.

A Citizen-Led Candidacy

Now, with the municipal elections approaching, all three have officially entered the electoral race. None of them have political connections. They don’t have sponsors or major donors. What they do have is lived experience, credibility in their community, and a clear goal: to prevent others from going through what they lived.

“We don’t believe in campaign promises anymore. This time, the voice of the affected will sit at the decision-making table,” says Teresita.

Their motto is clear: “From the streets to the council. The people do have a voice.”

Can They Defeat the Political Machine?

In a city where the political machinery has historically favored certain economic groups, the candidacy of three everyday citizens remains a powerful sign of change.

Some analysts are already calling them “the people’s formula”, in contrast to candidates with ties to current mayor Pepe Díaz, strongly questioned for his role in the eviction process.

Municipal Elections in Sweetwater 2025: Commission Candidates

As elections approach in Sweetwater, several current commissioners are seeking reelection despite their lack of transparency and inaction during the controversial trailer park eviction. These elections represent a chance for residents to seriously assess who has been on the side of the people… and who has remained silent.

Group 1

🔹 Mario Leiva
New candidate, former resident affected by the eviction. Proposes ending corruption, auditing contracts, and protecting affordable housing.

🔹 Jose Marti (current commissioner)
Running for reelection. His name is among those who failed to speak up in defense of evicted families, and his role during the process remains heavily criticized.

Group 2

🔹 Marcos Antonio Villanueva (current commissioner, unopposed)
Vice President of the Commission. Has avoided making public statements about the trailer park conflict, despite being one of the city’s most influential officials. His unopposed reelection raises questions about district representation.

❌ Sleiman Chaya
Officially withdrew his candidacy through a formal statement of withdrawal.

Group 3

🔹 Teresita Blanco
Active defender of the rights of the evicted. Has denounced irregularities in the process and calls for transparency, oversight on real estate developments, and social justice.

🔹 Ian Vallecillo (current commissioner)
Seeking to remain in office, though his passivity during the eviction crisis has caused outrage among residents. His campaign will face close public scrutiny.

Group 4

🔹 Armando Chanlatte
Another resident of the trailer park now fighting from within the system. His goal is to transform local government to better serve the real needs of the neighborhood.

🔹 Idania Llanio (current commissioner)
Aiming to retain her seat, her record has been opaque in the face of citizen complaints, especially during the eviction process.

Real Change or Political Recycling?

Between silent reelections and emerging new voices, these Sweetwater elections will determine whether governance continues to favor developers… or finally, the residents.

Remember: These are local elections, but their impact is direct on your quality of life.
Urban planning, contracts with developers, housing protection, and neighborhood resources are all decided from these seats.

Sweetwater will decide in 2025 who defends the interests of the neighborhood… and who stays aligned with the same old players.

A Precedent for All of Miami-Dade

What’s happening in Sweetwater could set a precedent for the entire county. At a time when dignified housing is increasingly out of reach, the fact that victims of an unjust system are running to reform it reflects a new political climate in South Florida.

NewsMiamiDade.com will closely follow this race, which represents far more than a local election. It’s a fight for dignity, for home, and for the right to decide.

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Don’t miss the full interview on Mercy’s Corner!

Want to know who these candidates really are—the ones running to represent Sweetwater?

We invite you to watch the full interview on the Mercy’s Corner YouTube channel, in the “Conoce a tu Candidato” playlist.

In this honest and direct conversation, Teresita, Mario, and Armando share their vision for a more just city, from the perspective of everyday citizens who decided to step up and defend their community from within government.

Don’t miss out on the conversation.
Get informed, hear their proposals, and be part of the change Sweetwater needs. Hit play and help shape the future of your city!

🔹 YouTube Channel: Mercy’s Corner
🔹 Playlist: Conoce tu Candidato

Your vote and your voice matter!