Miami City Commissioner and District 3 Vice-Chair Joe Carollo has resigned from office just one week before his term was set to expire.
Carollo, 70, submitted a one-sentence resignation letter to the city clerk, effective 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2025.
“Dear Mr. Clerk: This is to inform you that effective 12/11/2025, at 11:59 pm, I will be officially resigning from my position as District 3 Commissioner of the City of Miami,” the letter states.
In an Instagram post announcing his decision, Carollo did not explain why he chose to step down early but said helping others would remain his priority.
Carollo first entered Miami politics in 1979 as a city commissioner. This year, instead of seeking reelection to his District 3 seat, he ran for mayor but finished fourth in the race.
His resignation also marks the end of the Carollo political dynasty at City Hall. Carollo’s brother, Frank Carollo, who previously served two terms as a city commissioner, lost his bid for the District 3 seat in a runoff election to political newcomer Rolando Escalona. Escalona is scheduled to be sworn in next week.
Carollo’s departure comes as another long-serving Miami political figure exits City Hall. Mayor Francis Suarez, who served as a city commissioner before becoming mayor, is also term-limited and leaving office. Suarez has described the mayor’s position as a part-time role, noting that his primary profession is practicing law.
Responding to critics who have suggested his time as mayor benefited him financially, Suarez defended his tenure.
“It is not something I am ashamed of, I have been a professional and mayor for the majority of my life as an adult,” Suarez said. “I started when I was 30, running for office. I’m 48 now; you gain professional success in those years, so it has been a blessing.”
Miami’s newly elected mayor, Eileen Higgins, along with Commissioner-elect Escalona, will be sworn in within the next few days.
