A Florida court has ruled against Hector Medina, disqualifying him from running for a seat on the North Miami City Council due to a signature issue on his qualifying check. The decision affects Medina's candidacy for the upcoming municipal election scheduled for November 3, 2026. This ruling underscores the importance of strict adherence to election laws, which may have implications for future candidates.

The case, Hector Medina v. Kassandra Timothe, was filed under docket number 3D2026-1967. The court's ruling came after Medina submitted his qualifying papers, including a check drawn on his campaign account, which was not properly executed according to Florida election laws. This ruling raises questions about the qualifications of candidates and the requirements they must meet to run for office.

Background

Hector Medina intended to run for the District 2 seat on the North Miami City Council. The qualifying period for candidates began on August 10, 2026, and ended on August 20, 2026. Medina appointed his wife, Alina Medina, as his campaign treasurer on April 6, 2026, but he did not designate himself or anyone else as deputy treasurer.

On August 11, 2026, Medina submitted his qualifying papers to the City Clerk, which included a check to pay the qualifying fee. Although the check was drawn from his campaign account and accepted by the Clerk, it was signed by Medina himself, not by his designated treasurer. After Medina's opponent, Kassandra Timothe, pointed out the signature issue, the City declared him disqualified, leading to the appeal.

The Ruling

The court affirmed the trial court's decision, stating that Medina's check was not a “properly executed check” as required by section 99.061(7)(a)1 of the Florida Statutes. The ruling emphasized that the check needed to be signed by the campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer, which Medina failed to do.

The court ruled, "Medina’s failure to have the check signed by his campaign treasurer... means the check was not 'properly executed,' as required by section 99.061(7)(a)1."

The judges in this case included Chief Judge Scales and Judges Lindsey and Rebull. They noted that even though the Clerk accepted the check and it was honored by the bank, this did not fulfill the legal requirements for candidate qualification.

Impact

This ruling has significant implications for candidates in Florida. It clarifies that strict compliance with election laws is essential, and any failure to meet these requirements can result in disqualification. The court's decision reinforces the idea that candidates must ensure their paperwork is in order and that they follow the rules set forth in the Florida Election Code.

The ruling may serve as a precedent for future cases involving candidate qualifications, emphasizing that the courts will uphold strict interpretations of election laws. Candidates must be aware that even minor technicalities can lead to disqualification, impacting their ability to run for office.

What's Next

Medina's options for appeal are limited, as the court has affirmed the lower court's ruling. There is no indication of a related case pending at this time. However, the implications of this case may influence how future candidates prepare their qualifying documents and navigate the election process in Florida.