In the latest political confrontation in the City of Doral, City Manager Rey Valdes, a former Miami-Dade police officer, resigned Monday night during a special council meeting to discuss his job performance and salary reduction.
Five minutes before the agenda item was to be addressed, Valdes, who was hired as city manager in June, submitted his resignation letter.
“This proposed reduction in pay has nothing to do with my job performance but is retaliation for refusing to be the puppet of certain council members,” Valdes told the council. “The financial burden of this reduction would have resulted in some senior staff members earning more than myself, which would be unjust and unacceptable.”
According to public records, Valdes was hired with an annual salary of $245,000, approved by a 3-2 vote with the support of council members Maureen Porras, Digna Cabral, and Vice Mayor Oscar Puig-Corve. Mayor Christi Fraga and Councilman Rafael Pineyro opposed the appointment. At the time, Porras defended the salary, noting that the council had been prepared to offer up to $300,000 to attract the right candidate.