For decades, Miami stood as a political fortress: nearly 30 years without a Democratic Mayor and never, ever a woman in the city's highest office. This was the fortress of history, of precedent, and of the status quo. And Eileen Higgins, a woman who showed up, did the work, and built trust, just shattered it.

After a trying first year in office, there was much to reflect on, from the tragedy at Surfside Towers to the mounting housing crisis. In...