MIAMI -- Former District Five Commissioner Michelle Spence Jones announced Thursday evening she will run in January’s special election to try and regain the seat that was recently vacated when she was arrested and suspended.

Last week, Spence-Jones was suspended from the Miami City Commission after she was charged with grand theft.

"For me not to run would be an admission of guilt. I have the right to run," Spence-Jones said.

Supporters cheered in response.

"I vote for Michelle 100 percent," Supporter Shanica Robertson said.

Attorney Mike Band, who is defending her, implied unfair treatment by prosecutors.

"We will try our case and present our facts in a courtroom. We're not going to be like the state and leak things" Band said.

Spence Jones echoed that sentiment, saying, "We know sometimes the judicial system is not fair and equitable."

But when Loca1 10’s Julie Summers pressed for specifics, Spence-Jones declined to respond.

“Do you feel targeted?” Summers asked.

“All I ask for is fairness," Spence-Jones replied, then walked away.

Spence-Jones has every legal right to run for the District 5 Miami Commission seat. She has not been convicted of any crime, although State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has filed grand theft charges against her.

"I can stand here today with my head held up high and say, 'Yes, I am going to serve my district.' I can stand here today and say, 'Yes, I am going to fight for what's right,'" Spence-Jones said.

Spence-Jones, 42, said she is innocent and that she would have her day in court to prove it.

"When you're not guilty, when you're not afraid, when you know you haven't done any wrong, I just consider that a stumble in the road," Spence-Jones said.

The politician is charged with taking $50,000 in county grant money intended for projects to improve her district and allegedly using the money to run a family-owned restaurant and day spa and to pay personal expenses.

Other politicians have run for reelection while facing criminal charges. Former Miami-Dade Commissioner Jim Burke ran in a special election after he was charged with bribery, and he lost.

Former Miami Commissioner Bert Hernandez ran after he was accused of mortgage fraud. He won.

Spence-Jones' decision to run again means the city will spend more than $150,000 for an election many believe she will win again. On Nov. 3, Spence-Jones was re-elected to her commission seat with 83 percent of the vote.

Some city officials believe that big bill for an identical election outcome would be a waste.

"It is a harsh reality of poorly spent money on something in which the outcome seems to be very apparent," Commissioner Marc Sarnoff said.