Important charter amendments on Tuesday’s Miami-Dade ballot
Al’s Loupe
Important charter amendments on Tuesday’s Miami-Dade ballot
By Alvaro F. Fernandez
alvaro@progresoweekly.com
Next Tuesday is a big day in Florida. On the 31st, the Republican primaries continue on the road to the November presidential election.
Poor Republicans… they’re limited to Newt Gingrich, who criticized Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac for the nation’s banking debacle while accepting more than a million dollars from them during the height of the collapse. This for his work as (you pick): consultant, historian, or lobbyist… Duplicitous Newt should not surprise anyone who remembers that the former Speaker of the House blasted Bill Clinton for his tawdry White House affairs while he himself was carrying on with another woman other than his wife while congress impeached the former president. And if it’s duplicity you seek, there is always the robotically handsome and way too rich Mitt Romney who has managed to stand on all sides of any one issue – depending on who he’s addressing. And of course there’s Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, both laughable if it wasn’t that they do sound very scary at times.
But as a Miamian who’s not a Republican (thank goodness!), I will be heading to the polls on Tuesday to cast my ballot on two charter amendments. Some have complained that they may not be exactly what many of us want. But folks, it’s a start in the right direction. And we can’t keep waiting for perfection.
The first amendment increases from 60 to 120 days the time allowed to circulate initiatory petitions. In other words, if you’re interested in changing the way our county government is run, and would like to see it voted on, you have four months, instead of the two we now have, to gather those petitions, which allows us to put it on the ballot. This initiative offers a semblance of power to the voter over county government. I plan to vote in favor of it. But it doesn’t stop there. Another positive factor is that if we’ve gathered enough petitions to put our measure on the ballot it orders the county commission to put it before the voters for the next General Election. Good idea because it promotes a larger turnout, which general elections usually produce – instead of the special elections we’ve become accustomed to with turnout usually under the 20% mark.
The second amendment on the Tuesday ballot, if it passes, starting next Tuesday, would make commissioners full-time employees of the county and by law would not allow them to hold any other job. I’m voting for this one too. It’s a start in battling the ever-increasing conflict of interest cases we’ve seen with commissioners, who way too often work for persons and companies who benefit from their votes on the dais. As full time employees their salaries will be increased to $92,097 from their current $6,000 a year. I say, good for them. Even when they’re crooks, one thing I will admit is that these folks work hard. And a higher salary might entice other better-prepared Miamians to take the plunge and run for office in the future. Which, by the way, might be a bit easier when you consider that commissioners will have term limits of eight years starting this fall. In other words, two terms of four years and you’re done.
Term limits has also been controversial. I favor it. I think we need to start pushing through new people into our politics. Politicians grow stale, get too comfortable in their positions, and as a result resort to corruption. The money these politicians generate for reelection campaigns make them almost impossible to beat.
The new system, if we vote in favor of it, will assure that new blood is generated every so often. Which may lead to some community jewels in places of power in the foreseeable future.
Let’s hope so.
So there you have it. If you live in Florida and you’re a republican, vote for you candidate of choice on Tuesday while also casting ballots on the charter amendments. I’m glad I can wait to November to cast my vote for Obama against whomever republicans choose, though.
But for those of us not in the Republican Party and who happen to live in Miami-Dade County, Tuesday is a very important day. These two charter amendments are a first step in reforming the politics of Miami-Dade County. It’s why it’s so important that we all vote.
Click here if you want to take a look at the official Miami-Dade County ballot.
