Miami Lakes registered voters received their mail-in ballots on April 28 for the May 17 special election involving 10 proposed amendments to the Town's Charter as recommended by the recent Charter Revision Commission.
It’s important to note that all ballots must be received by Miami-Dade’s Elections Department on or before May 17 to be counted.
Residents also received an impartial Voter’s Guide prepared by Town staff to thoroughly explain each question and the rationale that led to the Charter Commission recommending their place on the ballot.
Despite a series of automated calls and a mail flyer containing “scare” headlines attempting to convince voters to vote “no” on all 10 amendments, the owners, publisher and staff of The Miami Laker believe all the amendments should be adopted with a “yes” vote to preserve the integrity and dignity that this community was founded upon.
One of the most important proposed amendments is Providing for the Election of Mayoral and Council Candidates by Majority Vote and is the ninth proposed amendment located on the second page (back) of the ballot.
The Charter currently allows a candidate who receives the highest number of votes in an election to be declared the winner. The result is that a candidate may be elected by less than 50 percent of the voters. For instance, if there are four candidates running for a position, a candidate can be elected with less than 26 percent of the votes, meaning approximately 74 percent of the voters did not vote for the candidate being elected!
When the Town's Charter was originally adopted in 2000, it provided that a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the votes to be declared a winner, and that a runoff would be held if no candidate received more than 50 percent of the votes. The proposed amendment would return to the original Charter language, requiring candidates to obtain more than 50 percent of the vote to be elected.
This could have a profound effect on the Town's general election in November where there are already three Mayoral candidates (Councilmembers Ceasar Mestre, Manny Cid and Wayne Slaton, and possibly Michael Pizzi, even though he has not filed paperwork with the Town), three candidates opposing the reelection of Tony Lama for Seat 3, and four candidates running for Cid's vacant Seat 5. Nelson Rodriguez is unopposed to date for his reelection to Seat 1.
Former Florida Governor and retired U.S. Senator Bob Graham sent a mailer to all residents strongly supporting this amendment based on personal experience.
Graham’s mailer said: “As a lifelong resident of Miami Lakes who had the honor of serving as your state legislator, state senator, Governor and U.S. Senator, I have always been an advocate of Civic Engagement and Good Governance.
“I write to you because your vote for the Town’s proposed Charter changes is very important. I plan to vote YES on all proposed Charter Review items. While all of the issues are important, I believe the most significant item is the amendment regarding Majority Vote.
“This issue is personal to me. I finished second in the 1978 campaign for governor. Because Florida had a Majority Vote election, which required a majority of Florida voters support to be elected, there was a run off. I was then elected and had the honor to serve you for 8 years.
“The Majority Vote amendment is by far the most important one to vote YES on because it stands for making sure your vote COUNTS. Our Mayor and Town Council should be comprised of individuals that the majority (over 50%) of the voters have chosen to represent our beautiful Town of Miami Lakes.”
Another important proposed amendment is Providing for a Council-Manager Form of Government Rather than a Mayor-Council-Manager Form which is on the front side of the ballot.
When the original Charter was adopted in 2000, the form of government called for a "Mayor-Council-Manager" form of government. In reviewing different forms of government, the Charter Revision Commission learned that this form of government is not a widely-recognized term and that the form of government known as "Council-Manager" more accurately reflects the way the Town functions.
The proposed amendment deletes the word "Mayor" to reflect the Town’s government is comprised of a Council (Mayor and 6 Councilmembers) that enacts legislation and sets policy, and a Manager who is responsible for the day-to-day administration and implementation of legislation and policy.
The successful adoption of this Ballot Question would remedy the perception that Miami Lakes has a "Strong Mayor" form of government, which it does not.
Filling a Vacancy in the Mayoral Seat is a proposed amendment that would clarify the Town's responsibilities in the event of a vacancy in the Mayoral seat. The existing Charter language which provided for the 2013 Special Election to fill Pizzi's seat when he was removed from office by Governor Rick Scott due to criminal charges filed against him by the FBI involving a grant scam with the City of Medley and Miami Lakes, would be amended to state that the Vice-Mayor would fill the Mayor's seat if it became vacant for the duration of the Vice-Mayor's term. If the Vice-Mayor's term is shorter than the Mayor's term, then, when the Vice-Mayor's seat is up for election, a special election would be held to elect a Mayor to complete the remaining time of the original term of the Mayor.
Other ballot questions - Appointing a Town Manager, Selection of an Acting Town Manager, Appointing a Town Attorney, and Permission to Call a Special Meeting - replace the word "Mayor" in each amendment with responsibilities delegated to the Town Council which includes the mayor, thereby allowing all of our Councilmembers to participate in these important decisions for us.
The ballot question concerning Representation of the Town replaces the word “Mayor” with “the Town would designate the representatives.”
The ballot question concerning Amending the Citizen’s Bill of Rights would add two additional rights:
1. "Natural Resources and Scenic Beauty," which adds a policy that the Town conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty, and that this policy include limiting the amount of air and water pollution, and excessive and unnecessary noise, whenever possible.
2. "Ethics in Government," which provides that the Town's operations and government must meet the highest ethical standards and demonstrate the highest level of achievement in its adherence to ethics laws.
It is vitally important that all registered voters understand the intent of the proposed amendments and cast their ballots, Yes or No, on each question.
The Town's Voters Guide is available at
www.miamilakes-fl.gov/votersguide and further information may be obtained by contacting the Town's Clerk's office at 305-364-6100.