Dade Voters Cast Ballots To Recall Mayor, Commissioner
MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) - For Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and county commissioner Natacha Seijas it all comes down to Tuesday as voters head to the polls to cast their ballots in a recall election.
As of Monday, approximately 60,000 people had already cast their ballots in early voting. The county's election department reports as of last Friday more than 67,000 absentee ballots had been returned.
The polls closed at 7 p.m.
In this special election, all registered voters in the county can cast ballots to recall Alvarez. Only voters in District 13, which includes part of Miami Lakes and Hialeah, can vote to recall Seijas.
Special Recall Election Polling Places
The recall election was sparked by South Florida auto tycoon Norman Braman who mounted a well-funded campaign to collect tens of thousands of signatures.
Braman said he targeted Alvarez because of his support for a property tax increase for some homeowners last year, even though most county homeowners saw their property values go down.
A recent Miami Herald-CBS4-Univision 23 public opinion poll showed that Alvarez and Seijas will likely be turned out of office.
"I look at polls I look at what they're saying but it really doesn't matter. What matters is tomorrow night around 10 o'clock. That's what matters," said Mayor Alvarez.
The mayor said he is looking forward to the election and was using ever opportunity to let the voters know that he needs to remain in office.
"The only think I can tell people is that I've lived in this community for 51 years," said Alvarez. "I know your frustration. I'm a homeowner, my family is here they are homeowners so it's not like I'm removed from their daily lives."
Alvarez stands by his decision to raise property taxes. He said it was necessary to avoid huge cuts to essential services such as the police and fire departments. Barman said the recall election is sending "notice to our elected officials that the public is concerned about the quality of government."
"Worth it if there's change," said Braman. "I feel good because the people of the community are finally having an opportunity to vote on something."
Vanessa Brito from Miami Voice was also looking forward to Tuesday's election. Her organization led the push to recall Seijas.
"Her personality and her attitude are just no cohesive with what a public servant is supposed to be," Brito said. "She's very mean."
Seijas does have her supporters.
"I think she's a woman of integrity, regardless of what people say," said Seijas supporter Carla Savola. "You don't vote people out just because you don't like them personally."
Pollster Fernand Armandi spent the afternoon on WQBA. Judging by the calls and his pool taken last week, the high turnout mean one thing.
"If this was any other election cycle they would both be…have their gooses cooked, as they say," said Armandi. "I think the sentiment out there is that come Wednesday morning they're going to be looking for something new to do."
Seijas did not respond to numerous requests from CBS 4 News for an interview. On Tuesday, she plans to giveaway $250,000 in taxpayer dollars to local non-profit groups.
"It also leads people to justify the recall you know just one more time," said Brito. "Why do this on election day? This is such a poor tactic on her part."
