Watch CBS News

Dade Commission Sets Special Election Date For County Charter

MIAMI (CBS4) - After hours of deliberation, Miami-Dade commissioners decided on a date for a special election to amend the county's charter.

Officials tell CBS4's David Sutta that the issue will be put to voters on May 24.

"I think the commission finally woke up and smelled the roses," said Commissioner Carlos Gimenez. " The people want change."

Still at issue is when the voters will get their say to replace ousted Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas. Commissioners will take up the issue when they meet again on April 11. The move was done because of rules that require 60 days notice for charter amendment votes and a maximum of 45 days notice for recall elections.  The commissioners are doing this so voters will be able to vote for charter amendments and a new mayor and commissioner.

Six items will be on the ballot with regard to the county's charter — the Miami-Dade constitution that sets the rules county politicians and bureaucrats must play by.

Items on the ballots will include terms limits for commissioners, their salary,  and outside employment

Commissioners will be allowed to serve a maximum of three terms lasting four years each (12). It would take effect beginning in  2012.  Current commissioners could serve through the year 2024.

They would be required to work full time for the county and hold no outside employment.

Commissioners would be paid according to state statutes. Which is currently $92,097 a year.

Commissioners would also be barred from lobbying the county for two years after leaving office.

It will also take up the issue of voter petitions. Voters will decide if the county should eliminate the requirements of notarizing and mandating one signature per page for petitions.  Instead we would go to the state's requirement for petitions with the caveat that Miami-Dade's will be printed in three languages.

Voters will also decide to include the inspector general in the charter so it will always exists.

The charter also takes up the issue of strong mayor and a charter review every 4 years to coincide with the presidential election.

Thursday's commission meet saw a possible candidate emerge who could radically reshape the mayor's race. Former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez sat quietly in the back of commission chambers watching the proceedings.

"I can always, always help in covering some of the problems we have in Dade County," Martinez told CBS4's Jim DeFede. "You have to have some history and I think I have been around long enough to know."

So has Martinez decided to throw his hat into the race?

"No, I never say never," replied Martinez.

A number of candidates have already said they plan to run for the Mayor's job, including  Commissioner Gimenez, Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, former state legislator Marcelo Llorente, and even 2 Live Crew rapper Luther Campbell, but in a recent Miami Herald-CBS4-Univision poll no clear front runner had emerged.

The winner of the special election would finish out Alvarez's current term, which ends in November 2012.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.