Miami, Fl (February 24, 2010) – Political Action Committee (PAC) Miami Voice heads to the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts office on Monday morning, February 27, 2012, to submit petition form calling for retroactive term limits for Miami-Dade County Commissioners. Miami Voice PAC submitted a petition two weeks ago calling for two four-year term limits for County Commissioners. Miami Voice will submit the new petition form to be approved by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court Harvey Ruvin. Miami Voice PAC must wait for the Clerk of the Courts to approve the petition form before collecting signatures.

Miami Voice Chairman Vanessa Brito will visit the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts (73 West Flagler Street, Suite # 242) office on Monday, February 27, 2012 at 10:30am to submit the petition form.

The campaign to collect voter signatures calls for a maximum of two (2) terms of four (4) years, applying to previous terms served by  Miami-Dade County Commissioners. The petition language excludes terms served to fill a vacant position. This comes after Commissioners Rebecca Sosa and Lynda Bell proposed a charter amendment for term limits to be heard by the County Commission the same day Miami Voice PAC submitted its first petition. Commissioner Barbara Jordan has also proposed a charter amendment calling for a $75,000 annual salary for County Commissioners – also to be approved by the County Commission.

“Miami Voice has responded to residents’ unrelenting desire for retroactive term limits,“said Vanessa Brito, Chairman of Miami Voice PAC. “With these two proposals now on the table, we run the risk of having two items bunched into one amendment on the ballot. This would be extremely unfair to voters.”

Miami Voice anticipates collecting 150,000 signatures, with the 10% requirement at just over 120,000 voters.

In total, Miami Voice must collect 10% of the total number of registered voters in each of the 13 districts, with no more than 25% in one Commission District, as required by the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter.

“Miami Voice PAC has very little money, but has received an outpour of support for this new petition,” says Brito.

Miami Voice is a nonpartisan Political Action Committee comprised of residents, local businesses, and community organizations working to ensure that the voice of the people in Miami-Dade County is no longer drowned by every day politics. Miami Voice supports elected officials who are dedicated to strengthening our communities and are fiscally responsible.

Miami Voice is dedicated to educating residents of Miami-Dade County with honesty, integrity, and responsibility as it relates to our local government and their decision making process. Miami Voice is a volunteer PAC created not only to empower residents and taxpayers, but also to hold elected officials accountable for their votes and actions. Miami Voice tackles the most difficult issues facing our local government, including property taxes, transportation, and overall budget decisions and allocations.

For more information regarding this effort or Miami Voice, please contact Vanessa Brito at 786.547.8084 or e-mail: brito@yourmiamivoice.org.

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Petition Form to Amend Miami-Dade Charter Relating to Term-Limits for County Commissioners to be Submitted Tomorrow

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Vanessa Brito
Phone: 786.547.8084
E-mail: brito@yourmiamivoice.org

Miami, Fl (February 8, 2010) – Political Action Committee (PAC) Miami Voice heads to the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts office on Thursday morning, February 9, 2012, to submit petition form calling for term limits for Miami-Dade County Commissioners. Miami Voice PAC will submit petition form to be approved by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court Harvey Ruvin. Miami Voice PAC must wait for the Clerk of the Courts to approve the petition form before collecting signatures.

Miami Voice Chairman Vanessa Brito accompanied by Vice Chairman Ivette Taylor will visit the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts (73 West Flagler Street, Suite # 242) office on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:30am to submit the petition form.

The campaign to collect voter signatures calls for a maximum of two (2) terms of four (4) years for Miami-Dade County Commissioners. This comes after voters turned down a ballot initiative on January 31st combining term limits, restriction on outside employment, and a $92,000 annual salary for County Commissioners.

“Miami-Dade County voters have spoken time and time again, “said Vanessa Brito, Chairman of Miami Voice PAC. “This is not the first time voters reject the multi-faceted charter amendment. Voters want to vote on changes to the Charter independently of each other, without feeling coerced by confusing and combined language.”

Miami Voice anticipates collecting 150,000 signatures, with the 10% requirement at just over 120,000 voters.

In total, Miami Voice must collect 10% of the total number of registered voters in each of the 13 districts, with no more than 25% in one Commission District, as required by the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter.

“Miami Voice PAC has very little money and must focus its efforts on one charter amendment at a time,” says Brito. “As much as we would like to collect signatures for all necessary changes to the Miami-Dade Charter, we can only afford to do one at a time.”

Miami Voice is a nonpartisan Political Action Committee comprised of residents, local businesses, and community organizations working to ensure that the voice of the people in Miami-Dade County is no longer drowned by every day politics. Miami Voice supports elected officials who are dedicated to strengthening our communities and are fiscally responsible.

Miami Voice is dedicated to educating residents of Miami-Dade County with honesty, integrity, and responsibility as it relates to our local government and their decision making process. Miami Voice is a volunteer PAC created not only to empower residents and taxpayers, but also to hold elected officials accountable for their votes and actions. Miami Voice tackles the most difficult issues facing our local government, including property taxes, transportation, and overall budget decisions and allocations.

For more information regarding this effort or Miami Voice, please contact Vanessa Brito at 786.547.8084 or e-mail: brito@yourmiamivoice.org.

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Early Voting for the January 31st Election has begun. 

If you are a registered Republican in Miami-Dade County, then you can vote for YOUR choice in the Presidential Republican Primary.

If you are NOT a registered Republican, you CAN still vote. There are two important Charter Amendments for Miami-Dade County on the ballot. Whether or not you are eligible to vote in the Republican Primary, you can vote on these countywide items.

The first proposed amendment to the Charter: Relating to Initiative Petitions and Elections on Charter Amendments, gives voters the opportunity to vote on extending the number of days required to collect signatures for a petition initiative for charter amendments from 60 days to 120 days.

Yes means you want to extend the number of days allowed to collect signatures – 120 days.

No means you want the number of days allowed to collect signatures to remain as is – 60 days.

The second proposed amendment: Relating to Salaries, Service, and Term Limits of County Commissioners, is a bit more complicated. This is a three-part question that includes the following changes:

A. Changing the charter so that Miami-Dade County Commissioners are prohibited from having any employment other than their duties as Commissioners.

B. Changing the charter so that Miami-Dade County Commissioners receive an approx. $92,000/yr salary (which is based on State formula) instead of the current $6,000/yr. salary.

C. Changing the charter so that Miami-Dade County Commissioners are ONLY able to serve two terms of four years – a total of 8 years.

Yes means you are voting yes on ALL three parts of this proposed amendment. Voting Yes means, Commissioners CANNOT hold outside employment, will have a $92,000/yr salary, and will be term limited to a max of 8 years (two terms of 4 years each).

No means you are voting no on ALL three parts of this proposed amendment. Voting No means, Commissioner CAN hold outside employment (as they do now), will keep the $6,000/yr salary (as they do now), and will not be term limited (as they are now).

You can find a copy of the Sample Ballot online here: http://www.miamidade.gov/elections/s_ballots/1-31-12_sb.pdf

Remember, you do not need to wait to vote on January 31st. You can request an absentee ballot (click here to request your absentee ballot), or Vote Early every day from 7:00am to 7:00pm thru Saturday, January 28th. For Early Voting locations click here.

IT IS OUR DUTY AND RIGHT TO VOTE ON THE FUTURE OF
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. 

Miami Voice PAC encourages all of you to attend and participate in the December 19th Public Hearing on redistricting plans for Miami-Dade County Commission Districts.

Click here for a map of proposed Commission Districts

You can also read more about the changes and process on the Miami Herald by clicking here.

Miami Voice PAC will be distributing its endorsement questionnaire to municipal candidates for the November 1, 2011 primary election in the following days.

If you are a registered voter in the City of Homestead, City of Miami, City of Miami Beach, or City of Hilaleah, please e-mail or call with questions and issues YOU care about.

You can call us by clicking on the “Google Voice” button to the right or email us at brito@yourmiamivoice.org.

NOTE: MIAMI VOICE PAC WILL POST QUESTIONNAIRES AND CANDIDATE RESPONSES AS THEY ARE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED BY THE MIAMI VOICE PAC BOARD.

After an exhausting, but successful, Spring and Summer, Homestead, the City of Hialeah, the City of Miami, and the City of Miami Beache are holding elections for council and Mayor (Hialeah and Miami Beach) on November 1, 2011.

City of Hialeah voters will elect a Mayor to replace former Mayor Julio Robaina. Currently, former Vice Mayor/Councilman Carlos Hernandez serves as the interim Mayor for the City of Hialeah.

Councilmember seats at the City of Hialeah are also up. We will post complete details on who’s running upon response from the City Clerk. In the meantime, note that qualifying for City of Hialeah November 1st Election is from August 19, 2011 – September 9, 2011.

New City of Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez does not yet face opposition, while Commissioners Willy Gort and Marc Sarnoff have some viable opposition facing them this fall.

Source: Miami-Dade County Elections Department

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City of Miami voters will have the chance to elect (or re-elect) Commissioners in Districts 1 (incumbent: Willy Gort),2 (incumbent: Marc Sarnoff), and 4 (incumbent: Francis Suarez).

Candidates who have filed in each race are (please note order of names reflect municipal clerk filings):

District 1:
Willy Gort
Shawn Selleck
Mike Gabela

District 2:
Marc Sarnoff
Kate Callahan
Michelle Neimeyer
William Armbrister
Donna Milo

District 4:
Francis Suarez

For more information about the candidates, qualifying documents, treasurers’ reports, etc. please visit the City of Miami City Clerk online.

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The City of Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower faces a re-election this year. If re-elected, she will be term limited. Commission seats IV, V, and VI also face an Election, but neither Commission seat is opposed.

City of Miami Beach Mayoral Candidates:
Mayor Matti Bower
Steve Berke
Dave Crystal

For more information about the candidates, qualifying documents, treasurers’ reports, etc. please visit the City of Miami Beach City Clerk online.

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The City of Homestead will also hold an Election on November 1, 2011. Miami Voice PAC is currently waiting on prospective candidate and qualifying information from the City Clerk.

For more information about the candidates, qualifying documents, treasurers’ reports, etc. please visit the City of Homestead City Clerk online.

To view Voter Guide responses, please click on the candidate name below each photograph.

Candidate: Carlos Gimenez

Candidate: Julio Robaina

House Bill 1355 has passed and is expected to be signed by Governor Scott no later than May 21st. This bill reduces the number of Early Voting days and will affect the current Special Election by eliminating Early Voting for Sunday May 22nd. Early Voting hours for Saturday May 21st have been extended from 9am-5pm.

Miami Voice PAC does not support this decision, but has a duty to inform the public about changes to the process. Below please find the response memo from BCC Chairman Joe Martinez.

(FROM SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE) Voters can call 311 for early voting hours and locations, and there is also a section dedicated to Early Voting at: http://www.miamidade.gov/elections/vote_early.asp.

If you would like to read the full House Bill 1355, please click here.

To download and read responses to the Miami Voice Voter Guide, please click on the link under the candidate’s photograph.

Candidate Name: Xavier Suarez