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There is a phenomenon in our community and across the country where the only elections with high turnout are presidential elections.
That’s a load of — well, you know what it is.
There are no unimportant elections and frankly the elections that have the greatest impact on our day-to-day lives are local elections.
On Aug. 20, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents will have an opportunity to cast votes, and honestly, there are no excuses not to vote. Anyone can vote by mail, early voting is some two weeks long, and there is election day for those who procrastinate.
Countywide, the biggest race that everyone gets a say in is the election for county mayor.
Incumbent Daniella Levine Cava has attracted six challengers: Manny Cid, Shlomo Danzinger, Carlos Garín, Alex Otaola, Miguel Quintero, and Eddy Rojas. If no candidate gets a majority of the votes cast, then the top two finishers face off during the general election on Nov. 5.
When Miami-Dade became a Home-Rule Charter County in the mid-1950s, it abolished the office of sheriff and replaced it with a Public Safety director appointed by the county manager. Later, when the mayor was made the chief administrator, the mayor was given the power to appoint the Public Safety director. With the charter, the offices of the Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections also were appointed positions.
That all changes this year. An amendment to the Florida Constitution in 2018 guaranteed that all of those county offices would be made elective beginning in the 2024 election cycle and all of the positions were made partisan, meaning that candidates would have to declare themselves to be Democrat, Republican, independent, or a member of a minor party.
There are a total of 11 Republican candidates for Sheriff, including suspended Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez, former PBA union chief John Rivera, and former Miami City Commissioner Joe Sanchez. Democrats are fielding four candidates for Sheriff: John Barrow, Susan Khoury, Rickey Mitchell, James Reyes. Reyes has been endorsed by Mayor Levine Cava.
GOP Tax Collector candidates are Bryan Calvo and Dariel Fernandez. Only one Democratic candidate, David Richardson, who is both a former Miami Beach Commissioner and an accountant has qualified. Richardson will be on the ballot with the winner of the Calvo and Fernandez primary.
The Supervisor of Elections also was made an elected partisan position. State Rep. Alina Garcia is the only Republican candidate in the race, while Democrats Willis Howard, Megan E. Pearl, J.C. Planas, and Arnie Weiss are elbowing each other for their party’s nomination.
The August primary election will see two candidates take on Senator Rick Scott in the U.S. Senate primary election, while Stanley Campbell, Rod Joseph, former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and Brian Rush vie for the Democratic nomination.
Plus, there are two Circuit Court and two County Court judge positions up for grabs.
Below the countywide level there are a host of candidates and questions. There will be elections in three county commission districts: 3, 7 and 11, and three school board districts, 3, 7, and 9, are in contention.
The Republican Party will have a bevy of contenders for County Executive Committee. A total of 168 candidates have qualified in nearly 40 separate races.
Coral Gables voters will vote on straw poll as to whether the city should annex the Little Gables neighborhood. Miami-Dade County also has a straw ballot question on whether the existing rapid mass transit system — elevated Metrorail, passenger rail, and/or Metromover — should be expanded.
Voters residing in Miami Gardens will elect a mayor and three council members. Given that all four offices have attracted more than two candidates, if no one receives a majority on Aug. 20, a runoff will be held in November.
Miami voters will be asked whether gym equipment in Maurice Ferré Park should be retained, whether to eliminate the Independent Auditor General, and whether to create a new Inspector General. Lastly, there are critical elections for our school board, judges and various municipal charter amendments that will shape our community’s future.
There’s a cynical catch phrase — “Vote early — and vote often” that is often attributed to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Voting often in the same election cycle is a crime in Florida, but you can vote early — both by mail and in person. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Aug. 8. (Keep in mind that the Legislature passed a law that requires voters to make a request for an absentee ballot before each election cycle.) You can go here to request your vote-by-mail ballot: https://miamidade.electionsfl.org/vrservices/mbrs#.
Early voting begins on Monday, Aug. 5, and continues through Aug. 18. You can find the early voting locations at https://www.miamidade.gov/elections/library/early-voting/2024-08-20-primary-election-early-voting-schedule.pdf.
Let every eligible voter vote. And may every vote be honestly counted!
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