“Supervisor of Elections Penelope Townsend should be fired immediately for incompetency.”?? Frank Del Vecchio, commenting on an array of glitches – from long lines of inconvenienced voters to delays in vote tabulation – emanating from the Miami-Dade Elections Department.
“People deserve the right to vote in a timely manner”
Miami Beach Votes – Commissioners Share Their Observations
“Witnessing the diversity of the individuals, young and old, waiting under the sun for hours to vote was indeed very rewarding. Hopefully, President Obama’s victory speech calling Americans to serve their country inspires our local voters to come out again next November when we will have yet another important election in Miami Beach.” – Miami Beach Commissioner Deede Weithorn
“Unfortunately, my voting experience at Miami Beach Fire Station #3 was long but well worth the wait as I was able to cast my votes. I waited for three hours meeting many friends and neighbors. However, I do feel strongly that the long lines which were exacerbated by the convoluted state ballot questions could have been reduced if Governor Scott had allowed for additional early voting time as in past years.
“The legislation reducing early voting cut early voting days in half and restricted voter registration drives as well. At least a federal judge overturned part of the law this year but we still had the long lines which caused some to leave and avoid voting altogether. I vow to fight this legislation so that early voting days can be extended and voter registration drives are not restricted. Miami Beach residents deserve the right to vote in a timely manner.” – Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora
(Gongora intends to introduce a resolution at the Nov. 14 Commission meeting calling for the restoration of early voting to two weeks’ length.)
“I voted last Friday via absentee ballot, which was very convenient. I feel bad for the thousands of residents that needed to wait in 3- to 4-hour-long lines in order to exercise their right to vote. However, I am very proud of all of those who did make that extraordinary effort.
“I believe that the governor should have extended early voting and that perhaps a couple of additional voting precincts being opened would have helped as well, given the length of the ballot. Common sense would dictate that in order for an individual to read and understand each question on the ballot that it was going to take a significant amount of time, which resulted in the long wait times. This was foreseeable, yet nothing was done to mitigate the circumstances.” – Miami Beach Commissioner Jerry Libbin
“My experience voting was pretty good. My family and I voted the first Sunday of early voting.
“I received a call [that weekend] that there were 2- to 3-hour lines at City Hall so I came and I worked with the election personnel, who were exceptionally pleasant here at City Hall.
“I tried to come around almost every day and the city clerk did the same thing to ensure that people who were coming to vote were comfortable if they had to wait in a long line, especially the older people and those with children.
“We should be a participatory government. Part of that participation is giving people the flexibility and ability to vote, and reasonably early, and without having to wait in these long lines. I didn’t like the fact that they cut [early voting] down to ten days. Extending it to a full two-week period helps facilitate that and perhaps extending it an hour, to make sure that people have the opportunity to vote.” – Miami Beach Commissioner Jorge Exposito
(Exposito helped implement a serpentine line for voters at the Miami Beach City Hall early voting location so that they could stand in the shade. He also helped arrange for water to be handed out to voters and chairs to be provided to senior citizens who had come to vote.)
Miami-Dade County
Total ballots cast: 838,514
Voter turnout: 63.8%
Miami-Dade Results
PRESIDENT
Obama: 62%
Romney: 37%
U.S. SENATE
Nelson: 64%
Mack: 35%
U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 23
Wasserman Schultz: 63%
Harrington: 35%
STATE ATTORNEY
Fernandez Rundle: 97%
Write In: 3%
STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 35
Margolis: 62%
Couriel: 38%
SOBERING FACT:
Of 14 state representative races on the ballot throughout Miami-Dade, 10 were races where there was only one candidate with no challenger.
Miami-Dade voters voted to retain all 3 state Supreme Court justices on the ballot – R. Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente, and Peggy Quince – each by 74 to 26% margins.
Luis Garcia – former Miami Beach fire chief, commissioner, and state legislator – came up just 1,503 votes short in his attempt to unseat 14-year County Commission veteran Bruno Barreiro. There were a total of slightly more than 39,000 votes cast in the race.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, DISTRICT 5
Barreiro: 52%
Garcia: 48%
Mayor Matti Bower is “extremely elated with the outcome. As a long time preservationist, she pushed for this referendum. [She] is pleased that the majority of Miami Beach voters share in her view to protect the city’s preservation movement (the roots of Miami Beach renaissance).” – A statement from the mayor’s office in response to the passage of the historic preservation ballot item.
MIAMI BEACH BALLOT QUESTIONS
City clerk becomes a charter officer
YES, 59 to 41%
Voter approval required to reduce Historic Preservation Board powers
YES, 61 to 39%
Change filing period requirement for candidates qualifying with petitions
YES, 58 to 42%
Limited waiver of candidate qualification fee
YES, 57 to 43%
Miami Beach Approves All 4 Ballot Issues – Commissioners React
“I believe that we have a well-educated voting public and they made terrific choices. – Miami Beach Commissioner Jerry Libbin
“Voters have streamlined their local government by approving my proposal for the City Clerk to report directly to the City Commission. Ultimately, this will ensure that the City Clerk’s office is afforded the opportunity to function fairly without any pressure from one individual administrator.” – Miami Beach Commissioner Deede Weithorn
“I was very pleased with the [passage of the] historic preservation [ballot question]. We are protecting what has made us the type of city we are. I thought that was an important amendment to pass.” – Miami Beach Commissioner Jorge Exposito
“I was pleased that all four of the Miami Beach ballot questions passed by wide margins. Miami Beach voters agreed that these changes are all good for our community.” – Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora
NORTH BAY VILLAGE COMMISSION
Treasure Island Commissioner
Wendy Duvall: 64%
Stuart Bloomberg: 36%
At-Large Commissioner
Mario Garcia: 52%
Jorge Gonzalez: 48%
NORTH BAY VILLAGE BALLOT QUESTIONS
Changing official name from “City” to “Village”
YES, 64 to 36%
Amend city’s corporate limits
YES, 64.5 to 35.5%
Appointment and removal of city clerk
YES, 69 to 31%
Limit acquisition of real property & capital improvement projects
YES, 64 to 36%
Reduce mayor and commissioners compensation
YES, 67 to 33%
2-year prohibition on paid employment by commissioners, post-term
YES, 65 to 35%
Outside employment by city manager must be approved by Commission
YES, 73 to 27%
Expand anti-nepotism policy
YES, 71 to 29%
Filling Commission vacancies pertaining to interim vice mayor
YES, 78 to 22%
Clarify procedure for filling commission vacancy
YES, 75 to 25%
Amend emergency ordinance procedure
YES, 70 to 30%
Amend ordinance and resolution procedures
YES, 71 to 29%
Increase residency requirements for mayor and commissioners
YES, 81 to 19%
Amend petition requirement for nomination for office
YES, 67 to 33%
Increase filing fees for candidates
YES, 54 to 46%
Prohibit city employees from engaging in political activity off-duty
YES, 64 to 36%
Giving public notice of final budget meeting
NO, 53 to 47%
Require surety bonds for certain city officers and employees
YES, 79 to 21%
Require all city officers and employees to take oath of employment
YES, 86 to 14%
Require review of zoning regulations, maps, and Comprehensive Master Plan
YES, 77 to 23%
Charter violations
YES, 86 to 14%
SURFSIDE CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Preamble and Citizen Bill of Rights
YES, 75 to 25%
Mandatory charter review
YES, 68 to 32%
Restriction on development
YES, 72 to 28%
BAY HARBOR ISLANDS CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Creation of new charter
YES, 77 to 23%
Amend candidate qualification period
YES, 72 to 28%
Amend candidate residency requirement
YES, 83 to 17%
Amend frequency of Council meetings
YES, 56 to 44%
Town manager surety bond requirement
NO, 62 to 38%
Amend runoff election procedure
YES, 62 to 38%
Amend initiative and referendum petitions procedure
NO, 57 to 43%
SUNNY ISLES BEACH COMMISSION
Seat 3
Harvey Busch: 43%
George “Bud” Scholl: 57%
AVENTURA COMMISSION
Seat 1
Teri Holzberg: 76%
Sergio Vuguin: 24%
Seat 3
Rosa Naccarato: 31%
Howard Weinberg: 69%
Seat 5
Enbar Cohen: 62%
Ian Llobregat: 7%
Gary Pyott: 31%
COUNTY QUESTIONS
Funding for public schools
FOR bonds, 69 to 31%
Term limits for commissioners
YES, 77 to 23%
Require 2/3 vote of Commission for additional land within Urban Development Boundary
YES, 68 to 32%
Creation of new municipalities
YES, 53 to 47%
Citizens’ Bill of Rights enforcement
YES, 52.5 to 47.5%
Filling a mayor or commissioner vacancy
YES, 62 to 38%
Mayoral conflicts of interest in county procurement
YES, 60 to 40%
Tennis center at Crandon Park
YES, 73 to 27%
Taxes to improve animal services programs
YES, 65 to 35%
Prohibiting public funds to companies doing business with state sponsors of terrorism
YES, 62 to 38%
STATE AMENDMENTS
APPROVED by county voters:
2 Homestead property tax discounts for disabled veterans: 64 to 36%
9 Homestead property tax exemption for surviving spouse: 61 to 39%
11 Additional homestead exemption for certain seniors: 66 to 34%
REJECTED by county voters:
1 Prohibiting Obamacare in Florida: 55 to 45%
3 State government revenue limitation: 55 to 45%
4 Property tax limitations: 50.5 to 49.5%
5 Requiring Legislature approval of state Supreme Court justices: 62 to 38%
6 Banning public funding of abortions: 55 to 45%
8 Allowing public funds to religious institutions: 50.4 to 49.6%
10 Personal property tax exemption: 52 to 48%
12 Appointment of student body president to state university board: 56 to 44%
