Miami-Dade to hold election on charter reform

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez owes his seat to the historic 2011 recall of his predecessor Carlos Alvarez amid voters' fury about county spending.

During the campaign, Gimenez said that the recall process should be easier. Wealthy businessman Norman Braman, the man behind the Alvarez recall, wrote an eight-point plan calling for reform in 2011. Gimenez signed that plan in March 2011 while campaigning for mayor.

One point in the plan stated: "restore accountability by repealing any non-charter restriction on the people's right to petition their government for change or to recall a politician; and to require any proposed future restriction to be voted upon by the people of Miami-Dade County and to be enshrined in the county charter.” We boiled that down to mean that Gimenez was promising to make the recall process easier.

In November, Miami-Dade County Commissioners agreed to place a question on the Jan. 31, 2012, ballot (coinciding with the Republican presidential primary) that asks voters the following question: "Shall the Charter be amended to increase from 60 to 120 days the time allowed to circulate initiatory petitions, and to provide that elections to amend the Charter, either through initiatory petitions or by Board action, be held in conjunction with the next scheduled General Election rather than within 60 to 120 days, as currently required?”

The purpose of extending the time to collect signatures is to make it easier to gather the required amount: 10 percent of registered voters. Placing charter questions on a general election ballot would likely draw more voters.

We will have to see how voters respond but for now we rate this In the Works.