The Miami Springs City Council voted 3 – 2 in favor of expanding the council and mayor’s terms from 2 years to 4 years and staggering the election every 2 years. Furthermore, the council voted to move the election date from April to November.
Three key changes here:
- Moving the election date
- Expanding the term from 2 years to 4 years
- Staggering the terms
New Election Date
Historically, Miami Springs has had a dedicated municipal election every other April. Our next election will be in April, 2025. The idea is that the people who go out to vote are only interested in Miami Springs elections and thus have a vested interest in who gets elected. That said, we love the idea of moving the election to coincide with a general election. This will draw more voters to the ballot box and importantly save money for the City of Miami Springs.
Mayor Mitchell expressed concerns that if the municipal election coincided with the Presidential election that the campaign becomes more about left versus right instead of local issues. She’s absolutely right.
Another possibility may be to move the municipal election to coincide with the August Primary Election. This would still save money and possibly address Mayor Mitchell’s concerns over partisan politics.
We support the idea of moving the election date from April to either the August primary or November general election date as it saves money for the City of Miami Springs.
Expansion from Two Year to Four Year Terms
As we reported recently, we were surprised to see this issue come back again. The residents of Miami Springs have already given their opinion on this matter. Back in August 14, 2012, the City of Miami Springs held a special election to amend the City Charter to change the terms of office for all Council members, excluding Mayor, from 2 to 4 year terms. The residents of Miami Springs overwhelmingly voted NO. We’re talking 1,180 NO votes to 678 YES votes. That was 64% of the Miami Springs voters clearly stating they were not in favor of extending the terms of the Council Members.
Why would residents vote to lose their existing rights? Right now, residents of Miami Springs have the right to either re-elect or vote out any member on the City Council every two years. A two year term is the same term length as members of the United States House of Representatives.
A two year term gives Miami Springs residents the ability to hold council members accountable on critical matters. By in large, incumbents have generally received a vote of confidence and have been re-elected. However, there have been many times where residents have been able to vote out a sitting council member shortly after a controversial issue. In other words, you don’t have to wait four years to vote against a council member you don’t like.
Who benefits from four year terms?
The politicians obviously benefit as they don’t have to run for re-election as often. It benefits any political cronies who get in tight with the elected power structure. And it would save the City of Miami Springs some money by reducing the number of elections we have. (However, there’s a better option if cost-savings is the goal.)
Strongly Disagree
Back in 2012, the residents of Miami Springs said they did not want to lose their right to hold the City Council accountable every two years. Why would the residents of 2024 all of a sudden want to lose their right to hold Council Members accountable every two years?
Furthermore, our system of elections every two years has worked well for the Miami Springs residents for decades. Why change it?
Again, who gains and loses if we change the terms from 2 years to 4 years? The residents lose their power to hold officials accountable. The politicos gain more power. I don’t know about you, but I like keeping the residents rights to hold our city officials accountable.
Once you lose this right, you won’t get it back.
Staggering the Terms
If we did have 4 year terms, staggering the terms makes sense, but again, our preference and the preference of the Miami Springs voters back in 2012 was to keep the term to just 2 years where no staggering is needed.
City Proposal
Councilman Jorge Santin made a motion to direct city staff to draft a resolution to change the 2 year term to a 4 year staggered term AND move the election date from April to November.
Mayor Maria Mitchell who was for the 4 year term voted against it because she doesn’t want to move the election to November. Councilwoman Jacky Bravo voted no because she believes residents are better served having the option to vote every two years instead of four years, but she seemed open to the idea of moving the election date.
Santin, Fajet, and Vazquez all voted in favor of moving the election to four year staggered terms and moving the election to November.
Next Steps
The City Attorney will now craft a resolution based on the council’s direction. The council will have the ability to accept, reject, or modify the resolution before it becomes a ballot question that goes out to the residents.
Ballot Recommendation
We believe the ballot question should be split in two.
Question 1: Should the City of Miami Springs move the municipal election from April to the November general election? (We would recommend yes.)
Question 2: Should the City of Miami Springs change the length of terms for Mayor and City Council from 2 years to 4 year staggered terms? (We would recommend no.)
What do you think?
