Political season is here in Miami Springs. You’ll start seeing lawn signs and political ads more frequently as we approach the Miami Springs Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 4th.
POLITICAL SEATS AVAILABLE
MAYOR:
Maria Mitchell is the first woman to serve as Mayor in the City of Miami Springs and ran unopposed. She has served for the last two years. It’s unclear whether she’ll run unopposed again or if a new candidate will challenge her.
Group I:
Bob Best is currently the CouncilMember in Group I, but he is term limited. As a result, someone new will take the Group I Seat. We know that longtime Miami Springs resident, businessman, and board member of the Business and Economic Development Task Force, Jorge Santin, is vying for this seat. We also got word today from the City Clerk that MaryJo Mejia Ramos and Orlando Lamas are vying for Seat I. However, none of the candidates had completely qualified, yet.
Group II:
Jacky Bravo is completing her first terms as CouncilWoman. The local Realtor, mom, and business owner is expected to run to retain her seat. We’ll see if anyone decides to run against her.
Group III:
Walter Fajet is expected to run for his third term in office. Fajet is the Principal at AIE Charter School in Miami Springs. He was elected initially after Mara Zapata resigned to run for Miami-Dade County School Board. He then ran unopposed in the last election.
Group IV:
Victor Vazquez resigned from his Council Seat to run for Miami-Dade County Commission. Since his resignation, George Lob was appointed to the seat by the Council Members. Lob is not expected to run for the seat. We did reach out to Victor Vazquez who confirmed his intention to run for Miami Springs City Council Group IV and regain his former seat. Will he run unopposed?
DEADLINE TO QUALITY TO RUN
The deadline to qualify for the City of Miami Springs City Council is February, 17, 2023.
Terms and Residency Requirements
City Council and the Mayor are elected for two-year terms. Candidates are elected at-large. Every candidate for Council or Mayor must be a registered voter in the City and must have resided in the City for a six-month period preceding the election.
Qualifying Forms:
To become a candidate, the following documents must be filed with the City of Miami Springs City Clerk PRIOR to opening a campaign account, receiving contributions, or making any expenditures:
–DS-DE9 (Rev.10/10) Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidates
- Must be filed prior to opening the campaign account and prior to accepting contributions or making expenditures on the person’s behalf.
- A candidate may be his / her campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer, but anyone designated must also be a registered voter of the State of Florida
- Your campaign depository must be a bank, savings and loan association or credit union authorized to do business in the State of Florida. The campaign account must be separate from any personal or business accounts.
- All monetary contributions must be deposited in the campaign account within five (5) business days of receipt.
- Only the campaign treasurer or the deputy campaign treasurer may sign campaign expenditure checks.
–DS-DE84 (05/11) Statement of Candidate appointment with City Clerk
AFTER filing the appropriate paperwork with the City Clerk, candidates may then open a campaign account and begin to accept contributions and make expenditures.
The following forms are also required to run for office in the City of Miami Springs:
–DS-DE302NP (08/21) Candidate Oath – Nonpartisan Office
–Form 1 Statement of Financial Interests for the calendar year 2021 (2022 Not Available Until 2023)
-Ethical Campaign Practices Declaration (This form is voluntary)
-Petition Forms for April 4, 2023 (50 Signatures Required)
-Payment of Filing Fee from Campaign Account in the amount of: Mayor $103.00 Council Groups I,II,III,IV: $85.00
-Sign Bond – In accordance with the City Code of Ordinances, a bond of $200.00 shall be required from each election campaign. This bond shall be conditioned upon the removal of all political signs of that candidate or issue within seven calendar days of the election to which they relate.
-Voter Registration Card
Election Information Links:
–Candidate Campaign & Treasurer Handbook
–Florida Election Code Chapters 97-106
-City of Miami Springs Charter
-Campaign Report Forms
– Campaign Treasurer’s Report-Summary
– Campaign Treasurer’s Report-Itemized Contributions
