Every voter knows there’s a big presidential election coming up.  By now, most voters know if they’re voting for Trump or Harris or someone else.  But what about everything else that’s on the ballot?  Did you know there are important issues for Miami Springs in November?  Let’s take a look at each question:

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

Obviously, this is the ballot question that drives the majority of the people to the polls.  Here are your choices:

  • Donald J. Trump / JD Vance
  • Kamala D. Harris / Tim Walz
  • Chase Oliver / Mike ter Maat
  • Claudia De La Cruz / Karina Garcia
  • Randall Terry / Stephen Broden
  • Peter Sonski / Laren Onak
  • Jill Stein / Rudolph Ware
  • Write In Candidate:______________

United States Senator

Senator Rick Scott visits Miami Springs (Photo Credit: City of Miami Springs)
Senator Rick Scott visits Miami Springs (Photo Credit: City of Miami Springs)
  • Rick Scott
  • Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
  • Feena Bonoan
  • Tuan TQ Nguyen
  • Ben Everidge
  • Write In Candidate: _____________

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS – DISTRICT 26

  • Mario Diaz-Balart
  • Joey Atkins

STATE SENATOR – DISTRICT 39

Bryan Avila
Former Golden Hawk: Florida Senator, Bryan Avila
  • Bryan Avila
  • Charles A. Lewis I

STATE REPRESENTATIVE – DISTRICT 112

Alex Rizo
Alex Rizo
  • Alex Rizo
  • Jacqueline “Jackie” Gil-Abarzua

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

  • Juan Fernandez-Barquin
  • Annette Taddeo
  • Write In: ______________

Miami-Dade County SHERIFF

  • Rosanna “Rosie” Cordero-Stutz
  • James Reyes

Property Appraiser

  • Tomas Regalado
  • Marisol Zenteno

Tax Collector

  • Dariel Fernandez
  • David Richardson

Supervisor of Elections

  • Alina Garcia
  • Juan-Carlos “J.C.” Planas

Justice of the Supreme Court

Shall Justice Renatha Francis of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

  • Yes
  • No

Shall Justice Meredith Sasso of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

  • Yes
  • No

District Court of Appeal

Shall Judge Kevin M. Emas of the 3rd District Court be retained in office?

  • Yes
  • No

Shall Judge Ivan F. Fernandez of the 3rd District Court be retained in office?

  • Yes
  • No

Shall Judge Norma Shepard Lindsey of the 3rd District Court be retained in office?

  • Yes
  • No

County Judge – Group 29

  • Christopher Benjamin
  • Alina Salcines Restrepo

FLORIDA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

NO. 1 – Constitutional Amendment

Partisan Election of Members of District School Boards

Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan election rather than a nonpartisan election and to specify that the amendment only applies to elections held on or after the November 2026 general election. However, partisan primary elections may occur before the 2026 general election for purposes of nominating political party candidates to that office for placement on the 2026 general election ballot.

  • YES
  • NO

NO. 2 – Constitutional Amendment

Right to Fish and Hunt

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. Specifies that the amendment does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution.

  • YES
  • NO

NO. 3 – Constitutional Amendment

Adult Personal Use of Marijuana

Allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories. Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Establishes possession limits for personal use. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date. The amendment’s financial impact primarily comes from expected sales tax collections. If legal today, sales of non-medical marijuana would be subject to sales tax and would remain so if voters approve this amendment. Based on other states’ experiences, expected retail sales of non-medical marijuana would generate at least $195.6 million annually in state and local sales tax revenues once the retail market is fully operational, although the timing of this occurring is unclear. Under current law, the existing statutory framework for medical marijuana is repealed six months after the effective date of this amendment which affects how this amendment will be implemented. A new regulatory structure for both medical and nonmedical use of marijuana will be needed. Its design cannot be fully known until the legislature acts; however, regulatory costs will probably be offset by regulatory fees. Other potential costs and savings cannot be predicted. THIS PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE A NET POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE STATE BUDGET. THIS IMPACT MAY RESULT IN GENERATING A

  • YES
  • NO

NO. 4 – Constitutional Amendment

Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion

No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion. The proposed amendment would result in significantly more abortions and fewer live births per year in Florida. The increase in abortions could be even greater if the amendment invalidates laws requiring parental consent before minors undergo abortions and those ensuring only licensed physicians perform abortions. There is also uncertainty about whether the amendment will require the state to subsidize abortions with public funds. Litigation to resolve those and other uncertainties will result in additional costs to the state government and state courts that will negatively impact the state budget. An increase in abortions may negatively affect the growth of state and local revenues over time. Because the fiscal impact of increased abortions on state and local revenues and costs cannot be estimated with precision, the total impact of the proposed amendment is indeterminate. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS AMENDMENT CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO AMBIGUITIES AND UNCERTAINTIES SURROUNDING THE AMENDMENT’S IMPACT.

  • YES
  • NO

NO. 5 – Constitutional Amendment

Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require an annual adjustment for inflation to the value of current or future homestead exemptions that apply solely to levies other than school district levies and for which every person who has legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the owner is eligible. This amendment takes effect January 1, 2025.

  • YES
  • NO

NO. 6 – Constitutional Amendment

Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement

Proposing the repeal of the provision in the State Constitution which requires public financing for campaigns of candidates for elective statewide office who agree to campaign spending limits.

  • YES
  • NO

COUNTY STRAW BALLOT QUESTION

Non-Binding Straw Ballot on Countywide Public Wi-Fi Access

Should Miami-Dade County take action to expand free public Wi-Fi access countywide, including advocating for any necessary changes to state or federal law?

  • YES
  • NO

MIAMI SPRINGS REFERENDUM

Four-Year Staggered Terms of Office and November Elections

The City Charter provides that the Mayor and Council are all elected for two-year terms at general municipal elections held in April of odd-numbered years. The proposed Charter amendment provides for a transition to four-year, staggered terms for Mayor and Council with elections to be held in November of even-numbered years. Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

  • YES
  • NO
Jacky Bravo, Victor Vazquez, and Jorge Santin won the April 4, 2023 Miami Springs Municipal Election
Jacky Bravo, Victor Vazquez, and Jorge Santin won the April 4, 2023 Miami Springs Municipal Election

OPINION: 

Miami Springs residents currently have the right to vote for the mayor and city council members every two years.  That means if you don’t like the job your council member or mayor is doing, you have the right to vote for someone else in two years.

If you vote YES for the referendum above, you will LOSE your right to replace members of the city council every two years.  In other words, we can be stuck with a member of the city council that continues to vote against your interest for four years.

Miami Springs is special and needs to be protected for its long term benefit.  Miami Springs has benefitted for decades from having its council held accountable to the public every two years.  Why change this?  Protect your rights and vote NO on this Miami Springs referendum.

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